Weaving the Way

The great nation 
is downstream. 
The World’s receptivity
  is its threshold.  

Govern the Nation,
  as one would fry a small fish.

When the World is governed by Dao,
  its “ghosts” do not stir. 

In Regulating the Person,
  or Attending to Heaven,
Conservation is best.

In one’s disengaged governance,
their people are like alcohol.
In one’s engaged governance,
 their people are absent.

Disaster! Happiness leans on it. 
Happiness! Disaster conceals it. 

Knowing is speechless.
  Speaking is not knowing.

Shut one’s eyes and ears,
  Block one’s gates,
    Harmonize one’s vastness,
      Unify one’s dusts,
        Nourish one’s basin,
          Eliminates one’s agitation.

A fully Integrated person
  is like a newborn.

Unstung by any poisonous creature,
  no predator has yet sunk in their claws.
Fragile bones, soft muscles,
  and yet a firm grip.

Perfected foundation,
  unshakeable.
Perfected embrace,
  all-inclusive.
Honored for generations.

Make me rely on having knowledge
  to walk on the Great Way
    and all I fear is going awry.

Everything under heaven has a beginning
  that serves as its mother.

Knowing the mother,
  is knowledge of the child.
Knowing the child,
  preserves the mother.
There is no danger of it disappearing.

Dao creates it; De nurtures it.
Matter forms it; Reason matures it.

This is why all that is,
  venerates Dao and cherishes De.