The Short of It:
Actualizing the present depends on forgetting the past.
60. On Occupying the Throne.
Govern a great kingdom as you would cook small fry (without gutting or scraping).
When one brings Tau with [them] to the government of the world, ghosts will not become active spirits. It is not that ghosts will not become active spirits, but the spirits (or ghosts) will not injure [people]. Once more, it is not the spirits (or ghosts) that will not injure [people], it is the sage [themself] that will not injure [people]. Forasmuch as [them] and they do not injure each other, their virtues converge to one beneficent end.
60. ‘Occupying the Throne.’
60.1 Governing a great state is like cooking a small fish.
60.2 Let the kingdom be governed according to the Tao, and the manes* of the departed will not manifest their spiritual energy. It is not that those manes have not that spiritual energy, but it will not be employed to hurt [people]. It is not that it could not hurt [people], but neither does the ruling sage hurt them.
60.3 When these two do not injuriously affect each other, their good influences converge in the virtue (of the Tao).
*Spirits.
60. How To Maintain One’s Place.
60.1 Govern a great country as you would fry a small fish: (neither gut nor scale them.)
60.2 If with Reason the empire is managed, its ghosts will not spook. Not only will its ghosts not spook, but its gods will not harm the people. Not only will its gods not harm the people, but neither will its holy [people] harm the people. Since neither will do harm, therefore their virtues will be combined.
The Long of It:
Whatever you are doing (in the present) don’t poke at it too much. You’ll ruin it.
What would cause you to poke at it too much? Those voices in your head (the “ghosts” of the past) that are telling you to poke at it. Because it’s not the voices that are ruining the meal, it’s you.
-TB
