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Translation and Commentary by Nina


	Dao De Jing Chapter 38 The highest De is not virtuous, therefore it has De. The lowest De hasn't lost sight of virtuousness, therefore it's without De. One with the highest De doesn't interfere, yet has no apparent reason for acting that way. One with the highest compassion takes action, yet has no apparent reason for acting that way. One with the highest sense of justice takes action, and has a definite reason to act that way. One who practices the highest rituals takes action, yet nothing responds, so they get agitated and try to force reactions. In that way they lose Dao and simply parody De; They lose De and simply parody compassion; They lose compassion and simply parody justice; They lose justice and simply parody rituals. So, one who's faithful to rituals has insubstantial sincerity, and is led by disorder. One who advances their knowledge finds the blossom of Dao, and is led by absurdity. It's just natural for a great person to dwell in what's substantial, and not dwell in what's insubstantial; To dwell in what's permanent, and not dwell on the blossom. Therefore, let go of that and capture this. Commentary: 38 ~ Pretending to be virtuous This chapter deals specifically with the term "De" used in this book. De has been translated as "virtue", "power", "integrity" and a slew of other words. No one can truly know how Laozi meant the use of this character in the Dao De Jing, and various philosophies in ancient China at the time used De in different ways. Another interpretation of De is "perfection of the heart/mind." In my own translation of this chapter, I see De being used in both ways. -The highest De is not virtuous, therefore it has De. -The lowest De hasn't lost sight of virtuousness, therefore it's without De. When cultivating De (perfecting the heart/mind) it's easy for a person to view themselves as being extremely virtuous (moral and righteous). However, one who's truly developed himself to the point of complete connection with who they are, and feels a deep compassion for the rest of the creatures on the earth, wouldn't consider himself to be virtuous. One who thinks of himself as being virtuous hasn't made that connection. -One with the highest De doesn't interfere, yet has no apparent reason for acting that way. -One with the highest compassion takes action, yet has no apparent reason for acting that way. When someone has reached a true connection with their own heart, they see no need to interfere with what's happening in Nature or other people. It's not that they make a conscious decision not to interfere, but it just seems like the most natural thing for them to do. The same thing applies to someone who's felt compassion deeply in their heart. They take action based on their compassion, but have no sense of doing it for any particular reason. These two lines might seem like they contradict each other. How could a person not interfere and yet still take actions? It's because they have no sense of doing what they do for a specific intellectual reason. It all comes from a centered heart. -One with the highest sense of justice takes action, and has a definite reason to act that way. On the other hand, someone who has a sense of justice and righteousness makes conscious decisions about what's fair and what's unfair. Every action they take is based on an expectation of getting the results they want. -One who practices the highest rituals takes action, yet nothing responds, so they get agitated and try to force reactions. Many rituals are based on the idea of making people conform to a set of beliefs or standards. The more severe the rituals, the more adherence to them is demanded. If others don't follow the rituals set up, then the one who claims they're essential rituals will get frustrated and try in any way they can to force others to adhere to them. -In that way they lose Dao and simply parody virtue; By using force to try to control or change others, a person loses the natural motion of Dao and simply pretends to be virtuous. -They lose De and simply parody compassion; If they can't convince others they're virtuous, they'll pretend to be compassionate. -They lose compassion and simply parody justice; If they can't convince others of their compassion, they'll claim to be fair and equitable. -They lose justice and simply parody rituals. If they can't convince others of their fairness, they'll fall back on enacting rituals based on previously accepted behaviors. -So, one who is faithful to rituals has insubstantial sincerity, and is led by disorder. If someone is simply falling back on previous actions that worked for them in the past, they've lost all honesty and truthfulness. Since they're not acting with sincerity, all they're doing is causing more confusion and disorder to themselves and everyone around them. -One who advances their knowledge finds the blossom of Dao, and is led by absurdity. From what was stated above, it would seem imperative not to lose Dao in the first place so as to avoid all the other pretenses and calamities associated with that loss. So, if you don't want to lose Dao, you might try very hard to understand just what Dao is. As you read more about Dao in books or learn more about it from others, it may sound like a beautiful and cherished thing that your mind can fully understand. You may be told of the wonderful and exhilarating feelings you could have if you could only Know what it is. By advancing an understanding of Dao intellectually, you can find descriptions of what it is. But if you don't realize that Dao can't be described, then you're just latching on to absurdity. -It's just natural for a great person dwell in what is substantial, and not dwell in what is insubstantial; -To dwell in what is permanent, and not dwell on the blossom. -Therefore, let go of that and capture this. What you really have and can cherish isn't something that's being held out like a Gold Ring dangling in front of you. The most beautiful flower you could ever hope to possess is already right inside of you - that's what's substantial. Anyone can pretend to be virtuous or righteous. The feeling of happiness that engulfs you when you act from your heart without looking for rewards or kudos is much more fulfilling and ecstatic than what you'd experience from pretending to understand Dao. Dao is already inside of you. Instead of looking for it elsewhere, cherish it within you, and it will just naturally exude from every pore. 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