Chapter LII
(Chapter 52)

[-----]

Ko Yuen Translation

The Withdrawal into Silence
1. The Tao buddeth forth all things under Heaven; it is the Mother of all.
2. Knowing the Mother, we may know her offspring.  He that knoweth his Mother, and abideth in Her nature, remaineth in surety all his days.
3. With the mouth closed, and the Gates of Breath controlled, he remaineth at ease all his days.  With the mouth open, and the Breath directed to outward affairs, he hath no surety all his days.
4. To perceive that Minute Point1 is True Vision; to maintain the Soft and Gentle2 is True Strength.
5. Employing harmoniously the Light Within3 so that it returneth to its Origin, one guardeth even one's body from evil, and keepeth Silence before all men.

[-----]

S. Mitchell Translation
In the beginning was the Tao.
All things issue from it;
all things return to it.

To find the origin,
trace back the manifestations.
When you recognize the children
and find the mother,
you will be free of sorrow.

If you close your mind in judgements
and traffic with desires,
your heart will be troubled.
If you keep your mind from judging
and aren't led by the senses,
your heart will find peace.

Seeing into darkness is clarity.
Knowing how to yield is strength.
Use your own light
and return to the source of light.
This is called practicing eternity.

[-----]

James Legge Translation
1. (The Tao) which originated all under the sky is to be considered as the mother of them all.
2. When the mother is found, we know what her children should be.  When one knows that he is his mother's child, and proceeds to guard (the qualities of) the mother that belong to him, to the end of his life he will be free from all peril.
3. Let him keep his mouth closed, and shut up the portals (of his nostrils), and all his life he will be exempt from laborious exertion.  Let him keep his mouth open, and (spend his breath) in the promotion of his affairs, and all his life there will be no safety for him.
4. The perception of what is small is (the secret of clear-sightedness; the guarding of what is soft and tender is (the secret of) strength.
5. Who uses well his light,
Reverting to its (source so) bright,
Will from his body ward all blight,
And hides the unchanging from men's sight.

[-----]

GNL not Lao Interpolation

Clarity
The origin of the world is its mother;
Understand the mother, and you understand the child;
Embrace the child, and you embrace the mother,
Who will not perish when you die.

Reserve your judgments and words
And you maintain your influence;
Speak your mind and take positions
And nothing will save you.

As observing detail is clarity,
So maintaining flexibility is strength;
Use the light but shed no light,
So that you do yourself no harm,
But embrace clarity.

[-----]

Previous Tao Teh King
Main Page		 Next

[-----]

Ko Yuen Commentary
1. Hadith.

Return to text
2. Nuith.

Return to text
3. Ra-Hoor-Khuith.  Paragraphs 3-5 refer to certain technical practices which may be studied in Book 4, The Equinox and Liber AL vel. CCXX.

[Nexist Note:  Book Four (Liber ABA) is now available with Aleister Crowley's revisions for the second publishing from Weiser, The Equinox is available from 100 Publishing, and Liber AL vel legis sub figura CCXX is available on this site.]

Return to text

[-----]

Previous Tao Teh King
Main Page		 Next