The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao. Water benefits all things without strife, flowing to lowly places—this is the way of the wise. Empty your mind, quiet your heart, and let go of desires; clarity will arise naturally.
When the great Tao is forgotten, kindness and morality appear. Cleverness breeds hypocrisy; family discord highlights filial love; chaos reveals loyalty. Humans follow Earth, Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows Tao, and Tao follows what is natural—step by step, we find our way.
The wise hear the Tao and practice it diligently; the average hear it and waver; the foolish hear it and laugh. The Tao gives birth to one, one to two, two to three, and three to all things. Learning grows daily; practicing the Tao diminishes daily—less and less, until action becomes effortless. To act without forcing is to align with nature.
The Tao has no favorites; it always accompanies the good. Follow nature, do your best, and accept the results. Heaven’s way is to benefit, not harm; the sage’s way is to act, not contend. Give more than you take—this is the simple, profound wisdom of life.