Tom

19 Give up Sainthood, stop preaching. Let people follow the Dao, and it will be a hundred times better for everyone. If people are at one, there is no need for religion or morality? Give up ingenuity, don't look for profit and bandits and thieves will disappear. It is more important to follow the ways of Nature; to observe its order and workings, to see the simplicity, to realise one's true nature, to cast off selfishness and dispel desire. For here lies the way of Dao. Any thoughts?

Here is Jeff's take. When the true Dao is lost/forgotten, then people become caught up in attachment. Such attachment leads to fear of loss and aversion. When everyone gets caught up in this, it becomes hard to trust, and without simple trust, the Dao becomes even more hidden. The road back to the Dao is found with quieting the mind and just doing what needs to be done. (Letting go of all those attachments. In the mind). *Attachments are desires wrapped in energetic connections. Loving ice cream or addicted to smoking are examples. On cannot be attached to the Dao, but one can be attached to the mental concept of the Dao. When the true Dao is lost/forgotten, then people become caught up in attachment. Such attachment leads to fear of loss and aversion. When everyone gets caught up in this, it becomes hard to trust, and without simple trust, the Dao becomes even more hidden. The road back to the Dao is found with quieting the mind and just doing what needs to be done. (Letting go of all those attachments. In the mind). *Attachments are desires wrapped in energetic connections. Loving ice cream or addicted to smoking are examples. On cannot be attached to the Dao, but one can be attached to the mental concept of the Dao.

Here is my take. The bolded is the key part. When the Dao is forgotten discrimination arises. When you are at one with the Dao all the the personal and social issues go away.

18 When the great Dao is forgotten, human kindness and morals arise. When clever people employ their schemes, the great perversion begins. When the family have forgotten the natural order, filial piety and devotion arises. When the country is in chaos, loyal ministers always appear. Set things in order, be at one with the Dao. For when people are at one, there is no need for such things. Any thoughts?

Here is my take. About being realized. Attachments to both pleasure and issues and fears. Men/women are caught up in "things" When one is not so caught up in wants and desires their heart is open. Such a one can think of others and be trusted compared to those with a closed heart who can only think about themselves. No need to take credit or to promote what you have done. Share it and promote others rather than yourself.

The path to realization.

17 The greatest things in life are rarely realized or known by Men. But Men always know the things they love and treasure, and that which is feared and despised. Having a simple heart one knows how to trust openly. Those who do not trust openly, can never be trusted to have a good heart. When deeds are performed with few words, people can say "we've done it". Any thoughts?

16 Empty the mind of everything, let it reside in peace. Being at peace you can watch the Ten Thousand Things rise and fall. They follow their natural path and eventually return to the source of all things. This is the way of Nature. Returning to the source is stillness, for Nature is unchanging. Knowing this constancy is having insight into all things. Not knowing this leads to disaster. Knowing the source, the mind is open. When the mind is open the heart will be open too. Being open hearted, you can act naturally. Acting naturally, you will be at one with the Dao. Being at one with the Dao, you will be at one with Heaven and Earth. Being at one with Heaven and Earth, you can become eternal. Although the body dies, the Dao will always be eternal. Any thoughts?

Here is Jeff's take. The old masters knew what they were deeply connected to the Dao. The depth of there knowledge and connection was beyond what is noticeable by others. Because of this, all we can do is watch and pay attention to their actions. Watch with total focus and be completely alert. Watch without getting caught up with your own attachments and prejudices. Simply be open (sort of like full body listening). Letting the activity (mud) of the mind settle quietly. Realizing the Tao is not a goal to reach, not a desire to fulfill, it is simply completely residing. *The Dao is all. The universe could be described as the one that emerged from the Dao. A human or human behavior is part of 10,000 things which are also born of the Dao. *To make it even more confusing, I would describe the 0ne as actually the motion of the Dao. Or you could say that the One should be a verb...

I would agree. To me this is a key point.

15 The Ancient Master’s were subtle, mysterious, profound and alert. The depth of their knowledge was unfathomable. Likened to the Dao, they were at one. Being at one, all we can do is observe their appearance. Watchful, like men fishing in a stream. Alert, like men aware of the tiger. Courteous, like visiting guests. Yielding, like a blade of grass. Simple, like uncarved blocks of wood. Empty, like vessels. Opaque, like muddy pools. Lying still and waiting quietly, who can wait for the mud to settle? Who can wait for the mystery to be revealed? Do not seek fulfilment, but feel the Dao in your heart. By not seeking fulfilment, nothing is changed. The Ten Thousand Things rise and fall without interference Any thoughts?

Here is Jeff's take. 14 Look, it can never be seen, for it has no form. Listen, it can never be heard, it is beyond sound. Grasp, it can never be held, it is intangible. Although it can never be seen, heard or held, its spirit is always there. For it is formed from nothing and so returns to nothing. It is beyond description, But it is the Mother of the Ten Thousand Things. It has no beginning and no end, but it is great. Stay with this (in your heart) the ancient Dao, but move with the present. Knowing the Dao is the ancient beginning of all things.

Emptiness is the infinite potential from which all things arise. It is found within. The move with the present.. seems to say don't just stay there or cease into emptiness but also be that arising that is all things.

14 Look, it can never be seen, for it has no form. Listen, it can never be heard, it is beyond sound. Grasp, it can never be held, it is intangible. Although it can never be seen, heard or held, its spirit is always there. For it is formed from nothing and so returns to nothing. It is beyond description, But it is the Mother of the Ten Thousand Things. It has no beginning and no end, but it is great. Stay with this (in your heart) the ancient Dao, but move with the present. Knowing the Dao is the ancient beginning of all things. Any thoughts?

Here is Jeff's view. Accept disgrace willingly. Accept misfortune as the human condition. What do I mean by "accept disgrace willingly?" Accept being unimportant. Do not be concerned with wealth, titles, loss or gain. If you are not concerned with these, you can always "accept disgrace willingly". What do I mean by "accept misfortune as the human condition?" Without a body, how could there be misfortune! For misfortune arises from having a body Surrender yourself humbly, then you can be trusted to care for all things. Love the world as your own self, then you can truly be trusted to care for all things.