the short of it:
Don’t perpetuate what is self-perpetuating.
42. The Transformation of Tau.
Tau produced one (unity); one (unity) produced two (duality); two (duality) produced three (trinity); and three (trinity) produced all things.
Everything carries the yin (shady, dark, still, deathlike, etc.) on its back; and the yang (bright, active, lively, etc.) on its front; and is harmonized by an intermediate (immaterial) breath.
What people dislike is orphanage, and loneliness, and a wheelless carriage (incompleteness); and yet [sovereigns] and nobles appropriate these terms. For things, when they are diminished, will increase; and, when they are increased, will diminish.
What people (by their conduct) teach, I also teach them. Those (for instance) who are violent and obstinate do not die a natural death. I would use such as the best instructors.
42. ‘Transformation of the Tao.’
42.1 The Tao produced One; One produced Two; Two produced Three; Three produced All things. All things leave behind them the Obscurity (out of which they have come), and go forward to embrace the Brightness (into which they have emerged), while they are harmonized by the Breath of Vacancy.
42.2 What [people] dislike is to be orphans, to have little virtue, to be as carriages without naves; and yet these are the designations which [sovereigns] and [heirs] use for themselves. So it is that some things are increased by being diminished, and others are diminished by being increased.
42.3 What other [people] (thus) teach, I also teach. The violent and strong do not die their natural death. I will make this the basis of my teaching.
42. Reason’s Modifications.
42.1 Reason begets unity; unity begets duality; duality begets trinity; and trinity begets the ten thousand things.
42.2 The ten thousand things are sustained by Yin [the negative principle], they are encompassed by Yang [the positive principle], and the immaterial breath renders them harmonious.
42.3 That which the people find odious, to be orphaned, lonely, and unworthy, [sovereigns] and [heirs] select as their titles. Thus, on the one hand, loss implies gain, and on the other hand, gain implies loss.
42.4 What others have taught I teach also.
42.5 The strong and aggressive do not die a natural death; but I will obey the doctrine’s [parent].
the long of it:
Momentum begets momentum. But it can never escape final velocity, and always returns to stillness. This is the nature of Tao.
Most people, however, can’t help themselves. They hate stillness and try to perpetuate things artificially.
But this only speeds the cycle of Tao, which brings everything to an end anyways. This paradox is self-proving. Those who try to disprove the paradox always fail (thereby proving it). Those who might prove it don’t need to teach anything to anyone (because the paradox proves itself).
-TB
