' Tao Te Ching '...

The beginning of the universe is the mother
of all things. Knowing the mother, one also
knows the sons. Knowing the sons, yet
remaining in touch with the mother, brings
freedom from the fear of death.


Keep your mouth shut, guard the senses,
and life is ever full. Open your mouth,
always be busy, and life is beyond hope.


Seeing the small is insight; yielding to force
is strength. Using the outer light, return to
insight, and in this way be saved from harm.
This is learning constancy.


- Lao-tzu

` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` `

Tao Te Ching
Translation by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English
Vintage Books Edition, September 1972