The Tao Te Ching – Chapter 41

English Translation

The wise student hears of the Tao and practices it diligently. The average student hears of the Tao and gives it thought now and again. The foolish student hears of the Tao and laughs aloud. If there were no laughter, the Tao would not be what it is. Hence it is said: The bright path seems dim; going forward seems like retreat; the easy way seems hard; the highest Virtue seems empty; great purity seems sullied; a wealth of Virtue seems inadequate; the strength of Virtue seems frail; real Virtue seems unreal; the perfect square has no corners; great talents ripen late; the highest notes are hard to hear; the greatest form has no shape. The Tao is hidden and without name. The Tao alone nourishes and brings everything to fulfillment.

Original Text

上士闻道，勤而行之；中士闻道，若存若亡；下士闻道，大笑之。不笑不足以为道。故建言有之：”明道若昧，进道若退，夷道若类，上德若谷，大白若辱，广德若不足，建德若偷；质真若渝，大方无隅，大器晚成，大音希声，大象无形。”道隐无名，夫唯道善始且善成。

Explanation with Examples

1. The Tao is a paradoxical and mysterious teaching that can seem counterintuitive or even laughable to the uninitiated. Just as a bright path may seem dim to those accustomed to darkness, the way of the Tao may seem obscure or difficult to those who are not ready to receive it.
2. The highest virtues and talents often manifest in ways that seem empty, inadequate, or unreal to the worldly mind. Just as a perfect square has no corners and the greatest form has no shape, the true essence of the Tao is beyond the realm of appearances and cannot be grasped through conventional means.

Call to Action

To truly understand and embody the Tao, we must be willing to let go of our preconceptions and embrace the paradoxical nature of reality. By cultivating a diligent practice and a open and receptive mind, we can begin to align ourselves with the subtle and nourishing power of the Tao.

Take action today:

• Approach the teachings of the Tao with a beginner’s mind, letting go of preconceptions and judgments
• Cultivate a diligent practice of studying and embodying the principles of the Tao in your daily life
• Embrace the paradoxical nature of reality, recognizing that the highest truths often seem counterintuitive or even laughable to the uninitiated
• Trust in the nourishing and transformative power of the Tao, even when its workings are hidden and unnamed
• Remember that the Tao alone brings everything to fulfillment, and that by aligning ourselves with its principles, we can find true wisdom and enlightenment

By cultivating a diligent practice and a open and receptive mind, we can begin to align ourselves with the subtle and nourishing power of the Tao. Remember that the Tao is hidden and without name, and that its workings are often paradoxical and mysterious, but that by trusting in its transformative power, we can find true wisdom and fulfillment.

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