Translation by Sifu John A. Fey
1 the most soft and ethereal things of the world will always easily penetrate the hard and unyielding
2 those things that are without form will always penetrate the impervious structure
3 because the true heart of hardness is soft
4 because the true heart of impervious solidity is formlessness
5 the artist cannot paint a picture of water without showing its source or showing its destination
6 water will always wear down a stone
7 when I see water naturally seeking its own resting place
I know that it will arrive at that point no matter what gets placed in the way
8 flow naturally like water without contention or coercion and you will arrive at your destination and resting place
9 few understand the wisdom of unforced non-action because it cannot be expressed with words and
labels
it can only be intuitively felt
10 it can only be understood with the softness and formlessness
of water
11 it can only be implemented with the softness and formlessness
of water
1 HEART: This is a poetic exposition of the Taoist concept of non-being through non-coercion, or wu wei.
Wu wei forms the basis of Taoist conduct. On the surface, it enjoins the Taoist to avoid forcing and controlling life. Gently suggesting yourself into life and allowing it to unfold naturally is the Taoist way. Yielding to its force, experiencing it completely, matching its ups and downs, and resting peacefully with its rhythm and flow forms the majority of the Cultivator's work.
2-4 HEART: The Taoist is formless and can, therefore, penetrate to the core of any phenomena, which is born from formlessness.
5 HAND and BODY: This is a reference to mystic calligraphy that informs Taoist conduct and behavior.
6 HAND and HEART: That which is formless is superior to that which has definite form. Water Wearing Down A Stone is a Taoist meditation technique that enables the Cultivator to penetrate to the root of individual thoughts. This technique found its way into the Ch'an Buddhist tradition and greatly influenced its mind-science.
7 HEART: Flowing water is a perennial Taoist archetype. A typical Taoist saying is, "Water is Heaven's way of teaching man to follow the Tao Path back to the Tao Source."
8 BODY, MIND, and HAND: Cultivators use flowing water as a model for the full range of human endeavors, including art, science, communication, movement, and governance.
9-11 HEART: Unforced non-action is another way of saying wu wei. Again, the formlessness of water is presented as the way to actualizing it.