Tao Te Ching 15: The Way of the Enlightened

- 15 -

The ancient adepts of the Tao were profound,

subtle and discerning;

their wisdom was unfathomable.

There is no way to describe them

other than vaguely by their appearance.

They were careful as someone

crossing an iced stream in winter.

Alert as a warrior in dangerous terrain.

Cautious and courteous as a guest.

Yielding like ice on the point of melting.

Shapeable as a block of uncarved wood.

Receptive as a valley.

Amorphous as muddied water.

But the muddiest water clears

as it is stilled.

And out of th...