抟气致柔,能婴儿乎﹖
Can you, when concentrating your breath, make it soft like that of a little child?”
涤除玄览,能无疵乎﹖
Can you wipe and cleanse your vision of the Mystery till all is without blur?
爱国治民,能无知乎﹖
Can you love the people and rule the land, Yet remain unknown?
天门开阖,能为雌乎﹖
Can you in opening and shutting the heavenly gates play always the female part?
明白四达,能无为乎﹖
Can your mind penetrate every corner of the land, but you yourself never interfere?
生之,畜之。
Rear them, then, feed them,
生而不有,为而不恃,长而不宰,是谓玄德。
rear them, but do not lay claim to them.#2 Control them, but never lean upon them; be chief among them, but do not manage them. #3 This is called the Mysterious Power.