In the art of living wisely, when our actions align in harmony with the natural rhythm of the Dao, we acquire the capacity to act with precision, leaving no traces of interference.
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.’
The Sage perceives intrinsic value in all existential manifestations:
- Virtuous and non-virtuous beings;
- Valuable and seemingly insignificant resources.
“The Sage constantly saves people, hence no beings are disposable; constantly saves things, hence no objects are useless.”
Optimizing human and material potential through:
- Non-dual discernment: Transcending categories of “good/bad”;
- Recognition of complementary functions: Like yin-yang in mutual transformation.
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