Chapter 10

I’m easing back into the writing after the Holidays with chapter ten of the Tao Te Ching. For Lao Tsu, life had a natural flow, just as water flows downhill. Accepting water’s nature lets you gently guide it where every dam carries the risk of a catastrophic breach. The task of a leader is gently guide the water so that it is useful to everyone, not diverted for private benefit. The parent’s task is to help the child become a separate person. The leader’s task is to protect those people from the greed and self—important demands of those who would serve themselves only. Preventing others doing harmful thing touches on the idea of “not doing yet leaving nothing undone”.

Chapter 10

Carrying body and soul and embracing the one,

Can you avoid separation?

Attending fully and becoming supple,

Can you be a newborn babe?

Washing and cleaning the primal vision,

Can you be without stain?

Loving all men and ruling the country,

Can you be without cleverness?

Opening and closing the gate of heaven,

Can you play the role of woman?

Understanding and being open to all things,

Are you able to do nothing?

Giving birth and nourishing,

Bearing yet not possessing

Working yet taking no credit,

Leading yet not dominating,

This is the Primal Virtue.