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when （and； yes； I know how cliched this sounds） the planes crashed into the World Trade
Center and I realized I'd still been wasting too much of my life on things that didn't pan out。
Instead of talking about getting serious about my life； it was time to actually do it。 （Living
through the following two and a half years has also made me appreciate chapters 30 and
31 a lot more； for reasons that will become readily apparent。）
So here you arewith my own name attached； as thepseudonym has long since fallen
away。 From a scholar's point of view； this TTC is unfaithful to the original text on more than
one occasion； if not in every single line。 Case in point： in chapter 20； Lao Tzu didn't exactly
say； 〃Don't spend too much time thinking about stupid shit。〃 For all the liberties I've taken
with his words； however； I've made every attempt to stay true to his message； and I hope
you'll find something useful in my efforts。
Ron Hogan
（tao@beatrice）
January 2004
…
PART ONE
TAO （THE WAY）
…
1。
If you can talk about it；
it ain't Tao。
If it has a name；
it's just another thing。
Tao doesn't have a name。
Names are for ordinary things。
Stop wanting stuff；
it keeps you from seeing what's real。
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第一〇章 TheTaoTeChing
When you want stuff；
all you see are things。
Those two sentences
mean the same thing。
Figure them out；
and you've got it made。
2。
If something looks beautiful to you；
something else must be ugly。
If something seems good；
something else must seem bad。
You can't have
something without nothing。
If no job is difficult；
then no job is easy。
Some things are up high
because other things are down low。
You know you're listening to music
because it doesn't sound like noise。
All that came first；
so this must be next。
The Masters get the job done
without moving a muscle
and get their point across
without saying a word。
When things around them fall apart；
they stay cool。
They don't own much；
but they use whatever's at hand。
They do the work
without expecting any favors。
When they're done；
they move on to the next job。
That's why their work is so damn good。
3。
If you toss compliments around freely；
people will waste your time
trying to impress you。
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If you give things too much value；
you're going to get ripped off。
If you try to please people；
you'll just make them pissed。
The Master leads
by clearing the crap
out of people's heads
and opening their hearts。
He lowers their aspirations
and makes them suck in their guts。
He shows you how to forget
what you know and what you want；
so nobody can push you around。
If you think you've got the answers；
he'll mess with your head。
Stop doing stuff all the time；
and watch what happens。
4。
How much Tao is there？
More than you'll ever need。
Use all you want；
there's plenty more
where that came from。
You can't see Tao； but it's there。
Damned if I know where it came from。
It's just always been around。
5。
Tao's neutral：
it doesn't worry about good or evil。
The Masters are neutral：
they treat everyone the same。
Lao Tzu said Tao is like a bellows：
It's empty；
but it could help set the world on fire。
If you keep using Tao； it works better。
If you keep talking about it；
it won't make any sense。
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第一〇章 TheTaoTeChing
Be cool。
6。
Tao is an eternal mystery；
and everything starts with Tao。
Everybody has Tao in them。
They just have to use it。
7。
Tao never stops。 Why？
Because it isn't trying to accomplish anything。
The Masters hang back。
That's why they're ahead of the game。
They don't hang on to things。
That's how they manage to keep them。
They don't worry
about what they can't control。
That's why they're always satisfied。
8。
〃Doing the right thing〃 is like water。
It's good for all living things；and flows without thinking about where it's going
。。。just like Tao。
Keep your feet on the ground。
Remember what's important。
Be there when people need you。
Say what you mean。
Be prepared for anything。
Do whatever you can；
whenever it needs doing。
If you don't
compare yourself to others；
nobody can compare to you。
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9。
If you drink too much； you get drunk。
The engine won't start
if you're always tinkering with it。
If you hoard wealth；
you fall into its clutches。
If you crave success；
hyou succumb to failure。
Do what you have to do；
then walk away。
Anything else will drive you nuts。
10。
Can you hold on to your ego
and still stay focused on Tao？
Can you relax your mind and body
and brace yourself for a new life？
Can you check yourself
and see past
what's in front of your eyes？
Can you be a leader
and not try to prove you're in charge？
Can you deal with what's happening
and let it happen？
Can you forget what you know
and understand what's real？
Start a job and see it through。
Have things
without holding on to them。
Do the job
without expectation of reward。
Lead people
without giving orders。
That's the way you do it。
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第一〇章 TheTaoTeChing
11。
A wheel has spokes；
but it rotates around a hollow center。
A pot is made out of clay or glass；
but you keep things in the space inside。
A house is made of wood or brick；
but you live between the walls。
We work with something；
but we use nothing。
12。
Sight obscures。
Noise deafens。
Desire messes with your heart。
The world messes with your mind。
A Master watches the world
but keeps focused on what's real。
13。
Winning can be just as bad as losing。
Confidence can mess you up
just as much as fear。
What does
〃winning can be just as bad as losing〃 mean？
If you're down；
you might be able to get up。
But if you're up；
you can get knocked down real fast。
Don't worry about the score；
just do what you have to do。
What does
〃confidence can mess you up
just as much as fear〃 mean？
Fear can keep you
127
from getting the job done；
but confidence
can get you in over your head。
Walk tall； but don't get cocky。
Know your limits；
and nothing can ever hold you back。
Deal with what you can。
The rest will follow。
14。
You can't see Tao；
no matter how hard you look。
You can't hear Tao；
no matter how hard you listen。
You can't hold on to Tao；
no matter how hard you grab。
But it's there。
It's in you； and it's all around you。
Remember that。
15。
The ancient Masters
were damn impressive。
They were deep。 Real deep。
Words can't even begin to describe
how deep they were。
You can only talk
about how they acted。
They were careful；
like a man walking on thin ice。
They were cautious；
like a soldier behind enemy lines。
They were polite；
like a guest at a party。
They moved quickly； like melting ice。
They were as plain as a block of wood。
Their minds were as wide as a valley；
and their hearts as clear
as spring water。
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第一〇章 TheTaoTeChing
Can you wait
for that kind of openness and clarity
before you try to understand the world？
Can you hold still
until events have unfolded
before you do the right thing？
When you act without expectations；
you can accomplish great things。
16。
Keep your head clear。
Stay calm。
Watch
as everything happens around you。
Everything reverts
to its original state；
which was nothing。
And when something becomes nothing；
it gets right with Tao。
If you don't understand that；
you're going to screw up
somewhere down the line。
If you figure it out；
you'll always know what to do。
If you get right with Tao；
you won't be afraid to die；
because you know you will。
17。
When a Master takes charge；
hardly anybody notices。
The next best leader
is obeyed out of love。
After that；
there's the leader obeyed out of fear。
The worst leader is one who is hated。
Trust and respect people。
129
That's how you earn
their trust and respect。
The Masters don't give orders；
they work with everybody else。
When the job's done；
people are amazed
at what they accomplished。
18。
When people lose touch with Tao；
they start talking about
〃righteousness〃 and 〃sanctity。〃
When people forget what's true；
they start talking about
〃self…evident truths。〃
When people have no respect
for one another；
they start talking about
〃political correctness〃
and 〃family va