Chapter XLV
(Chapter 45)

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Ko Yuen Translation

The Overflowing of Teh

1. Despise thy masterpieces; thus renew the vigor of thy creation.  Deem thy fullness emptiness; thus shall thy fullness never be empty.  Let the straight appear crooked to thee, thy Craft clumsiness; thy Music discord.
2. Exercise moderateth cold; stillness heat.  To be pure and to keep silence, is the True Law of all that are beneath Heaven.

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S. Mitchell Translation

True perfection seems imperfect,
yet it is perfectly itself.
True fullness seems empty,
yet it is fully present.

True straightness seems crooked.
True wisdom seems foolish.
True art seems artless.

The Master allows things to happen.
She shapes events as they come.
She steps out of the way
and lets the Tao speak for itself.

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James Legge Translation

1. Who thinks his great achievements poor
Shall find his vigour long endure.
Of greatest fulness, deemed a void,
Exhaustion ne'er shall stem the tide.
Do thou what's straight still crooked deem;
Thy greatest art still stupid seem,
And eloquence a stammering scream.
2. Constant action overcomes cold; being still overcomes heat.  Purity and stillness give the correct law to all under heaven.

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GNL not Lao Interpolation

Quiet

Great perfection seems incomplete,
But does not decay;
Great abundance seems empty,
But does not fail.

Great truth seems contradictory;
Great cleverness seems stupid;
Great eloquence seems awkward.

As spring overcomes the cold,
And autumn overcomes the heat,
So calm and quiet overcome the world.

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Ko Yuen Commentary

Brahmacharya -- Chastity in the secret Parzifal/O.T.O. sense.  See also the Khing Kang King.

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