Introduction

Verse 43 is a pause-and-let-it-sink-in moment in our journey.

Enjoy!

Translation

Nature’s softest,
  overpowers nature’s hardest.

Yin and Yang join seamlessly.

I know (y)in-action’s action
  universally benefits.

Wordless teaching,
  (y)in-action’s universal benefit,
    Few can achieve it!

Commentary

Nature’s softest,
  overpowers nature’s hardest.

Water carving rock. The willow tree bends instead of breaks like the oak when the snow is heavy—rolling with the punches and fighting fire with water. By this point, the concept of softness being superior to hardness has been well-examined in the text. 

There is one interesting note here, which is the choice to use “overpowers” as the translation for 驰骋 (chíchěng). Chíchěng evokes horses running wild and means “rushing about,” with a secondary meaning of “to play an active part.” In one of the commentaries, there is a note defining this phase as:

“Chíchěng: freeing oneself to run. Here, it means directing something according to your will, to control easily.” 

This term generates a sense that softness is not just overcoming hardness but fundamentally overpowering hardness. Resolving the seeming paradox of softness being the greater force is a critical insight into Weaving the Way.