Translation by Sifu John A. Fey
1 the tao brings forth life
the path and power of virtue nurtures that life
2 the spine of the world shapes them
the mind of the world moves and completes them they are of a piece
forming a harmonious unit
3 that is why a natural reverence for the tao way of life and its power manitests spontaneously
4 the tao way of lite produces everything the way of virtue nourishes everything through birth growth maturation and death
and acts as a protector and guide
5 mystic virtue assists but does not control as such it is mysterious to everyone and virtuous to all
6 the mystic knows
that it is difficult to know which thoughts of tao making are his
and which thoughts flow from the interplay
of life and its nurturing
7 remember
8 the tao way of life allows
1-5 HEART: Cultivating the Tao engineers the attainment of virtue, or te. The Tao Source flowing from Heaven to Earth creates life of all different kinds-all matter, the environment, "all that is." These different kinds of life each has its own unique power or virtue. All of these virtues are interconnected and nourished by the existence of each other as intimate expressions of the Tao Source. As such, they are as profound and mysterious as the Tao Source. In essence, Taoists regard virtues as pure expressions of the Source on Earth. Cultivators seek to join deeply with the virtues of life as a means of achieving a deep connection with the Tao. This is called attaining Mystic Power or Mystic Virtue. Taoists believe that attaining Mystic Virtue is the most direct way to reclaim their most authentic and spontaneous self.
6-8 MIND and HAND: When cultivating Mystic Virtue, the Taoist Cultivator experiences a myriad of thoughts, visions, sensations, and emotions.
Cultivators are encouraged not to attribute objective validity to any experience they have when cultivating Mystic Virtue. Instead, they are told to "let it happen" and to merely observe it dispassionately.