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Translation by Nina


	Dao De Jing Chapter 67 Everyone in the world says my ideas are great; great yet different from others. So, if only what is different has the ability to be great, it seems as though what is similar would last for a much longer time. It's really a delicate matter. So I have three things I always protect; I hold them tightly and protect them. The first is called unconditional love; The second is called frugality; The third is called not to daring to act like I'm ahead of anyone else. With unconditional love there is the ability to be brave; With frugality there is the ability to be boundless; Not daring to act like I'm ahead of anyone else enables me to be able to take the actions of a useful person for a long time. If for a moment universal love is willingly given up, so is bravery. If frugality is willingly given up, so is broadness. If following is willingly given up, so is leading. Then you might as well be dead. So, with unconditional love: When attacking, then victory is assured; When defending, then endurance is assured. The heavens become the one who mandates, as if it was using walls of unconditional love. Commentary: 67 ~ What is there to hold on to? -Everyone in the world says my ideas are great; great yet different from others. -So, if only what is different has the ability to be great, it seems as though what is similar would last for a much longer time. If you live your life in the ways Laozi suggests, you might find that other people think you're acting Superior, or that your own ideas are demeaning to theirs. If your actions express concern for all the 10,000 things, that's an attitude which can be very different from most other people's. Those who are considered to be Great simply because they're different run the risk of being crushed - whereas those who share the same feelings and thoughts don't seem to be a threat. -It's really a delicate matter. -So I have three things I always protect; I hold them tightly and protect them. -The first is called unconditional love; -The second is called frugality; -The third is called not to daring to act like I'm ahead of anyone else. So, what do you do - abandon your own ideas in an effort to fit in with others? There's another possibility, but it requires delicacy. Laozi suggests three things that can be beneficial: ...Unconditional Love. Developing within your heart the ability to feel consideration and compassion for everyone. ...Frugality. Holding on to what's precious to you without needing to rush around shouting about it all the time. ...Not acting like a hot shot. Being willing to let others shine instead of trying to appear like you're better than anyone else. -With unconditional love there is the ability to be brave; -With frugality there is the ability to be boundless; -Not daring to act like I'm ahead of anyone else enables me to be able to take the actions of a useful person for a long time. If you feel consideration and compassion for everyone, that doesn't mean you simply sit idly by while others wreak havoc. Unconditional Love can require bravery in many ways - like absorbing the arrows that are shot at you instead of looking for revenge or trying to silence one who expresses themself in a way you don't like. Bravery doesn't necessarily mean fighting back nor ignoring others. If you hold dearly to the warmth in your heart, that doesn't mean you're stingy with sharing your glow. By nourishing yourself in a frugal way, you then find it easier to spread your warmth in every direction. If you don't act like you're more intelligent or capable than anyone else, that doesn't mean you put forth a false sense of humility. People who act like know-it-alls are rarely taken seriously for long. By realizing you're neither ahead of nor behind anyone else, true connections can take place. -If for a moment universal love is willingly given up, so is bravery. -If frugality is willingly given up, so is broadness. -If following is willingly given up, so is leading. -Then you might as well be dead. How can you consider yourself to be brave if you don't feel love for yourself and others? How can you share with others if you don't take the time to nourish yourself? How can you expect anyone else to follow you if you don't follow them as well? If you choose to live in a cocoon with only self-interest in your heart, what's the point of even being alive? -So, with unconditional love: -When attacking, then victory is assured; -When defending, then endurance is assured. -The heavens become the one who mandates, as if it was using walls of unconditional love. One who feels Unconditional Love might think there would never be a reason to attack or defend. However, Nature shows us otherwise. If the attack or the defense isn't performed in a way to intentionally harm anyone or to further one's own agenda, then victory and endurance are both assured. Removing personal motivations can be a daunting task, but it might be the only way to assure happiness - whoever might be the victor. The mandates aren't set down by us - how could we possibly know what would do no harm to anyone or anything else? We all build walls of protection around ourselves. Will they have protruding thorny barbs - or soft pillows of Unconditional Love? 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