Fifty-Fifth Chapter | Madhu Bazaz Wangu
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Fifty-Fifth Chapter

Fifty-Fifth Chapter

Fifty-Fifth Chapter
Tao-te Ching

He who is in harmony with the Tao is like a newborn.
Poisonous insects will not sting him.
Fierce beasts will not seize him.
Birds of prey will not strike him.
His bones are weak, his sinews tender, but his grasp is firm.

He does not yet know the union of male and female,
But is whole.
His manhood is strong.
He cries all day without becoming hoarse,
This is perfect harmony.

To know harmony is to know the eternal.
To know the eternal is to be enlightened.
Things in harmony with the Tao remain.
Things that are forced, grow for a while,
But then begin to wither away.
This is not the Tao.
Whatever is contrary to Tao perishes away
#

As I Understand It:

Some people seem to be blessed by lady-luck. Others wonder why “poisonous insects,” “fierce beasts” or “birds of prey” do not harm them. Such people are like infants, Lao Tzu says, protected because they are in harmony with the Tao–our originating source.

Infants do not see themselves separate from this source. They have “magical” powers. Their sinews are undeveloped yet their grip is firm; they scream all day yet their vocal chords remain intact; they are immune to a fall that would break our bones. They don’t control their surroundings.

“Lady-luck” does not bless randomly. The people who are blessed follow natural rhythms; they do not possess people or control events. Those who are aligned with the originating source do not force things; thus they have no worry, stress or fear. Force and control may work temporarily but eventually it withers away.
#
Dyer, W. Wayne. Change Your Thought–Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao. Hay House, Inc. 2007.
The Way of Lao Tzu (Tao-te Ching), Translated, with introductory essays, comments, and notes by Chan, Wing-Tsit. The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc. 1963.

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