Is it silent?
There is no one who can hear its sound.
Is it close[A]?
It is residing in the heart/mind.
Is it very dim and obscure?
You can not see its form.
Is it very prolific?
It gives us all life.
You can not see its form,
You can not hear its voice,
Yet there is an order to its accomplishments.
We call it Dao.
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Always : Dao is nowhere to be found,
But in a virtuous heart/mind it can calmly dwell.
When the heart/mind is still and Qi is regulated,
Dao can then stay there.
That Dao is not remote :
Citizens attain it by being born.
That Dao does not depart :
Citizens rely on it for understanding.
Thus : is it close[A]?
As though it could be tied together with you.
Is it very minute and subtle?
As though it is utterly nowhere to be found.
The nature of that Dao
Detests thoughts and words about it.
But when you cultivate your heart/mind and still your thoughts,
Dao can then be attained.
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Dao -
That which your mouth can not speak!
That which your eyes can not see!
That which your ears can not hear!
It is the reason that we cultivate the heart/mind and properly align
[its][B] form!
That which when people lose, thus they die.
That which when attained, thus they are born!
That which when duties lose, thus they fail.
That which when attained, thus they are completed!
Always : Dao is
Without root, without stalk,
Without leaves, without flowers.
By means of it the ten thousand creatures are born,
By means of it the ten thousand creatures are made complete.
This [natural] order, it is called Dao.