Chapter 52, Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi): English and Spanish Translations, Commentary, Concordance, Hanyu Pinyin Romanization, Links, Taoism, Bibliography, Versions (original) (raw)
Compiled and Indexed by Michael P. Garofalo
Chapter 52
Tao Te Ching(Dao De Jing)
25+ English Language Translations
"All under Heaven has a generatrix, which we regard as
the mother of all under Heaven.
Once one has access to the mother,
through it he can know the child.
Once one knows the child, if he again
holds on to the mother, as long as he lives,
no danger shall befall him.
Block up your apertures; close your door,
And to the end of your life you
will never be exhausted.
But if you open your apertures
and deal consciously with things,
to the end of your life you will never have relief.
To see the small is called "perspicacious."
To hold on to softness is called "strength."
Make use of its brightness,
But always let its brightness revert.
Never let one's person be exposed
to disaster: this is a matter of practicing constancy."
- Translation byRichard Lynn, Chapter 52
"Return to the Origin
Kuei Yuan
The world has a beginning as its mother.
Having got hold of the mother,
Know her children;
And having known the children,
Further hold on to the mother,
And you will survive the disappearance of the body.
Stop up the aperture of the vessel (tui),
And shut the doors (of the senses),
And you will not be devitalized all your life.
Open the aperture of the vessel,
And fulfill your carnal affairs,
And your whole life will be beyond salvation.
To be able to see the minute is to have keen vision;
To be able to remain docile is to be strong.
Make use of the light,
Withdraw its brilliance inward,
Cause no injury to your body -
This is called "Abide by the Immutable." "
- Translated by Henry Wei, 1982, Chapter 52
"Source: If we understand the origin, we see the outcome
The world has a source which is the mother of the world.
When we know the mother, we will understand her children.
In understanding her children we will regain the protection of the mother,
and until our death we will suffer no harm.
If we cease our idle chatter and close the door,
then we will have an easy life.
If we�re engaged in endless chatter, and crave many things,
then we will have a difficult life.
Noticing the subtle signs is to have understanding.
Keeping our sensitivity is to have strength.
By developing our clarity, we find wisdom.
If we don�t bring trouble into our lives,
we are able to practice equanimity."
- Translated by Roderic and Amy M. Sorrell, 2003, Chapter 52
"The universe had a beginning.
This beginning is the mother of all.
When you know the mother,
You know her children, too.
When you know the children,
Go back to be with the mother
And throughout your life you will suffer no harm.
Close the passageways,
Lock the entryways
And throughout your life you will not get worn out.
Open the passageways,
Multiply your concerns
And throughout your life you will not be saved.
If you see the insignificant you have discernment.
If you can remain flexible you are strong.
Use the rays and return to the source of light.
Do not be the cause of your own distress.
This is the way of practicing the constant."
- Translated by Agnieszka Solska, 2005, Chapter 52
"The universe has a beginning (Tao);
The beginning functions as the mother of all things.
If you know the mother,
You can get to know her children (all things);
If, while knowing the children,
You keep the mother,
You will be a sage all your life.
Block the openings (of knowledge),
Shut the door (of desires),
And you will be free from illness all your life.
Unlock the openings,
Add to your cares,
And you will be incurable all your life.
To be able to perceive the minute is called discernment;
To be able to play the role of the weak is called the strong.
Use the light
To return to the intrinsic discernment
And you will be free from disasters.
This is called the eternal Tao."
- Translated by Gu Zhengkun, Chapter 52
�All the universal things have a common origin. We regard it as the �Mother� of all things.
Gaining the mother, we can know its children,
Knowing how the children come into being, we can return to hold onto the mother.
Thus ensuring nor danger to life.
Closing the eyes and shutting up the mouth,
One can keep from sickness forever.
Opening the eyes to chase after desires and passions,
One can be helpless forever.
Watching less and less can be enlightened.
Holding onto the weak can be mighty.
Using the outgoing eyesight,
To turn to illuminate the inward,
Thus, there can be no disaster to the body.
This is called practicing enduring Tao.�
- Translated by Hu Huezhi, Chapter 52
"All creation consists of polarities.
The fundamental polarity of creation is called Plus/Minus. Yin/Yang, or Feminine/Masculine.
This fundamental polarity is self-impregnating.
It is an androgynous womb which produces everything.
Everything includes me.
I am a process consisting of polarities, which develop according to the single principle.
I am a child of God.
I come from the womb of creation.
This knowledge gives me stability.
If I were to put my faith in some thing or person or creed, I would have no stability.
People and things and creeds come and go and change all the time.
I would live in fear that the thing I adore would be lost,
or the person I obeyed would die, or the creed I followed would be altered.
So my only allegiance is to the single principle.
I can look at a person and see both principle and process in them.
I can see how they work.
I can see them actually working.
That is the basis of my ability as a group leader."
- Translated by John Heider, 1985, Chapter 52
"Learning The Absolute
Lao Tze says,
Since the beginning of the universe, there was the Tao which may be regarded as the mother of all existence.
When a man knows about the mother, he has to know about the son.
When he knows about the son, he proceeds to guard the mother that belongs to him, to the end of his life he will be free from all peril.
Let him keep his mouth closed, and shut up his eyes, and all his life he will be exempt from toil.
Let him keep his mouth open, and his eyes be used to examine the affairs, and all his life there will not be safety for him.
The perception of smallness is clear-sighted;
the guard of the soft and tender grows strong.
He who uses his light reverting to become bright, will ward all blight from his eyesight.
This is the so-called learning of the absolute."
- Translated by Shi Fu Hwang, Chapter 52
This webpage work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Red Bluff, California, � 2015 CCA 4.0
Lieh-Tzu: A Taoist Guide to Practical Living
Translated by Eva Wong
The Daodejing of Laozi
Translated by Philip Ivahoe
Daoism: A Beginner's Guide
By James Miller
Early Daoist Scriptures
Translated by Stephen Bokencamp
Lifestyle Advice from Wise Persons
Simple Taoism: A Guide to Living in Balance
By Alexander and Annellen Simpkins
Practical Taoism
Translated by Thomas Cleary
Daoism and Chinese Culture
By Livia Kohn
"The world had a beginning
And this beginning could be the mother of the world.
When you know the mother
Go on to know the child.
After you have known the child
Go back to holding fast to the mother,
And to the end of your days you will not meet with danger.
Block the openings,
Shut the doors,
And all your life you will not run dry.
Unblock the openings,
Add to your troubles,
And to the end of your days you will be beyond salvation.
To see the small is called discernment;
To hold fast to the submissive is called strength.
Use the light
But give up the discernment.
Bring not misfortune upon yourself.
This is known as following the constant."
- Translation byD. C. Lau, Chapter 52
"That which was the beginning of all things under heaven
We may speak of as the �mother� of all things.
He who apprehends the mother
Thereby knows the sons.
And he who has known the sons,
Will hold all the tighter to the mother,
And to the end of his days suffer no harm;
�Block the passages, shut the doors,
And till the end your strength shall not fail.
Open up the passages, increase your doings,
And till your last day no help shall come to you.�
As good sight means seeing what is very small
So strength means holding on to what is weak.
He who having used the outer-light can return to the innerlight
Is thereby preserved from all harm.
This is called resorting to the always-so."
- Translated byArthur Waley, Chapter 52
"The source is a mother.
Nature is her child.
To know the mother, know the children.
They - you - will always return to her.
They - you - will persist in death.
Stop your chattering,
close your eyes and find the still moment
that is the center and the end of life.
Find truth even, or especially, in what is smallest.
Let the light bathe your body.
Live."
- Translated by Crispin Starwell, Chapter 52
"All the things in the world have their origin in something, which is their foundation.
Having grasped the Mother as the foundation of all things, one can know her children as all things.
Having grasped the children as the thing, one must hold to the Mother as the foundation of all things.
Thus one will never encounter danger all his life.
Blocking the vent of knowledge and closing the door of knowledge can keep one from sickness all his life.
Opening the vent of knowledge and completing the enterprise of knowledge will make one helpless all his life.
So, perceiving the minute is "sagaciousness,"
Remaining soft and weak is "powerfulness."
Using one's contained light and reverting to one's sagaciousness of knowing the minute,
And thus keeping oneself from disaster, is to become accustomed to the eternal Way.
- Translated by Ren Jiyu, 1985, Chapter 52
Simple Taoism: A Guide to Living in BalanceBy Alexander Simkins.
The Tao of Daily Life: The Mysteries of the Orient Revealed
By Derek Lin.
Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony
By Ming-Dao Deng.
Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices
The Tao of Pooh
By Benjamin Hoff.
Scholar Warrior: An Introduction to the Tao in Everyday Life
By Ming-Dao Deng.
Vitality, Energy, Spirit: A Taoist Sourcebook
Translated by Thomas Cleary.
"If you trace problems in your relationship
back to the beginning
you will find their seeds
were sown and then ignored.
They grew unnoticed until their fruit
ripened and surprised you.
But if you can find
where the seeds were sown,
there you will find the roots as well.
And if you remove the roots
your problems will wither."
- Translated byWilliam Martin, Chapter 52
Chapter52
Indexing, Concordance, Search Terms, Topics, Themes, Keys
Tao Te Ching(Dao De Jing) by Lao Tzu
Classic Book (Ching) about the Tao (Way, Nature, Patterns, Processes) and Te (Virtue, Potency, Power, Integrity, Wise Person, Sage)
Indexing, Concordance, Search Terms, Topics, Themes, Keys
English and Chinese (Wade-Giles) Terms: Earth or Below Heaven (t'ien hsia), Returning to the Source, Has or Possess (yu), Great Mother (mu), Make or Become (wei), Soft or Tender (jou), Small (hsiao), Atain or Know (t�), Avoiding Misfortune, Tao, Study Origins or Beginning (shih), Return (fu), Silence, Hold or Keep (shou), Eternal, Person or Body (sh�n), Longevity, Free (pu), Danger or Harm (tai), Close or Stop Up (sai), Humility, Mouth or Opening (tui), Listening, Gate or Door (m�n), Seeds, Toil or Labor (ch'in), Open or Unlock (k'ai), Undying Nature, Meddle (chi), Softness, Brightness, Constancy, Limit Senses, Child (tzu), Strength, Dao, Nurturing, Illumination, Meditation, Inner Light, Constant, Insight or Know (chih), Inner Life, Contain Energy, Activities or Affairs (shih), End or Utmost (chung), Rescue or Save (chiu), Discern or See (chien), Light or Bright or Shine (ming, kuang), Roots, Hold or Keep (shou), Strong (ch'iang), Return (fu), Wither, Expose or Surrender (yi), Offspring, Misfortune or Danger (yang), Clarity, Practice or Custom (hsi), Enlightenment, Eternal or Everlasting (ch'ang), Quiet, Gentle, Examine Relationships, 歸元
T�rminos en Espa�ol: De Regreso a la Fuente, Gran Madre, Suave y Peque�a, Evitar Infortunio,Or�genes del Estudio, Silencio, Eterno, Longevidad, Humildad, Escuchar, Semillas, Naturaleza, Suavidad,Brillo, Constancia, LimiteSentidos, Ni�o, Puerta, Fuerza, Nutrir, Iluminaci�n, Meditaci�n,Vida Interior, Contienen Energ�a, Infortunio, Ra�z, Hijos, Claridad, Ilustraci�n, Tranquilo, Tierra, Poseer, Comienzo, Marca, Alcanzar,Conocer, Retorno, Mantenga, Persona, Gratuito, Peligro, Da�o, Cerrar, Boca, Puerta, Trabajo, Abrir, Desbloqueo, Entrometerse, Actividades, Fin, M�xima, Rescate, Guardar, Discernir, Ver, Brillante, Mantenga, Tierno, Fuerte, Retorno, Rendici�n, Infortunio,Personalizado, Eterno.
Electronic Concordance for Chapters 1 - 81 of the Tao Te Ching
A Chinese Language Version of Chapter 52 of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu Anoteon my style of displaying the Chinese characters of the Tao Te Ching
天下有始, 以為天下母.
既得1其母, 以知其子.
既知其子, 復守其母.
沒身不殆.
塞其兌, 閉其門, 終身不勤.
開其兌, 濟其事, 終身不救.
見小曰明.
守柔曰強.
用其光.
復歸其明.
無遺身殃.
是為習常.
- Chinese characters, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 52
t'ien hsia yu shih, yi wei t'ien hsia mu.
chi t� ch'i mu, yi chih ch'i tzu.
chi chih ch'i tzu, fu shou ch'i mu.
mo sh� pu tai.
sai ch'i tui, pi ch'i m�n, chung sh�n pu ch'in.
k'ai ch'i tui, chi ch'i shih, chung sh�n pu chiu.
chien hsiao y�eh ming.
shou jou y�eh ch'iang.
yung ch'i kuang.
fu kuei ch'i ming.
wu yi sh�n yang.
shih wei hsi ch'ang.
- Wade-Giles Romanization, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 52
Audio Version in Chinese of Chapter 52 of the Tao Te Ching
tian xia you shi, yi wei tian xia mu.
ji de qi mu, yi zhi qi zi.
ji zhi qi zi, fu shou qi mu.
mo shen bu dai.
se qi dui, bi qi men, zhong shen bu qin.
kai qi dui, ji qi shi, zhong shen bu jiu.
jian xiao yue ming.
shou rou yue qiang.
yong qi guang.
fu gui qi ming.
wu yi shen yang.
shi wei xi chang.
- Hanyu Pinyin Romanization, Daodejing, Chapter 52
Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters and English (includes a word by word key) from YellowBridge
Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, Hanyu Pinyin (1982) Romanization, English and German by Dr. Hilmar Alquiros.
Laozi Daodejing: Chapters with Chinese characters, seal script, detailed word by word concordance, Pinyin (tone#), German, French and English.
Chinese and English Dictionary, MDGB
Dao De Jing Wade-Giles Concordance by Nina, Dao is Open
Dao De Jing English and Wade-Giles Concordance by Mike Garofalo
Tao Te Ching in Pinyin Romanization with Chinese characters, WuWei Foundation
Tao Te Ching in Pinyin Romanization
Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters and English
Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, English, Word by word analysis, Zhongwen
Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Edition
Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters: Big 5 Traditional and GB Simplified
Chinese Characters, Wade-Giles and Pinyin Romanizations, and 16 English Translations for Each Chapter of the Daodejing by Mike Garofalo.
Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, Wade-Giles and Pinyin Romanization spellings, English; a word for word translation of the Guodian Laozi Dao De Jing Version.
Lao Zi's Dao De Jing: A Matrix Translation with Chinese Text by Bradford Hatcher.
"This world must have begun in certain way;
We may thenceforth consider it the origin (mother) of our world;
Once we manage to ascertain the origin, we could [apply it] to study its offsprings;
After we learn more about the offsprings, we may reciprocally eke out our knowledge about the mother (the origin);
This is my never-ending life-long quest.
If paths and openings of one's connections [to the outside world] are blocked, he will never be aroused to do anything in life;
If paths and openings of one's connections [to the outside world] are unlocked and he is properly motivated, he will never cease [from the quest described above].
One who perceives subtleties is brilliant;
One who maintains humility is strong.
One who would use [the light of Tao] to illuminate his [potential] brilliance will thus leave behind nothing that could cause misfortune to later generations.
A person, who achieves all of the above described fulfillment, is what I called the person with embodiment of the perpetual [Te]."
- Translated byLee Org, Chapter 52
Revealing the Tao Te Ching: In-Depth Commentaries on an Ancient Classic
By Hu Xuzehi
Tao Te Ching
Annotated translation by Victor Mair
Reading Lao Tzu: A Companion to the Tao Te Ching with a New Translation
By Ha Poong Kim
The Philosophy of the Daodejing
By Hans-Georg Moeller
Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices By Mike Garofalo
Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation
By Roger T. Ames and David T. Hall
Tao Te Ching on The Art of Harmony By Chad Hansen.
The Way and Its Power: Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching and Its Place in Chinese Thought
By Arthur Waley
Lifestyle Advice from Wise Persons
"The beginning of the universe, when materialized, is considered to be a mother.
When a man finds the mother, he will know the children, accordingly.
Even though he knows the children, he still clings to the mother:
Therefore, although his body wanes, he never perishes.
The person who shuts his mouth and closes his doors
Will never perish.
If he opens his mouth and increases his affairs,
He will never be saved.
The person who sees the tiniest thing possesses clear vision,
The person who adheres to the weak possesses strength.
Use your light, but dim your brightness,
In this way you will not do yourself any harm.
This is called following the eternal Tao."
- Translated byChou-Wing Chohan, Chapter 52
"Tao is the cause of everything.
By knowing the cause, the effects could be known.
Even from the middle of manifestations, the cause could be seen.
Thus the Wise Person lives in harmony,
He doesn't take any front position thus he is protected
Thus all problems are avoided.
The Wise Person can see the cause of things.
Being able to see the cause he can know the manifestations.
Being soft it is his strength, expanding he is always in harmony.
This is the way he lives in eternity."
- Translated by Sarbatoare, Chapter 52
"Being the essence, the universal beginning,
It is known as the Mother of All Things.
Knowing the Mother, the essence, the Tao -
All Things, being children of the Mother, are likewise known.
In truly knowing the children,
Better is the understanding of the Mother.
Harm and danger are forever elusive.
In silence and moderation of sensory disturbance,
Life's strengths are maintained.
In babble and meddlesome activity,
Life's burdens prevail.
Seeing the subtle and small is true vision.
Yielding, is the display of true strength.
Using wisely our worldly resources - the "Outer Lights",
The "Inner Lights" of true self are awakened and known.
Thus, eluding harm and danger,
Absolute and natural virtue prevail."
- Translated by Alan B. Taplow, 1982, Chapter 52
This webpage work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Red Bluff, California, � 2015 CCA 4.0
The Complete Works of Lao Tzu: Tao Teh Ching & Hua Hu Ching
Translation and elucidation by Hua Ching Ni
The Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu
Translated by Brian Walker
Tao Te Ching
Translated by Arthur Waley
Tao - The Way
Translated by Lionel and and Herbert Giles
Taoism: An Essential Guide
By Eva Wong
"When creation began, Tao became the world's mother.
When one knows one's mother he will m turn know that he is her son.
When he recognizes his sonship, he will in turn keep to his mother and to the end of life will be free from danger.
He who closes his mouth and shuts his sense gates will be free from trouble to the end of life.
He who opens his mouth and meddles with affairs cannot be free from trouble even to the end of life.
To recognize one's insignificance is called enlightenment.
To keep one's sympathy is called strength.
He who uses Tao's light returns to Tao's enlightenment and does not surrender his person to perdition.
This is called practicing the eternal."
- Translation byDwight Goddard, Chapter 52
"The origin and mother of everything in the world is Tao.
Know the mother and you can know the children.
Having known the children, return to their source and hold on to her.
Abiding by the mother, you are free from danger, even when your body dies.
Don't live for your senses.
Close your mouth, close all the body's openings, and reside in the original unity.
In this way you can pass your life in peace and contentment.
Open your mouth, increase your activities, start making distinctions between things, and you'll toil forever without hope.
See the subtle and be illuminated.
Abide in gentleness and be strong.
Use your light, and return to insight.
Don't expose yourself to trouble.
This is following Tao."
- Translation by Brian Browne Walker, 1996, Chapter 52
"In the beginning was the Tao; this beginning can be considered as the mother of all. Knowing the mother, one can come to know the children. Knowing the children, but returning to the mother; this will keep your spirit alive through death and decay. Keep your mouth shut, close the doors of desire, and you will live a virtuous and untroubled existence. But if you let your mouth go on, and let the desires of the world into your heart, your life will be one of unending toil and vexations. To see the small, obscure and detailed is clarity of vision. To live in gentleness and flexibility is strength. Use outlook and insight, and return to clear-sightedness Then you will avoid life's troubles. This is called cultivating consistency." - Translated by Rivenrock, Chapter 52
Chapter 52, Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, Cloud Hands Blog Post, July 18, 2014
Chapter 52, Dao De Jing, Laozi,Cloud Hands Blog Post, August 23, 2012
English Language Audio-Version, Four Translations of Chapter 52, Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, Reading byMichael P. Garofalo, January 1, 2015
Index to Audio Recordings of Readings by Michael P. Garofalo of Chapters of the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
Chapter Index to the Dao De Jing by Laozi
Tao Te Ching
Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching
Lao-Tzu and the Tao-Te-Ching
Dao De Jing: The Book of the Way
�Realizing the interplay of the _Tao_way of life
and the virtue of nuturing all things under heaven
will introduce you to the primal mother
The mother of the world
resting peacefully with the mother
will introduce you to her sons and daughters
The sons and daughters of the world
these children can be exhausting
and though they mean no harm
trying to follow or control them
will only bring great danger to you
To be safe
rest peacefully with the mother
gently close your eyes
and look inward
softly direct your eyes
to listen within
lightly close your mouth
raise your tongue to its roof
and quietly savor the interior
gently lift your crown
sit firm with a relaxed hold
on your bodymind
and let her love
fill you up
you will never be empty
again
remember
chasing children
brings calamity
no matter
how hard
you try
to follow
or grasp them
the whole universe is in the palm
of your hand
but without
illumination
you cannot see it
the real world is not open
to the rational mind
the ancient child asks
when you have rested sufficiently
in the arms of the primal mother
and you vision begins to clear
what occurs
it is an unexpected sense of making
that first arises within the bodymind
then you are engulfed in a benevolent flame
that outlines rather than burns
and I do not know if I am
the source or the witness
the senses play
leaping to and fro
mischievously acting against their nature
emotions of comfort and satisfaction swell
so that even the harshest rain
feels like a lover�s kiss
resting deeper
you fell as if an unseen enemy
has been vanquished
and life courses through you limbs
as the warrior�s belt collects you
the connection to the Tao source and way of life
becomes punctuated and definite
possessed of a wholly benevolent clarity
language leaves you
and a light and sensitive energy collects at your
crown
visions cascade upon you so rapidly
that it becomes impossible
to divide or discern
what we normally regard as real
death becomes impossible
fire and force penetrate deeply
within you bodymind
and a new truth shapes you
into someone altogether different
you begin to breathe
the Tao way of life
as true respiration
within a quickening
that shines out
for all to see
spinning out of the quickening
you understand the mother�s children
you sing and dance
you paint and play
you look at the palm of your hand and
you see
you can still make mistakes
you can still be confused
you can still misstep
but you will always have the eyes of the Tao
however
should you ever see yourself as separate from it
you will cease
to see
altogether�
- Translation and Interpretation by the Reverend VenerableJohn Bright-Fey, Chapter 52
"Everything begins with the Tao and ends with the Tao.
To know it retrace the steps of your life.
When you reach back to the beginning, the Tao lies herein.
Then you will realise there is no death.
Without desire your heart is at peace.
Without judgment your mind is clear.
See who it is that sees.
Witness thoughts come and go.
Turn the light around and find its source.
Practicing this leads to enlightenment."
- Translated byDavid Bullen, Chapter 52
"The Light-abyss of the Tao is the Mother of all beings.
One who recognizes the Mother knows that he is a child of God.
Aware of his filiation he is on his way home.
Returning home he is lifted out of impermanence.
One who shuts his sense-gates and keeps silent lives without trouble.
But one who turns his senses outward and opens his mouth remains a slave of fear and death.
One who sees the origin in all is enlightened and who like growing things preserves his softness is strong.
One who loses the Inner Light loses nothing at the passing of his body,
Shining in Tao he is heir to the Eternal."
- Translated by K. O. Schmidt, 1975, Chapter 52
Walking the Way: 81 Zen Encounters with the Tao Te Ching
The Tao of Zen
Lifestyle Advice from Wise Persons
Tao Te Ching: Zen Teachings on the Taoist Classic
Buddhism and Taoism Face to Face: Scripture, Ritual, and Iconographic Exchange in Medieval China
Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices
"While in the world gain possession of the Life-Spring in order that you may become a World-Mother.
When you have attained to Motherhood you will know your children.
When you know your children you will retain your Motherhood.
Then, though the body may disappear, You will not be hurt.
Close the door of the mouth,
Shut the doors of the senses,
Throughout life your body will not be fatigued.
Open your mouth,
Increase your business affairs,
Throughout life your body will not be safe.
To perceive the small is called clear vision.
To guard the weak is called strength.
Follow the Light, you will reflect its radiance.
Neglect the Inner Life, your body will meet with calamity.
This is called the eternal heritage."
- Translated by Isabella Mears, 1916, Chapter 52
"In the beginning was the Tao; this beginning can be considered as the mother of all.
Knowing the mother, one can come to know the children.
Knowing the children, but returning to the mother; this will keep your spirit alive through death and decay.
Keep your mouth shut, close the doors of desire, and you will live a virtuous and untroubled existence.
But if you let your mouth go on, and let the desires of the world into your heart,
your life will be one of unending toil and vexations.
To see the small, obscure and detailed is clarity of vision.
To live in gentleness and flexibility is strength.
Use outlook and insight, and return to clear-sightedness Then you will avoid life's troubles.
This is called cultivating consistency."
- Translated by Rivenrock, Chapter 52
"The beginning of the Universe, when manifested, may be regarded as its Mother.
When a man has found the Mother, he will know the children accordingly;
Though he has known the children, he still keeps to the Mother:
Thus, however his body may decay, he will never perish.
If he shuts his mouth and closes his doors,
He can never be exhausted.
If he opens his mouth and increases his affairs,
He can never be saved.
To see the minuteness of things is called clarity of sight.
To keep to what is weak is called power.
Use your light, but dim your brightness;
Thus you will cause no harm to yourself.
This is called following the eternal Tao."
- Translated by Ch'u Ta-Kao, 1904, Chapter 52
Further Teachings of Lao-Tzu: Understanding the Mysteries (Wen Tzu)
The Lunar Tao: Meditations in Harmony with the Seasons
Awakening to the Tao
Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices By Mike Garofalo
Zhuangzi: The Essential Writings with Selections from Traditional Commentaries
The Inner Chapters of Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi)Translated by A. C. Graham
"When all under heaven had beginning, thereby
The Mother of the World came to be,
When one knows the mother, he will next know the child.
Who keeps to the mother, and remains unbeguiled,
Though his body die, from danger will be free.
Who keeps close his mouth and the gates of the sense,
When his body ends, from trouble will be free,
Who keeps his mouth open, and meddles with affair.,
When his body ends,has no immunity.
To see what is small, this is called enlightenment,
To keep what is tender, this is strength,
Make use of the Light, returning home to its source,
You will lose not your body in calamity' s course,
And will train with the Eternal at length."
- Translated by Isaac Winter Heysinger, 1903, Chapter 52
"The world (t'ien hsia) has an origin (shih),
Which is the world's (t'ien hsia) mother (mu).
Having reached the mother,
(We) know her child.
Having known the child,
Return and abide by its mother.
(In this way) one loses the body without becoming exhausted.
Stop the apertures (tui),
Close the doors,
(In this way) one's whole life (shen) is without toil (ch'in).
Open the apertures,
Going about the affairs,
(In this way) one's whole life (shen) cannot be saved.
To see the small is called illumination (ming).
To abide by the soft is called strength.
Use the bright light (kuang),
But return to the dim light (ming),
Do not expose your life (shen) to perils,
Such is to follow (hsi) the everlasting (ch'ang)."
- Translated byEllen M. Chen, Chapter 52
"Von der Kraft schweigenden Lebens
Das Unergr�ndliche ist der Mutterscho� der Welt.
Wer seine Mutter erkennt, wei� um seine Kindschaft;
wer sich als Kind erkannt, lebt der Mutter Leben;
er sieht in seinem Untergang einmal keine Gefahr.
Wer verhaltener Sinne bleibt
und seine Kr�fte wahrt, der ersch�pft sich nicht.
Wer sich aber ausgibt
und sich umtriebig in alles mischt,
der lebt vergeblich.
Wer sich bewusst ist, nur ein F�nklein zu Seyn,
der ist erleuchtet.
Wer als Werdender weich und schmiegsam bleibt,
der ist stark.
Wer so erleuchtet in des Lichtes Ursprung zur�ckkehrt,
den trifft kein Untergang.
Unsterblich ist, wer im Wesen west
und an keiner Gestalt haftet.
- Translated by Rudolf Backofen, 1949, Chapter
"Die Welt hat einen Anfang,
das ist die Mutter der Welt.
Wer die Mutter findet,
um ihre S�hne zu kennen,
wer ihre S�hne kennt
und sich wieder zur Mutter wendet,
der kommt sein Leben lang nicht in Gefahr.
Wer seinen Mund schlie�t
und seine Pforten zumacht,
der kommt sein Leben lang nicht in M�hen.
Wer seinen Mund auftut
und seine Gesch�fte in Ordnung bringen will,
dem ist sein Leben lang nicht zu helfen.
Das Kleinste sehen hei�t klar sein.
Die Weisheit w�hlen hei�t stark sein.
Wenn man sein Licht benutzt,
um zu dieser Klarheit zur�ckzukehren,
so bringt man seine Person nicht in Gefahr,
Das hei�t die H�lle der Ewigkeit."
- Translated by Richard Wilhelm, 1911, Chapter 52
"The world has an origin.
The origin is the mother.
Knowing the mother, we know the son.
Knowing the son, we deduce the mother.
This way, we can be successful.
Plugging leakages,
Closing openings,
We can never be depleted.
Opening leakages,
Making too many commitments,
We can be hopeless.
Those who pay attention to details are wise.
Those who exercise flexibility are strong.
Use the light,
Things are illuminated.
Thus we can avoid mistakes.
This is called normal behavior."
- Translated by Thomas Z. Zhang, Chapter 52
This webpage work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Red Bluff, California, � 2015 CCA 4.0
Tao Te Ching: An Illustrated Journey
Tao Te Ching
The Book of Tao: Tao Te Ching - The Tao and Its Characteristics
Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices
Taoism: Growth of a Religion
Zhuangzi (Chuang Tsu), Daoist Scripture: Bibliography, Links, Resources, Quotations, Notes
Zhuangzi: Basic Writings
Zhuangzi Speaks: The Music of Nature
Lifestyle Advice from Wise Persons
"That from which the universe sprang may be looked upon as its Mother.
By knowing the Mother you have access to the child.
And if, knowing the child, you prefer the Mother, though your body perish, yet you will come to no harm.
Keep your mouth shut, and close up the doors of sight and sound, and as long as you live you will have no vexation.
But open your mouth, or become inquisitive, and you will be in trouble all your life long.
To perceive things in the germ is intelligence.
To remain gentle is to be invincible.
Follow the light that guides you homeward, and do not get lost in the darkness.
This I call using the eternal."
- Translated by Walter Gorn Old, 1904, Chapter 52
"The universe has its mother - Dao,
The world has its mother - the universe.
As we already know the mother of the universe - Dao, we should know how to rule her son - the world.
As we already know her son - the world, we should know how to follow his mother - Dao.
By so doing, there will be no discontinuation of life even though a human body will die.
Close the entrances to attractions and control the excess of desires, till the end of life, there will be no effort to work.
Open the entrances to attractions, multiply excess of desires, till the end of life, there will be no completion of work.
One who knows a limited truth is intelligent.
To be gentle is to be strengthened.
One who uses his bright senses and recovers his enlightenment will not let himself be in a perilous situation.
This is called the awareness of eternity."
- Translated by Tang Zi-Chang, Chapter 52
"The source of life
Is as a mother.
Be fond of both mother and children but know the mother dearer
And you outlive death.
Curb your tongue and senses
And you are beyond trouble,
Let them loose
And you are beyond help.
Discover that nothing is too small for clear vision,
Too insignificant for tender strength~
Use outlook
And insight,
Use them both
And you are immune:
For you have witnessed eternity."
- Translated by Witter Bynner, 1944, Chapter 52
"Le principe du monde est devenu la m�re du monde.
D�s qu'on poss�de la m�re, on conna�t ses enfants.
D�s que l'homme conna�t les enfants et qu'il conserve leur m�re, jusqu'� la fin de sa vie il n'est expos� � aucun danger.
S'il cl�t sa bouche, s'il ferme ses oreilles et ses yeux jusqu'au terme de ses jours, il n'�prouvera aucune fatigue.
Mais s'il ouvre sa bouche et augmente ses d�sirs, jusqu'� la fin de sa vie, il ne pourra �tre sauv�.
Celui qui voit les choses les plus subtiles s'appelle �clair� ; celui qui conserve la faiblesse s'appelle fort.
S'il fait usage de l'�clat du Tao et revient � sa lumi�re, son corps n'aura plus � craindre aucune calamit�.
C'est l� ce qu'on appelle �tre doublement �clair�."
- Translated byStanislas Julien, 1842, Chapter 52
Spanish Language Versions of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) Tao Te Ching en Espa�ol
Lao Ts� Tao Te Ching 
Tao Te Ching Traducido por Stephen Mitchell, versi�n espa�ola
Tao Te Ching Traducido al espa�ol por el Padre Carmelo Elorduy
Lifestyle Advice from Wise Persons Consejos de Estilo de Vida de Sabios
Lao Tzu-The Eternal Tao Te Ching
Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices By Mike Garofalo Maduraci�n Duraznos: Estudios y Pr�cticas Tao�stas por Mike Garofalo
Tao Te Ching
Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching
Tao te king
Daodejing Espa�ol, Ingl�s, y Chino Versiones Ling��sticas de la Daodejing
Spanish Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching
"Todo cuanto existe tuvo un Origen Com�n.
Este Origen es la madre del Universo.
Quien conoce a la madre
conoce a los hijos.
Quien conoce a los hijos
preserva a la madre
y su vida no correr� peligro.
Quien tapa los orificios,
y cierra las puertas,
vivir� sin problemas.
Quien abre los orificios,
y aumenta sus trabajos,
vivir� su vida asediado.
Ser l�cido es ver lo �nfimo.
Guiarse por lo flexible otorga fortaleza.
Usar la luz,
retornar y restituir la Iluminaci�n.
No abandonar la vida de uno a la calamidad.
De esta manera, se practica la eternidad."
- Translation fromWikisource, 2013, Cap�tulo 52
"El mundo tiene un principio,
que es la madre del mundo.
Quien ha encontrado a la madre,
conocer� a los hijos;
quien conoce a los hijos,
se torna y conserva a la madre,
y as� termina sus d�as sin encontrar el peligro.
Si bloqueas las aberturas,
y cierras las puertas,
llegar�s sin debilitarte al final de la vida.
Si franqueas las aberturas,
y multiplicas tus ocupaciones,
llegar�s al final de la vida sin salvaci�n posible.
Ver lo peque�o se llama clarividencia,
conservarse d�bil se llama fortaleza.
Usa la luz,
para retornar a la claridad original.
As� evitar�s las desgracias,
esto se llama seguir lo permanente."
- Translated byJuan Ignacio Preciado, 1978, Tao Te Ching, Cap�tulo 52
"Todo cuanto se encuentra bajo el Cielo tiene un Origen com�n.
Este Origen es la Madre del mundo.
Tras concocer a la Madre, podemos empezar a conocer a sus hijos.
Tras conocer a los hijos, debemos retornar y preservar a la Madre.
Quien lo hace no correr� peligro, aunque su cuerpo sea aniquilado.
Bloquea todos los pasajes!
Cierra todas las puertas!
Y al final de tus d�as no estar�s rendido.
Abre los pasajes!
Multiplica tus actividades!
Y al final de tus d�as permanecer�s indefenso.
Ver lo peque�o es tener visi�n interna.
Preservar la debilidad es ser fuerte.
Utiliza las luces, pero vuelve a tu visi�n interna.
No atraigas desgracias sobre ti.
�sta es la manera de cultivar lo Inmutable."
- Translated into Spanish byAlfonso Colodr�n from the English translation by John C. H. Wu, 1993, Cap�tulo 52
"Aquello por lo que el mundo tiene principio es la Madre del mundo.
Tener la Madre es conocer al Hijo, y conocer al Hijo es, a su vez, guardarla Madre.
De este modo aun sumergido en el agua, no se peligra.
Tapona los orificios, cierra las puertas y no sentir�s fatigatoda tu vida.
Abrir los agujeros, atarearse en remediar asuntos es no salvartepor toda tu vida.
Ver lo peque�o es ver con claridad.
Conservarseblando es ser fuerte.
Servirse de su luz, para volver a su claridad y nodejar enfermar el cuerpo, es vestirse de pervivencia."
- Translated byCarmelo Elorduy, 2006, Cap�tulo 52
"Todo tu que se encuentra bajo el cielo tiene un principio, �ste principio es la madre del mundo.
Quien conoce a la madre, conoce al hijo.
Quien conoce al hijo y se queda con la madre est� libre de peligros durante toda su vida.
Cierra tu boca.
Mant�n cerradas las puertas y no tendr�s penas hasta el fin de tus d�as.
Si abres tu boca, si te preocupas de tus propias cosas, hasta el fin de tus d�as no encontrar�s bienestar.
El que ve tu peque�o es un vidente.
Quien conoce su debildad mantiene fortaleza.
Quien emplea su propia luz para volver a su misma claridad y no gasta su cuerpo in�tilmente, cultiva lo que es perdurable."
- Translation fromLogia Medio Dia, 2015, Cap�tulo 52
This webpage work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Red Bluff, California, � 2015 CCA 4.0
Next Chapter of the Tao Te Ching #53
Previous Chapter of the Tao Te Ching #51
Chapter and Thematic Index to the Tao Te Ching
Tao Te Ching Commentary, Interpretations, Research Tools, Resources Chapter 52
Das Tao Te King von Lao Tse. Complete versions of all 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching by many different translators in many languages: 124 English, 24 German, 14 Russian, 7 Spanish, 5 French and many other languages. Links are organized first by languages, and then alphabetically by translators. Formatting varies somewhat. The original website at Onekellotus went offline in 2012; but, the extensive collection of these Tao Te Ching versions was saved for posterity by the Internet Archive Wayback Machine and available as of 9/9/2015. This is an outstanding original collection of versions of the _Daodejing_─ the Best on the Internet. Caution: copyright infringement may sometimes be an issue at this website.
Tao Te Ching, Translations into English: Terebess Asia Online (TAO). 124 nicely formatted complete English language translations, on separate webpages, of the Daodejing. Alphabetical index by translators. Each webpage has all 81 chapters of the Tao Te Ching translated into English. A useful collection! Many reformatted and colored versions from the original collection atDas Tao Te King von Lao Tse. Caution: copyright infringement may sometimes be an issue at this website.
Lao Tzu: Te-Tao Ching - A New Translation Based on the Recently Discovered Ma-wang-tui Texts (Classics of Ancient China)
Daodejing by Laozi: Chapters with Chinese characters, seal script, detailed word by word concordance, Pinyin (tone#), German, French and English. This is an outstanding resource for serious students of the Tao Te Ching.
Tao Te Ching: A New Translation and Commentary. By Ellen Chen. Paragon House, 1998. Detailed glossary, index, bibliography, notes, 274 pages.
The Tao and Method: A Reasoned Approach to the Tao Te Ching. By Michael Lafargue. New York, SUNY Press, 1994. 640 pages. Detailed index, bibliography, notes, and tables. An essential research tool.
Two Visions of the Way: A Study of the Wang Pi and the Ho-Shang Kung Commentaries on the Lao-Tzu. By Professor by Alan Kam-Leung Chan. SUNY Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture. State University of New York Press, 1991. Index, bibliography, glossary, notes, 314 pages. ISBN: 0791404560.
Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Edition
Chinese Reading of the DaodejingWang Bi's Commentary on the Laozi with Critical Text and Translation. By Professor Rudolf G. Wagner. A SUNY Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture. English and Mandarin Chinese Edition. State University of New York Press; Bilingual edition (October 2003). 540 pages. ISBN: 978-0791451823. Wang Bi (Wang Pi, Fusi), 226-249 CE,Commentary on the Tao Te Ching.
Tao Te Ching
The Taoism Reader
Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao
The Lunar Tao: Meditations in Harmony with the Seasons
The Classic of the Way and Virtue: A New Translation of the Tao-te Ching of Laozi as Interpreted by Wang Bi.Translated by Richard John Lynn. Translations from the Asian Classics Series. New York, Columbia University Press, 1999. Extensive index, glossaries, notes, 244 pages.
Tao Te Ching in Chinese characters, Pinyin Romanization, English and German by Dr. Hilmar Alquiros.
Yellow Bridge Dao De Jing Comparison Table Provides side by side comparisons of translations of the Tao Te Ching by James Legge, D. T. Suzuki, and Dwight Goddard. Chinese characters for each paragraph in the Chapter are on the left; place your cursor over the Chinese characters to see the Pinyin Romanization of the Chinese character and a list of meanings.
Translators Index, Tao Te Ching Versions in English, Translators Sorted Alphabetically by Translator, Links to Books and Online Versions of the Chapters
Taoism and the Tao Te Ching: Bibliography, Resources, Links
Spanish Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching, Daodejing en Espa�ol, Translators Index
The Tao of Zen
Chapter 1 in theRambling Taoist Commentaries by Trey Smith. The Rambling Taoists are Trey Smith and Scott Bradley.
The Philosophy of the Daodejing
Valley Spirit, Gu Shen, Concept, Chapter 6 Valley Spirit Center in Red Bluff, California. Sacred Circle in the Gushen Grove.
Lao-tzu's Taoteching
Reading Lao Tzu: A Companion to the Tao Te Ching with a New Translation
Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation
Thematic Index to the 81 Chapters of the Tao Te Ching
Lieh-Tzu: A Taoist Guide to Practical Living
Revealing the Tao Te Ching: In-depth Commentaries on an Ancient Classic
Cloud Hands BlogMike Garofalo writes about Mind-Body Arts, Philosophy, Taoism, Gardening, Taijiquan, Walking, Mysticism, Qigong, and the Eight Ways.
The Whole Heart of Tao: The Complete Teachings From the Oral Tradition of Lao Tzu.
Gushen Grove Notebooks for the Tao Te Ching
Research and Indexing by
Michael P. Garofalo
Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Red Bluff, California
Green Way Research, 2011-2015.
Indexed and Compiled byMichael P. Garofalo
This webpage was last edited, restructured, improved, modified or updated on August 16, 2021.
This webpage was first distributed online on May 4, 2011.
This webpage work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Created by Michael P. Garofalo, Green Way Research, Valley Spirit Center, Gushen Grove Notebooks, Red Bluff, California, � 2015 CCA 4.0
Brief Biography of Michael P. Garofalo, M.S.
Valley Spirit Center, Red Bluff, California
Study Chi Kung or Tai Chi or Philosophy with Mike Garofalo
Ripening Peaches: Daoist Studies and Practices
Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu, Zhuang Zhou, Master Chuang) 369�286 BCE
Taoist Perspectives: My Reading List
Bodymind Theory and Practices, Somaesthetics
How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons
Qigong (Chi Kung) Health Practices
One Old Daoist Druid's Final Journey: Notebooks of the Librarian of Gushen Grove
Index to Cloud Hands and Valley Spirit Websites
Gushen Grove Notebooks for the Tao Te Ching
Bibliography
Index to English Language Translators of the Tao Te Ching
Thematic Index 1-81
Chapter Index 1-81
Recurring Themes (Terms, Concepts, Leimotifs) in the Tao Te Ching
Spanish Language Translations of the Tao Te Ching
Comments, Feedback, Kudos, Suggestions
Chinese Characters, Wade-Giles (1892) and Hanyu Pinyin (1982) Romanizations
The Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) circa 500 BCE