Chapter 52 · Guarding the Mother

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 Tao) which originated all under the sky is to be considered as the mother of them all.

Free. No account needed to start.

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

(The Tao) which originated all under the sky is to be considered as the mother of them all. When the mother is found, we know what her children should be. When one knows that he is his mother's child, and proceeds to guard (the qualities of) the mother that belong to him, to the end of his life he will be free from all peril. Let him keep his mouth closed, and shut up the portals (of his nostrils), and all his life he will be exempt from laborious exertion. Let him keep his mouth open, and (spend his breath) in the promotion of his affairs, and all his life there will be no safety for him. The perception of what is small is (the secret of) clear-sightedness; the guarding of what is soft and tender is (the secret of) strength. Who uses well his light, Reverting to its (source so) bright, Will from his body ward all blight, And hides the unchanging from men's sight.

Learn this chapter by heart, one line at a time.

Read a chapter. Recite the next line from memory. The app shows you, gently, what you missed — then has each line ready again around when it would start to slip.

Your recall of a later line — for example

When the mother is found we know — missed what her children should be

The dotted words are the ones you missed.

Try this chapter’s first line ↑

Free. No account needed to start.

Chapter 52, in a second rendering

Find the Mother, Know the Kids

Dao De Kooi — an original rendering by David Kooi

The world had a start, and you can call that start the mother of it all. Find the mother and you understand her kids. Understand the kids and still keep hold of the mother, and you're safe right to the end. Keep your mouth shut and the gates closed and you'll never wear out. Run your mouth and meddle in everything and there's no saving you. Noticing the small stuff - that's real seeing. Staying soft - that's real strength. Use the light, then bring it back home to clear sight. Don't leave yourself wrecked. That's how you practice the thing that lasts.

Next · Chapter 53If I were suddenly to become known…Read chapter 53 →

Read the whole chapter end to end →How the practice works →