Tao Te Ching 37: The Tao does nothing, yet leaves nothing undone

37.

The Tao does nothing,

yet leaves nothing undone.

~

If rulers could centre themselves in it,

the whole world would be transformed.

People would be content

with their lives and free of desire.

When life is simple,

pretenses fall away;

our essential nature shines through.

~

When there is no desire,

all things are at peace.

When there is silence,

one finds the anchor of the universe

within oneself.

Commentary

This verse is especially noteworthy for the famous phrase “the Tao does nothing, yet leaves nothing un...