Translation by Sifu John A. Fey
1 the ancient child asks
how do you turn around and listen to your soul
2 by selflessly acting with the power of authentic benevolence
3 you cannot plan to do good works good works can only be done naturally
4 a person who plans to be good will have no power and will not be authentic
5 the difference between authentic and inauthentic is the benevolent power of your soul
6 an authentic man never acts
an authentic man has no hidden agenda
an authentic man seeks no rewards for his deeds
7 an inauthentic man tries too hard
an inauthentic man has ulterior motives
an inauthentic man constantly thinks of rewards
8 authenticity cannot be willed or proscribed authenticity cannot be planned or enforced
9 false manners are a sham
10 morality worn like a coat gives rise to shallowness that casts a shadow over everyone
11 rules and propriety arise from this darkness constricting the hearts and minds of humanity forcing their souls to a hiding place
12 life becomes chaotic
13 great men lecture you on your faults complicating simple things until
they are barely recognizable
14 and you don't know which way to turn
15 but the authentic man
allows his soul to take the lead of his life holds firmly to his inner truth gently grasping the seed of life
1-2 BODY and HAND: The Taoist spiritual goal of
"turning around and listening to the soul" is accomplished via outward behavior.
3-4 BODY: Only spontaneous and naturally occurring expressions of kindness and compassion are authentic. Unauthentic expressions will not help you reach your goal.
5 MIND: The power of the soul can only be experienced through authentic expressions. In Taoist language, authentic expressions are "filled with shen."
6-8 BODY and HEART: This is the crux of Taoist behavior in all public and private matters. The translation is plain enough in describing the dynamics of a deliberate and selfless lifestyle.
9-10 BODY and HEART: This is a specific criticism of Confucian ideals and a warning against going through the motions. Taoists believe that empty rituals and insincerity will, ultimately, destroy honesty and truth.
11 BODY and HEART: Early Taoist philosophers believed that following Confucian precepts invarioly led to a stultifying societal and political correctness.
These everly contrived patterns of acceptable suhavior drained the bodymind of spirit, or shen, and suffocated the soul.
12 BODY: Whatever negatively affects the individual eventually spills out into the community at large.
13 MIND: Great men: clever intellectuals who revel in nuanced and complex reasoning as a way of justifying behavior; individuals who bring up ideas, oblique issues, and rationalizations in the face of spiritual truth.
14 BODY: The result of stifling the soul.
15 MIND and HEART: The Tao Source reveals inner truth via the soul. As this truth is revealed over time, the process of Taoist illumination begins to manifest.