Translation by Sifu John A. Fey
1 a true warrior is not deliberately belligerent and does not show off his fighting skills
2 a true warrior is a gentle man and does not lose his temper
3 a true warrior is not entangled in the trivial and does not need to win arguments
4 a true warrior
does not look or act like a true warrior
5 but he is a true warrior
possessed of an ancient virtue that is non-contentious and sublime
6 under heaven
he knows how to unite himself with heaven
peacefully complying with the principles of heaven
7 a true warrior
stands firm
This entire chapter uses the image of a warrior to describe the Cultivator of the Tao. The true Taoist Warrior is a spiritual warrior that enters the mystic with confidence, bravery, and resoluteness.
1 BODY: "Fighting skills" in this case refers to mystic skills.
2 BODY: The true Taoist Warrior is naturally gentle and not prone to violent outbursts.
3 BODY: Minutia is not important to the Taoist Warrior. He doesn't need to be the most important and most intelligent person in a gathering of men.
4 BODY: A Taoist Warrior doesn't look like an ordinary fighting man.
5 BODY: A Taoist Warrior preserves and protects an ancient code of ethics and conduct.
6 BODY: A true Taoist Warrior practices cultivation.
7 BODY and HEART: This line reflects the classical Taoist image of a brave and forthright warrior. He is, indeed, a champion of the Tao Way of Life.