Chapter 52 of the Dao De Jing explores the wisdom of returning to the source and cultivating inner awareness, emphasizing alignment with natural laws.
It can be used as a guide for our spiritual cultivation. What’s more, its call to “return to the source” offers profound insights for addressing modern crises—from existential anxiety to ecological collapse—by reconnecting with the wisdom of Dao.
(The Dao) 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.
All things under heaven have an origin, which is called the “Mother” of the world. By understanding the Mother, one comprehends her “offspring” (all phenomena). Once the offspring are known, return to guard the Mother—thus, no danger will arise throughout life.
The “Mother” symbolizes Dao as the root of all existence, while “offspring” represent manifested phenomena. Laozi urges returning to simplicity and rejecting superficial distractions (e.g., materialism).
Modern individuals often lose themselves in external pursuits. By “guarding the Mother,” one simplifies desires and reconnects with their true essence.
Block the senses’ apertures, shut the doors of desire—then life remains free of toil. But open these apertures and chase external affairs—life becomes irredeemably troubled.
As mentioned in Chapter 12: “The five colors blind the eyes; the five tones deafen the ears”—critiques sensory excess, echoing “blocking the apertures.”
To perceive the subtle is called clarity; to guard the soft is called strength. Use the inner light, return to pure awareness, avoid self-inflicted calamity—this is abiding by eternal laws.
“Perceiving the subtle” means discerning the essence through small signs.
Similar to Chapter 63: “Plan for difficulty while it is easy; act on greatness through small steps”.
“Guarding the soft is called strength” subverts conventional notions of power. True resilience lies in flexibility and humility (as in Chapter 78: “Nothing in the world is softer than water, yet nothing overcomes the hard better”).
“Using the inner light” refers to relying on Dao’s wisdom, while “returning to pure awareness” signifies aligning with one’s innate clarity or inner awareness.
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