2, Alimento del alma

Cualquiera en el mundo sabe
que la belleza siendo bella
crea la fealdad.

Cualquiera sabe
que siendo la bondad buena
da lugar a la maldad.

Pues ser y no-ser
surgen juntos;
Dificil y facil
se completan mutuamente;
largo y corto
se forman el uno al otro;
bajo y alto
dependen cada uno del otro;
nota y voz
hacen música juntos;
antes y despues
se suceden mutuamente

Esa es la razón por la que el alma sabia
hace sin hablar.

Las cosas de este mundo
existen, ellas son;
no puedes negarlas.

Llevar y no poseer;
actuar y no reclamar;
hacer el trabajo y dejarlo ir:
Pues justo dejandolo marchar
es como lo hacemos permanecer.



Everybody on earth knowing
that beauty is beautifil
makes ugliness.

Everybody knowing
that goodness is good
makes wickedness.

For being and nonbeing
arise together;
hard and easy
complete each other;
long and short
shape each other;
high and low
depend on each other;
note and voice
make the music together;
before and after
follow each other.

That's why the wise soul
does without talking.

The things of this world
exist, they are;
you can't refuse them.

To bear and not to own;
to act and not lay claim;
to do the work and let it go:
for just letting it go
is what makes it stay.



One of the things I read in this chapter is that values and beliefs are not only culturally constructed but also part of the interplay of yin and yang, the great reversals that maintain the living balance of the world. To believe that our beliefs are permanent truths which encompass reality is a sad arrogance. To let go of that belief is to find safety.