Verse Ten

Hold fast to the Power of the One. It will unify the body and merge it with the spirit. It will cleanse the vision and reveal the world as flawless. It will focus the life-force (chi) and make one supple as a newborn.

- This is perceiving Unity, the origin
- When all is seen as one, there is no flaw
- Only when we look at individuals, we see flaws
- Flaws are the products of selfish action
- The energy of the newborn is from the origin
- Youth is not scarred by choice. We wear the marks of our selfish actions.

Application: Being raised Christian, this viewpoint was quite comforting to me. No matter how hard we try we cannot be perfect like God as long as we are individuals with selfish thoughts, words, and deeds. Seeking perfection is, in a way, a selfish goal. But the irony is that no individual can ever be perfect. Once we lose our individuality, our identity, then we can become perfect as a part of Unity, a part of God. In essence, we are not seperate from God. I found this to be a great revelation. Nobody can use this "essence of God" for individual gain because the essence is gone the second one returns to his individual world. I reached this same insight through deep contemplation in October 2004 and had it confirmed here in verse 10.

As you love the people and rule the state can you be free of self-interest? As the gates of Heaven open and close can you remain steadfast as a mother bird who sits in her nest? As your wisdom reaches the four corners of the world can you keep the innocence of a beginner?

- Are the worries of the people those of the kings?
- Are the worries of the children those of their parents?
- As worldly knowledge increases, use it for internal development instead of boasting
- Experienced innocence, appearing wise through appearing childlike

Application: This illustrates the conflict of responsibility and worry. How can one embrace Taoism if an authority figure? It's hard for me to imagine parents or other authority figures without fear or desire. A mother is not alone in protecting her children. I believe this section is about how responsibility and authority seem like permissible qualities to become individualistic. But one shows wisdom through the humility of ruling and protecting without fear or desire. That is a challenge, and the people who actually pull this off are usually revered as spiritual leaders. But all of us have this capability.

Know this Primal Power that guides without forcing, that serves without seeking, that brings forth and sustains life yet does not own or possess it.