Tao Te Ching Chapter Two

Dear all,

Hope you're well.

We are looking to do Tao Te Ching Chapter Two on 11 Aug (Wed). This chapter talks about duality and how to transcend using our wuwei (unconditional) mind.

Chapter Two
When everyone under Heaven recognises beauty as beautiful, then the idea of ugliness exists,

And equally if everyone were to recognise kindness, this would merely create fresh conceptions of wickedness.

For truly, being and not-being depend on one another;

Difficult and easy complete one another.

Long and short test one another;

High and low determine one another.

Tone and pitch give harmony to one another.

Front and back give sequence to one another.

Therefore the Saint relies on wuwei, carries on teaching, but without words,

But the myriad creatures are worked upon by one; one is not afraid of hardship. One rears others, but does not lay claim to others,

Accomplishes others, but does not lean upon others; achieves one’s aim, but does not call attention to what one does;

And for the very reason, that one does not claim credit for one’s virtuous behaviour, one’s own virtues cannot be taken away.