Continuing with translating and offering commentary on the Dao De Jing, here is the second verse titled Cultivating the Main Point.

This chapter had a few fascinating and challenging lines. Enjoy!

Once beauty is recognized,
the idea of ugliness is created.

Once good is established,
  so is the notion of not good. 

In the same way… 

“Have” and “have not” create each other. 
“Difficulty” and “ease” turn into each other. 
“Long” and “short” form each other. 
“High” and “low” rely upon each other. 

Syllables and words echo each other. 
Before and after follow each other. 

All things are like this. 

Through this principle, the Wise abide:
 Serving without an agenda.
 Teaching by doing, not telling. 

In all the Wise do, they…

 Act without waxing lyrical.
 Create without possessing.
Do without imposition.
Succeed without acquisition.

Only in such non-accumulation can there be no loss.

Commentary

The opening two lines are pretty straightforward examples of how creating one side of a spectrum automatically sets up its opposite.

Once beauty is recognized,
the idea of ugliness is created.

Once good is established,
  so is the notion of not good. 

What’s less obvious, though, is that all dichotomies are arbitrary, fundamentally relative, and inclusive of each other. All of the examples given allude to different layers of this realization. Each can be fascinating to explore. Here are some of the things that come to mind in contemplating them.