Tao Te Ching Chapter 23 – 虛無 (道德經 第23章)
Paul PengShare
Tao Te Ching — Chapter 23: Absolute Vacancy
道德經 第二十三章 · 虛無 · Lao Tzu · Bilingual Edition with Classical Commentaries
Original Text — 原文
故從事於道者，道者，同於道；德者，同於德；失者，同於失。
同於道者，道亦樂得之；同於德者，德亦樂得之；同於失者，失亦樂得之。信不足，焉有不信焉。
English Translation — James Legge
Abstaining from speech marks him who is obeying the spontaneity of his nature. A violent wind does not last for a whole morning; a sudden rain does not last for the whole day. To whom is it that these two things are owing? To Heaven and Earth. If Heaven and Earth cannot make such spasmodic actings last long, how much less can man!
Therefore when one is making the Dao his business, those who are also pursuing it agree with him in it, and those who are making the manifestation of its course their object agree with him in that; while even those who are failing in both these things agree with him where they fail.
Hence, those with whom he agrees as to the Dao have the happiness of attaining to it; those with whom he agrees as to its manifestation have the happiness of attaining to it; and those with whom he agrees in their failure have also the happiness of attaining to the Dao. But when there is not faith sufficient on his part, a want of faith in him ensues on the part of the others.
✦ Key Insight
Chapter 23 opens with one of Lao Tzu's most elegant observations: sparing words is natural. Even Heaven and Earth cannot sustain violent action — a storm does not last the morning. How much less can human force endure? Those who align with the Dao become one with it; those who align with virtue become one with it. This is the law of resonance at the heart of Taoist cultivation: like calls to like, and the sincere find what they seek.
Classical Commentaries — 古典注释
王弼注 Wang Bi's Commentary
Wang Bi explains that sparing words is natural. A violent wind does not last all morning, a sudden rain does not last all day — even Heaven and Earth cannot sustain violent action, much less humans. Those who follow the Dao are at one with the Dao; those who follow virtue are at one with virtue; those who follow loss are at one with loss.
河上公注 Heshang Gong's Commentary
Heshang Gong says sparing speech is the natural Way. A violent wind does not last the morning — even Heaven and Earth cannot sustain violence. Those who follow the Dao become one with it. Like calls to like — clouds follow dragons, wind follows tigers, water flows to wetness, fire catches dryness.
About the Author
Paul Peng
Paul Peng is a Zhengyi Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, Jiangxi — the ancestral home of the Celestial Masters' tradition. Ordained at 25 after a dream from the Celestial Master, he has practiced for 25 years under Master Zeng Guangliang. He is the curator of this store, which is officially authorized by Tianshi Fu. All items are consecrated at the temple by the resident priest team.
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