Chapter 27 · Hiding the Light of Procedure

Tao Te Ching (Legge, 1891) · chapter title added by Learn the Dao

Learn the Dao: a quiet practice for learning the thing that can’t be known.

The chapter’s first line

The skilful traveller leaves no traces of his wheels or footsteps;

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This chapter in plain modern English — David Kooi’s rendering ↓

The skilful traveller leaves no traces of his wheels or footsteps; the skilful speaker says nothing that can be found fault with or blamed; the skilful reckoner uses no tallies; the skilful closer needs no bolts or bars, while to open what he has shut will be impossible; the skilful binder uses no strings or knots, while to unloose what he has bound will be impossible. In the same way the sage is always skilful at saving men, and so he does not cast away any man; he is always skilful at saving things, and so he does not cast away anything. This is called 'Hiding the light of his procedure.' Therefore the man of skill is a master (to be looked up to) by him who has not the skill; and he who has not the skill is the helper of (the reputation of) him who has the skill. If the one did not honour his master, and the other did not rejoice in his helper, an (observer), though intelligent, might greatly err about them. This is called 'The utmost degree of mystery.'

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This is called 'Hiding the — missed light of his procedure

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Chapter 27, in a second rendering

The Beginner's Teacher

Dao De Kooi — an original rendering by David Kooi

A good traveler leaves no tracks. A good talker leaves no openings. A good counter needs no tally. A good door has no lock and still won't open. A good knot has no rope and still won't come undone. So the steady hand is good at saving people - writes nobody off. Good at saving things - throws nothing away. Call that being lit up from the inside. So the capable person is the beginner's teacher, and the beginner is the capable person's material. Skip either one and, smart as you are, you're lost. That's the quiet hinge the whole thing turns on.

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