Tao Te Ching Chapter 62 – 为道 (道德经 第62章)
Paul PengShare
Tao Te Ching — Chapter 62: Practising the Dao
道德经 第六十二章 · 为道 · Lao Tzu · Bilingual Edition with Classical Commentaries
Original Text — 原文
English Translation — James Legge
The Dao has of all things the most honoured place. No treasures give good men so rich a grace; bad men it guards, and doth their ill efface.
Its admirable words can purchase honour; its admirable deeds can raise their performer above others. Even men who are not good are not abandoned by it. As shown in Chapter 61, the great state draws all things to itself by lying low — and the Dao draws all beings to itself by sheltering even the unworthy.
Therefore when the sovereign occupies his place as the Son of Heaven, and he has appointed his three ducal ministers, though a prince were to send in a round symbol-of-rank large enough to fill both the hands, and that as the precursor of the team of horses in the court-yard, such an offering would not be equal to a lesson of this Dao, which one might present on his knees. Why was it that the ancients prized this Dao so much? Was it not because it could be got by seeking for it, and the guilty could escape from the stain of their guilt by it? This is the reason why all under heaven consider it the most valuable thing.
✦ Key Insight
Chapter 62 makes a remarkable claim: the Dao is the shelter of all things — not just the good, but also the bad. The good treasure it; the bad are protected by it. Fine words spoken in its spirit can buy honour in the marketplace; noble deeds performed in its spirit can elevate a person above others. Even the unworthy are not cast away. The chapter then makes a political point: no gift of jade or horses presented to the Son of Heaven is worth as much as quietly offering this Dao. The ancients prized it because it grants what is sought and pardons what is guilty.
Classical Commentaries — 古典注释
王弼注 Wang Bi's Commentary
Wang Bi says the Dao is the shelter of all things, the treasure of the good and the refuge of the bad. Fine words can buy honor, noble deeds can elevate a person. Even the bad are not abandoned. The ancients prized the Dao because it grants what is sought and offers pardon for faults.
河上公注 Heshang Gong's Commentary
Heshang Gong says the Dao is the shelter of all things. The good person treasures it; the bad person relies on it. The ancient kings valued the Dao because it could be found without searching — right within oneself. It can save the guilty in chaotic times.
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.
Read his full story →
