1 absolve yourself of the need or desire to be wise
and sophisticated
cast off reliance on the frozen thought forms and
constructs
that support domesticated behavior
and all life that you meet will benefit exponentially
2 give up
sham beneficence
false order
civilized equity
and enjoy the true fallibility of the bodymind
3 then the inner family and its outward reflection
4 will be serene and commune harmoniously
5 reject the practice of manipulating the flow of
living
6 realize that life will wither in the harsh light of utility as it becomes an external thing
7 to be despoiled compromised
8 the miracle can only be grasped through gentle permission given
9 to oneself
10 but this alone will not complete the approach
11 innocent and simple steps must be taken to reclaim your original nature
these steps must be artless and unadorned
12 turn inward
search the bodymind for the unspoiled canvas upon which your life is painted
13 with open hands and arms absorb the powerful simplicity of your own self
in its lost and genuine embrace
14 restrain the prejudiced and narcissistic self turning outward to glimpse within
15 regulate unrestrained need and desire by extending the plain self into the moments
created by looking and not seeing
16 indulging in insecure thoughts and worry for their own sake
exhausts your connection to life's energy and flow
1 MIND and BODY: These are specific instructions about how the Taoist must think and behave.
"Domesticated behavior" is mindless living as opposed to mindful living-being hypnotized by the momentum of life and consensual experience rather than being able to see the heart of it.
2 BODY: The Cultivator must give up these inauthentic, externally imposed behaviors and points of view and simply enjoy the fact that he is imperfect.
3 MIND and BODY: The "inner family" refers to the inner workings of you and your personality.
4 MIND and BODY: Being "serene and commun[ing] harmoniously" refers to all of your internal body organs, your personality, your mind, your breath, your blood, your life-force energy all working together as they should. If you accomplish all of the instructions in stanza 2, then your inner world and your outer world will come together. This is the Taoist definition of wellness.
5 BODY: This stanza tells the Taoist to get out of the way and allow life to unfold the way it wants.
6-7 BODY: This is the Taoist definition of a creative life. Creative art need not be useful other than for its appreciation during the period of its existence.
8-9 BODY: The Tao can be secured to your life only if you invite it in, if you allow it in. You cannot force the Tao into your life.
10 MIND: The right frame of mind by itself will not allow you to grasp the Tao Source of Life.
11 HAND: These are specific instructions. Your approach to cultivating the Tao in your daily life must be plain and childlike.
12 HAND: This is a specific Taoist meditative technique wherein the Cultivator looks for his original self.
13 HAND: This is a specific Qigong activity in which the Cultivator opens his outstretched arms to absorb the power of the Tao. The "lost and genuine embrace" refers to that which we have been separated from.
14 MIND, BODY, and HAND: This enjoins the Taoist to look outside himself and observe nature so he can better understand the workings of nature inside himself.
15 MIND, BODY, and HAND: This is a specific injunction for the Cultivator to control his emotions and to project himself deeply into every event in spacetime that comes his way.
16 MIND, BODY, and HAND: If you are insecure and worry needlessly, you will sever your connection to life-force energy flowing into your bodymind.