The Dao Is Open website is devoted to the cultivation of Dao (Tao) and De (Te), as exemplified in the works of Laozi (Lao Tzu) and Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu).


Return Home	Laozi's Dao De Jing	Your Dao De Jing	Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)	Links	Meditation	Dao (Tao) is Open Forum	Book List	Other Stuff

Translation and Commentary by Nina


	Dao De Jing Chapter 48 The actions of an educated person increase every day. The actions of one who becomes like Dao decrease every day. They keep decreasing and decreasing again to the point that there's no reason to take actions. Not purposely taking action, yet never without acting. To take hold of the world, constantly be without working at it. Chasing after it has to involve work - but never enough to take hold of the world. Commentary 48 ~ Follow your spirit -The actions of an educated person increase every day. The quest for knowledge keeps people very busy. It seems that the more one learns, the more questions arise until there isn't an end in sight. Those actions are based solely on striving for a mental understanding of everything around you. -The actions of one who becomes like Dao decrease every day. -They keep decreasing and decreasing again to the point that there's no reason to take actions. -Not purposely taking action, yet never without acting. As you develop a better connection with your own spirit, it becomes less necessary to take actions that feel uncomfortable or to put effort into coming to conclusive answers for all your questions. As your actions become more and more effortless, it might seem that you're not doing anything at all. But then, as your mind becomes rid of thinking about all the things you "should" be doing, suddenly all the things that really need to get done are accomplished. The superficial and unnecessary actions and thoughts are eliminated, and you start following the spirit within you that will always guide you. -To take hold of the world, constantly be without working at it. -Chasing after it has to involve work - but never enough to take hold of the world. If you open your mind to your own spirit and the energy coming from everything around you, the glow of life becomes so easy to absorb. You already have the whole world in the palm of your hand as long as you open yourself to it. It you spend excess energy chasing after it instead of allowing it to naturally enter you, you'll always be on the hunt. Why would you look so intensely outside of yourself for something that's already within you and waiting to show you the way? My brain aspires My spirit retires From those desires I find the end Within the blend And then ascend. A free flow Attains a glow No need to know. Dao Is Open Site Map \| BY: Nina \| Guodian Laozi \| DDJ Concordance \| Comparisons \| From the DIO Forum \| BY: Bao Pu \| By: Joshua \| \| Return Home \| Laozi's Dao De Jing \| Your Dao De Jing \| Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu) \| Links \| Meditation \| Dao (Tao) is Open Forum \| Book List \| Other Stuff \|