Introduction

This verse is another one regularly translated as a vague philosophy of leadership and personal success. With all respect to the forebearers and scholars, I will (again) break sharply from that commentarial tradition. It’s pretty obviously a description of a meditative experience and an appeal to redouble our practice. 

You’ll notice very contemporary English in one line—this emerged from imagining someone speaking this text to another as instruction and is, perhaps surprisingly, very literal. In fact, this verse may be one of the most literally translated thus far. 

Translation

Established in the Great Appearance,
  Creation departs.

Departs and does not harm:
  extreme peace and calm.

Music and food
  make the guest pause.

Speaking of the Dao…
  Bland! Ugh, it has no flavor!

Watching it is not enough to see it.
Hearing it is not enough to listen to it.
Using it is not enough to finish it. 

Commentary 

Established in the Great Appearance,
  Creation departs. 

As mentioned in previous verses, in the deep meditation techniques of Daoism, like “sitting and forgetting,” the phenomenal world of sensory experience ceases to be perceived. In this liminal space of awareness without content, we most intimately connect with the force called Dao.