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Lao Tzu for Everyone

Students, Scholars

& Seekers

Peter Gilboy, Ph.D.

1200px-Dao-character.svg.png

Tao

the Way

             第 三十

Line 1  道汎呵亓可左右也

     

Line 2  成功遂事而弗名有也

Line 3  萬物歸焉而弗爲主

                  

Line 4  則恆无欲也可名於小

 

               

Line 5   萬物歸焉而弗爲主

       可名於大

 

Line 6  是以聖人之能成大也 

Line 7 以其不爲大也

  

      故能成大

 

LESSON 34

More on

'Not Doing.'

     The Way is everywhere, and is already doing everything, Lao Tzu tells us. If this is correct, then what is left for us to do of ourselves?  The sage understands this, and does nothing of himself or herself.

Click on each line number

 for Chinese-English interlinear

& commentary

1.

The Way is everywhere,

reaching both

left and right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.

It does everything,

and yet there is

no name for it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​​​​​​​​​​​3.

All things are

returning to the Way,

and yet it does

not rule over them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.

The Way

seeks nothing

for itself,

and for that reason

it can be called "small."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.

But because all things

are returning

to the Way, and yet

it does control them,

it can also be called great.

 

 

 

 

 

6.

This is how

the sage too

accomplishes things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​​​​​

7.

It is precisely

because the sage

does not

strive to be great,

that he or she can

accomplish great things.

 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.  .  .  .  .  .

 

​​​​

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          Peter Gilboy, Ph.D.
      all rights reserved 2022

Comments are welcome: Thank you.

 

Work in progress.

Thank you for your interest.

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