Tao Te Ching

Chapter 38
[Original text]

Dao often does nothing, but there is nothing not to do.

If Hou Wang can keep it [1], all things will be self-transformed [2].If you want to make it [3], I will suppress it with the nameless simplicity [4].The town is simple with no name, and the husband will not want it.If you don't want to be quiet, the world will be self-righteous [5].

【Note】

[1] Shou: follow.

[2] Self-transformation: self-growth and change.

[3] Desire: produce desire.

[4] Pu: Describe the simplicity of "Tao".

[5] Positive: stable.

【Analysis】

"Tao" always conforms to nature and will not act rashly, so it can do everything.

If Hou Wang can follow the principle of "Tao", everything in the world can conceive, grow and change by itself.If all things grow and change by themselves and produce selfish desires, I will use the simplicity of "Tao" to frighten them.After shocking it with the simplicity of "Tao", it will not have selfish desires.Once there is no desire, it will become peaceful, so the whole world will be stable.

As the last chapter of Taoism, Lao Tzu implemented the concept of "Tao" in Chapter 1 into the ideal society and politics in his mind - natural inaction.The ruler follows the "Tao" and lets all things go with the flow, then all things will return to the ruler a stable world.

【Explanation by Famous Artists】

Mr. He Shang:
Tao takes inaction as constant.

If King Yan Hou can keep the Tao, all things will transform themselves and work for themselves.I, body also.The nameless simplicity is also moral.All things have been turned into their own effects, and those who want to be clever and fake again, the king of Hou should be himself and comfort him with morality.Yanhou Wangzhen appeases with morality, and the people will not want it, so it should be guided by tranquility.Those who can do this, the world will be self-righteous.

(End of this chapter)