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"(The Tao) which originated all under the sky is to be considered as the mother of them all. When the mother is found, we know what her children should be. When one knows that he is his mother's child, and proceeds to guard (the qualities of) the mother that belong to him, to the end of his life he will be free from all peril. Let him keep his mouth closed, and shut up the portals (of his nostrils), and all his life he will be exempt from laborious exertion. Let him keep his mouth open, and (spend his breath) in the promotion of his affairs, and all his life there will be no safety for him. The perception of what is small is (the secret of clear- sightedness; the guarding of what is soft and tender is (the secret of) strength. Who uses well his light, Reverting to its (source so) bright, Will from his body ward all blight, And hides the unchanging from men's sight."

Author

Lao Tzu

All Translations

Chinese

"天下有始, 可以爲天下母。 既得其母, 以知其子。 既知其子, 復守其母, 沒身不殆。 塞其兌, 閉其門, 終身不勤。 開其兌, 濟其事, 終身不救。 見小曰明, 守柔曰彊。 用其光, 復歸其明。 無遺身殃。 是謂襲常。"

Czech

"Podnebesí počátek považují za podnebesí matku. Pozná-li kdo svou matku, zná i své dětství (=ví, čím sám jako dítě je povinen). Pozná-li své dětství, uchová svou matku. V době, kdy tělo umírá, je bez nebezpečí. (Kdo) uzavírá své průchody a uzamyká své brány, je až do konce života prost nepokoje; kdo otvírá své průchody a hledí si svých záležitostí (světských), není do konce života volný. Viděti drobné, znamená jasně viděti, zachovat slabost, znamená silným býti. Používati svého lesku, navrátiti se zpět k svému světlu, aniž zůstaviti těla pohromu, tomu se říká podšíti věčnost, t.j. zabezpečiti si trvání."

German

"Die Welt hat einen Urgrund, der wurde aller Wesen Mutter. Hat man seine Mutter gefunden, so erkennt man dadurch seine Kindschaft. Hat man seine Kindschaft erkannt und kehrt zu seiner Mutter zurück, so ist man bei des Leibes Untergang ohne Gefahr. Schließt man seine Ausgänge und macht zu seine Pforten, so ist man bei des Leibes Ende ohne Sorge. Öffnet man seine Ausgänge und fördert seine Geschäfte, so ist man bei des Leibes Ende ohne Rettung. Das Kleine sehen, heißt erleuchtet sein, das Weiche bewahren, heißt stark sein. Braucht man sein Leuchten und kehrt zu seinem Licht zurück, so verliert man nichts bei des Leibes Zerstörung. Das heißt: in das Ewige eingehen."

English

"(The Tao) which originated all under the sky is to be considered as the mother of them all. When the mother is found, we know what her children should be. When one knows that he is his mother's child, and proceeds to guard (the qualities of) the mother that belong to him, to the end of his life he will be free from all peril. Let him keep his mouth closed, and shut up the portals (of his nostrils), and all his life he will be exempt from laborious exertion. Let him keep his mouth open, and (spend his breath) in the promotion of his affairs, and all his life there will be no safety for him. The perception of what is small is (the secret of clear- sightedness; the guarding of what is soft and tender is (the secret of) strength. Who uses well his light, Reverting to its (source so) bright, Will from his body ward all blight, And hides the unchanging from men's sight."

Spanish

"El mundo tiene un principio, que es la madre del mundo. Quien ha encontrado a la madre, conocerá a los hijos; quien conoce a los hijos, se torna y conserva a la madre, y así termina sus días sin encontrar el peligro. Si bloqueas las aberturas, y cierras las puertas, llegarás sin debilitarte al final de la vida. Si franqueas las aberturas, y multiplicas tus ocupaciones, llegarás al final de la vida sin salvación posible. Ver lo pequeño se llama clarividencia, conservarse débil se llama fortaleza. Usa la luz, para retornar a la claridad original. Así evitarás las desgracias, esto se llama seguir lo permanente."

French

"A l'origine de l'univers est la mère. Par la Mère l'on peut connaître les enfants. Celui qui connaît les enfants et garde son attachement à la Mère n'a pas peur de la mort. Garder le silence et modérer son énergie permet de traverser l'existence sans fatigue. Sortir de sa réserve et s'agiter fait perdre le sens de l'existence. Celui qui sait s'émerveiller des petites choses marche dans la lumière. Celui qui garde sa douceur dans le tumulte a de la grandeur d'âme. Tirer parti de rayons de soleil en ayant une pensée pour leur source préserve du malheur. Celui qui agit ainsi chemine dans la voie. Il hérite de l'Eternel."

Hungarian

"Az égalattinak van kezdete [alapelve], s ezt nevezzük az égalatti anyjának. Aki elérte már az anyát, általa megismeri a gyermekeit is. S ha ismeri már a gyermekeket, s ekkor visszatér az anyjukhoz: élete végéig nem kerülhet veszedelembe. Aki betömi (vágyainak) nyílását, aki bezárja (vágyainak) kapuját, az élete végig nem fárad el. De ha kitárja (vágyainak) nyílását, ha elmerül a tevékenységben, akkor élete végéig nem menekszik meg a (bajtól). Meglátni a kicsinyt: világosság; megőrizni a gyengét: erő. Aki felhasználja a (külső) ragyogást, majd visszatér a (belső) világossághoz, az megóvja önmagát minden bajtól. Íme, az örökkévaló gyakorlása."

Italian

"tutto al mondo ha un’origine e questa è la madre del mondo conosciuta la madre si conosce il figlio conosciuto il figlio se ci si affida alla madre fino alla fine della vita non si corrono pericoli chiudi la bocca e serra le porte fino alla fine della vita sarai inesauribile schiudi le aperture e moltiplica le attività fino alla fine della vita non avrai scampo vedere ciò che è piccolo significa essere illuminati attenersi al debole vuol dire esser forti usando la propria luce per ritornare alla chiarezza non si espone il proprio corpo alle calamità questo si chiama praticare la via"

Romanian

"Tao este cauza a totul. Cunoscând cauza se pot cunoaște manifestările. Fiind în mijlocul manifestărilor putem privi la sursă. Astfel Înțeleptul trăiește-n armonie, Nu se expune, astfel se protejează, Prin expunere se creează mulțimea de probleme, Văzând esența lucrurilor știe ce se va întâmpla, Prin sensibilitate își manifestă tăria, Prin introspecție e mereu în armonie, Aceasta-i în fapt a trăi în eternitate."

Russian

"В Поднебесной имеется начало, и оно - мать Поднебесной. Когда будет постигнута мать, то можно узнать и ее детей. Когда уже известны ее дети, то снова нужно помнить об их матери. В таком случае до конца жизни [у человека] не будет опасности. Если [человек] оставляет свои желания и освобождается от страстей, то до конца жизни не будет у него усталости. Если же он распускает свои страсти и поглощен своими делами, то не будет спасения [от бед]. Видение мельчайшего называется зоркостью. Сохранение слабости называется могуществом. Следовать сиянию [дао], постигать его глубочайший смысл, не навлекать [на людей] несчастья - это и есть соблюдение постоянства."

Vietnamese

"Trần gian có gốc có nguồn, Gốc nguồn ấy chính mẹ muôn vạn loài. Một khi đã biết mẹ rồi, Suy ra con cháu khúc nhôi khó gì. Biết con, phải biết nghịch suy, Suy con ra mẹ, ta đi ngược dòng. Thế là chẳng sống uổng công, Chết đi mà vẫn sống cùng nước non. Âm thầm ấp ủ tấc son, Một đời trần cấu chẳng mòn mỏi ai. Mặc ai đày đọa hình hài, Một đời tất tưởi, phí hoài tâm thân. Quang minh là thấu vi phân, Cương cường là biết giữ phần mềm non. Hãy dùng ánh sáng ngàn muôn, Đem về soi tỏ gốc nguồn chói chang. Thế là thoát mọi tai ương. Thế là biết sống cửu trường vô biên."

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