Daodejing Poem 37

Singapore time 8.49 am 31st August 2008

Tao is always in inaction and yet none is not effected. If the king can focus on it, all creatures will be transformed. After transformation and still continue their action, I will protect them using the nameless virgin block of wood. Nameless virgin block of wood is not what I want to covet. Nothing to covet using stillness, the world will be ordered or righted.

Virgin block of wood is nose. Using it is nasal gaze. Here it teaches us the head-of-state has to be in inaction. Thereby the country will prosper. For Sage King, this is Great Harmony or world peace.

I advocated the ideal political system in Election97. Initially it is based on Confucianism of 1. cultivate self, 2. regulate family, 3. cure the country and 4. bring world peace. I put an image in http://sg.geocities.com/alex_kew/image1/confucianism.gif . So the head of each body like self or family or country, when they are good, the below 2 will be good. If he is bad or evil, the below 2 will be bad. So Confucianism, I-Ching and Daodejing plus Zhuangzi etc have something in common.

Daodejing Poem 38

Singapore time 9.36 am 30th August 2008

A man of highest virtue does not act as having virtue, therefore he has virtue. The lower virtue man will show off his mannerism in access that his virtue is nought. A man of high virtue does inaction thereby everything is affected. The lower virtue man acts with accomplishment claiming to be his own. A man of highest kindness does action and claim no credits for it. A man of highest righteousness does action and claims it to be his credit. A man of highest etiquette does action without responses from others, constrains a man to bare his arms and make others do their duty. Truly, once the Tao is lost, virtue is valued. Virtue if lost, good kindness will be prominent. After that is righteousness. Losing righteousness, etiquette arises. Losing etiquette, the husk of all good faith, the beginning of anarchy. The above knowledge is Tao's splendour, and the beginning of idleness. Therefore the gentleman will place emphasis in the inner body and not the outer appearances; he emphasises the fruit not the splendour of the flower. So he skins and eats the inner sweet fruit.

This is general message. I might comment on it later.

Daodejing Poem 39

Singapore time 10.24 am 26th August 2008

These things received the One: the sky obtained it and became clear; the earth obtained it and became firm; spirit obtained it and became energised; Valley obtained it became full to overflowing; all things obtained it and became alive; the king obtains it and becomes the world's moral uprighter. Without the One: the sky without been clear it might collapse; the earth without been firm it might erupt crazily; the spirit without been energised it might become passive; valley without overflowing it might run dry; all things without life might be annihilated; king without been a moral uprighter might trip and fall. Truly, the precious has to rely on the cheap as base; height has to rely the base as foundation. Therefore the king declares: I am orphan, desolate and needy one. Isn't this is to rely on the poor and the base? Isn't it? For popularity is not popular, therefore don't desire for things: carve and polish like jade, fall like the stone.

Missing Chinese texts 琭琭

A general message. I will comment some other day on this.

Last sentence is telling us to be like polished jade not a rough stone.

Daodejing Poem 40

Singapore time 9.46 am 24th August 2008

Return (to the source) is the movement of Tao; the weak is used by Tao (to overcome the strong). In the world all things are alive for having the One; the One is borne from nothingness

The movement of Tao is a return because since there is a beginning, so there is an end. Tao makes use of weak people to rule the world in the final stage of world harmony before transformation of the earth. Tao gives birth to all things dead or alive. And Tao is nothingness or VOID.

Daodejing Poem 41

Singapore time 9.37 am 21st August 2008

High moral men hearing Tao will explore and act on it. Middle moral men hearing Tao will indulge while busy with everyday life. Low moral men hearing Tao will laugh it off. If they do not laugh it may not be the Tao. There the proverb says: understand Tao is like the dawn of day; enter Tao is like retreat; plain Tao look rough; highest virtue is like valley; broaden virtue is like not enough; establishing virtue is like stealing; substantial truth is like shifting tides; great awakening is like shame; great space has no corners; great weapon comes late; great sound is rarely heard; great form has no image; Tao is obscure without name. I confirm Tao's saying, know the goods well, then you will succeed.

For Chinese texts see Taoteching. Below is missing Chinese word for the above poem.

纇

This is a general poem.

Daodejing Poem 42

Singapore time 10.03 am 17th August 2008

The Way gives birth to one, and the one, two; and the two, three; and three give birth to everything. All things bear the yin and wrapping the yang, while rushing breath intake makes them alive. People who are bad, desolate, orphaned or needy are disliked. Likewise royal members are in the same position. Therefore less in wealth is a profit, while abundant in wealth can be a handicap. People teach likewise I do the same. If a violent man does not come to a violent death, I wish he be my teacher.

Tao gives birth to One. Before that it is void. I use O to symbolise the void. When the sperm enters an egg, it becomes One. I use 一 to symbolise it. It is like the partition that divides sky 天 from the earth 地 (see Genesis chapter 1). Water vapour is collected to form clouds, while water condensed to form rivers and oceans, exposing the earth. This line passes over the 2 eyes and ears. The one cell fertilised egg divides into 2 cells. I use 十 to symbolise the crucifix. 1 cell is the yin and 1 is the yang. So the birth of the sun and moon, they symbolise the 2 eyes. I use > and <>

During meditation eyes > < look inwards to form 女. This is the female characteristics of the Mystic Portal. Even Holy Bible talks about virgin girl to represent Jerusalem, Mount Zion etc.
Traditional Chinese characters are important. For this reason the translator used 如來 for Tathagata in the Diamond Sutra and others. Therefore Mystic Portal is the female gate 女口at the mark on our forehead. This is also why IT is called the Mother of all creations. The 8 八joining 來form the shape of a hill. It is telling us to look at it, our nose tip. See also 42 Section Sutra's chapter 42.

The last sentence of the chapter tells Taoists to be non violent. Many don't follow this instruction.



Genesis chapter 1:- In the beginning there is VOID. Then the creation of Light and Darkness. VOID is 'wu chi', Light and Darkness are 'yang' and 'yin' both combine to form 'tai chi'. VOID is 1, Light is 2 and Darkness is 3.

Daodejing Poem 43

Singapore time 10.20 am 16th August 2008

The world's softest thing penetrates quickly the world's hardest thing. There is nothing that it does not enter its space. I, it is because, know inaction's usefulness, a religion without words; for inaction's usefulness, there are a rare few who really know it.

This is talking about spiritual power from self cultivation or meditation and preaching. Hui Neng when he started his preaching he was still afraid. After some time then he was capable to protect himself. There is limitation to the power of meditation. The real power comes from preaching the TRUTH.

Very few people can understand this.

Daodejing Poem 44

Singapore time 9.13 am 12th August 2008

Fame and body, which is dearer? Body and wealth, which is worth more? Attain and death, which is illness? Great love for passion will incur great loss; hoarder will incur immense death. Therefore contented is no shame; knowing the limitation to stop is not dangerous but close, and it can be eternal.

Body is more dearer than fame. Body is worthy more than ealth. Death is illness apart from attainment of Tao. You feel lost when the things you love most are no more. Stress on making more money will incur illness and death faster.

Therefore it is best to be contented. This is not dangerous and close to cultivating Tao when achieve is eternal.

So this poem is teaching the virtue of contentment. Our modern society goes for material wealth and neglect the spiritual wellbeing of the people. So many will suffer when disasters strike.

Daodejing Poem 45

Singapore time 9.25 am 10th August 2008

Great perfection yet it seems imperfect, incomplete; its uses are not impaired. The great filling up is like pouring in rushes, its uses not poor. Great straight line seems to bend, Great skill seems like clumsiness, great speech seems like stammering. Stillness wins over weariness, cold wins over heat. Quiet and stillness will upright the world

The teaching here is in contrary of normal thinking. It is like philosophy, an insight to the inner working of the mind. Most people are happy chasing merriment. They don't indulge in inner self cultivation. Only a few do that.

Ponder over the message and it can help you cultivate self.

Happy Birthday Singapore

Singapore time 9.35 am 9th August 2008

Happy birthday to Singapore on the 9th August 2008 on Its 43rd anniversary.

Singapore is an island country with a population of about 4.6 millions consisting of various races, with the majority 70% Chinese, 15 % Malays, 5 % Indians plus others.

Although It is small, It is the Patmos island mentioned in Revelation. It is where the revelation of Jesus Christ is conducted to preach to the world. And I am the Chosen One to do this job.

Daodejing Poem 46

Singapore time 9.32 am 7th August 2008

When the world has Tao, coach horses fertilise the fields. When world has no Tao, war horses breed in the parks. Calamity is no greater than not contented; fault is no greater than desire to attain. Therefore learn to be contented, you will always be contented.

When Tao is prominent in the world there will be peace, so weapons are put aside. During decline of Tao, chaos are everywhere, so people are armed to the teeth to protect themselves. This is human nature.

However if you are contented, you don't have to worry about war and calamity around. Who is going to rob you if you have no gold or money. People who are rich worry when will the thieves rob them. So contented is a virtue that people who want to cultivate self should also practise. When contented, you have peace of mind. This is vital for self cultivation.

Daodejing Poem 47

Singapore time 9.43 am 6th August 2008

Without going out, you can know the world. Without prying beyond the window, you can see heavenly Tao. The further you go, the less you know Tao. So the Sage does not go out and knows Tao at home, not looking he understands, in inaction he achieves success.

Without going out, you can get all the news in the TV, newpapers, internet etc. Without looking beyond the window, you know where is Tao. It is inside you. Many people leave home to seek Tao but are mostly unsuccessful. No master will inpart their knowledge to any person anyhow. Most inpart to only one disciple to carry the line.

So the Sage does not go out and cultivate Tao at home. Not looking for knowledge, he understands and with meditation or 'wuwei' he can achieve success.

Daodejing Poem 48

Singapore time 9.15 am 5th August 2008

For learning knowledge daily you increases it. For Tao you daily lost your status. Loss upon loss until you achieve inaction. Inaction is also none that is not affected. To conquer the world must always have nothing to do; if you have things to perform, it is not enough to conquer the world.


Cultivation is daily loss of possession. Like your wife and children, your final feeling is they are your brothers only. If you still insist they are your possession, then you have not surrendered to the Self or God. This is to detach yourself from the world mentally but not physically. So don't be a hermit staying in the mountain. That is useless as this is called selfish, only to benefit self but not the world.


To conquer the world is to conquer self. The teaching of Confucianism is about the same. They are 1. cultivate self, 2. regulate the family, 3. cure the country and then 4. conquer the world or bring world peace. This poem is mainly on cultivating self. However it is the same when you intend to persue the Sage King mentality, you need to go into government. So how can a hermit run a country ?

Doedejing Poem 49

Singapore time 8.12 am 3rd August 2008

The Sage's mind is always free from thought, however he has people's minds in thought. Good people, I will be good to them; bad people, I too will be good to them; that is virtue good. Those who belief, I belief them; those who disbelief, I too belief them, that is virtue in belief of faith. The Sage when in the world, breathing, inspiring as per normal, muddle his mind for the sake of the people. People take note, observe his ears and eyes, for the Sage hears and sees like a child.

Meditation is to free the mind from any negative or positive thoughts. Whether during meditation or other work, the mind should be maintained in this manner. This is called meditative mind. It is always focused at the Mark on your forehead.

So he shall refrain from criticising the bad people or commenting the good people. Whether they believe his preaching, it is only his duty to do that; whatever the outcome of people believing him is concern. Even all reject him, he does not take to heart. This is because the script of play is like that.

The Sage just act his part on the world stage. The people should take note his behavior and can be said to be childish. Sage behaves like a kid.

Daodejing Poem 50

Singapore time 8.39 am 2nd August 2008

On leaving life, to enter death, members of life has 13. Members of death has 13. Human when alive, causes of death are 13 spots. Why so? Because his way of life is much too gross. As I have heard, the man who knows how best to act for life, will never meet a tiger on the road; in army without the armour, weapon has not place to pierce his skin, tiger's claws has no place to grip, soldiers do not know where to strike with their sword. Why so? Because in him there is no place of death.

When cultivating self and with Mark Sealed, there is no death when you die. Your Spiritual Soul is already at the Mystic Portal which will lead you to your final destination, a return to our roots.

I am not so clear about this poem as I have not studied martial art and the 13 accu points that can cause death. The highest martial art achievement is to seal all weak points in the body so no weapon can strike. On the spiritual side, when one focus on the Mystic Portal or Mark on our forehead, the spirit will one day take over and the person is said to be enlightened. Once you gain this position, there is no death because you are returning home. Death and birth is the trap on earth for the ignorants.

But in this END of the world, all are to return to source. So there is no need to achieve to the highest stage of cultivation. Just have your Mark on your forehead sealed and be virtuous or do good deed.