Translation by Sifu John A. Fey
1 act decisively by actively being still and appearing to do no thing
2 hear what others will not hear
taste what others will not taste
touch what others will not touch
smell what others will not smell
feel what others will not feel think what others will not think
3 reach into the small and make it large touch the multitudes and with a turn of your wrist make them few
4 know the virtue of turning your palm from covering the earth to supporting the heavens
and those things that are wrong within and without will be righted
5 attend the moment at the moment
do not wait until the task is half over
6 being one degree askew in the beginning results in missing your destination altogether and no matter how well planned a journey is there will always be a need for course corrections
7 in fact
sage wise men will not even think about a
destination
8 before their journey begins
they have already arrived
9 if you make a promise to yourself keep it
10 not going to your heart spirit forces it to come to you in disorder
that disturbs the bodymind crippling it to living
11 approach everything with respect for the magic inside of it
adhering to the terms of each encounter so life will unfold easily
1 BODY: This is an injunction to the Taoist to lead a mystic life. It invokes the ideas of being by not-being, doing by not-doing, and active non-action that forms the Taoist mystics stock in trade.
2 BODY: Experience all things mystically and in a non-ordinary manner.
3 MIND and BODY: This means that you should mystically project yourself into everyone and everything you encounter. It is also a reminder to regard everyone and everything you meet as being a part of yourself.
4 MIND and BODY: The Taoist Mystic has the power to be the steward of the heavens and the earth. As such, he is able to care for it by continuously cultivating a Taoist lifestyle.
5 BODY: Attend to life as it presents itself. Act spontaneously and immediately as needed.
6 BODY: Make adjustments as they become necessary. The only constant in life is change. Be ready for it and behave accordingly.
7-8 MIND: We learn by doing and not by arriving.
Do not force any situation into a preconceived outcome. You will complete the journey before it begins by surrendering to the journey and allowing it to teach you what it will.
9 MIND: Respect your own divinity and basic goodness. Treat yourself well.
10 HEART: Listen to your heart and ask the soul to lead the journey. If you don't ask your heart and soul for advice on your life's journey, you are forcing them to get your attention any way they can. This is frequently unpleasant.
11 HEART: Look for the action of the Tao Source in every person or situation you meet