Chapter VII
(Chapter 7)
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Ko Yuen Translation |
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The Concealment of the Light |
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| 1. | Heaven and Earth are mighty in continuance, because their work is delivered from the lust of result. |
| 2. | Thus also the sage, seeking not any goal, attaineth all things; he doth not interfere in the affairs of his body, and so that body acteth without friction. It is because he meddleth not with personal aims that these come to pass with simplicity. |
S. Mitchell Translation |
| The Tao is infinite, eternal. Why is it eternal? It was never born; thus it can never die. Why is it infinite? It has no desires for itself; thus it is present for all beings. The Master stays behind; that is why she is ahead. |
James Legge Translation |
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| 1. | Heaven is long-enduring and earth continues long. The reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is because they do not live of, or for, themselves. This is how they are able to continue and endure. |
| 2. | Therefore the sage puts his own person last, and yet it is found in the foremost place; he treats his person as if it were foreign to him, and yet that person is preserved. Is it not because he has no personal and private ends, that therefore such ends are realised? |
GNL not Lao Interpolation |
Complete |
| Nature is complete because it does not serve itself.
The sage places himself after and finds himself before, He is complete because he does not serve himself. |
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