Chapter 37 - Everything Happens by Itself

This chapter is made of several paragraphs. The original text is in bold, my commentaries in italics.

Text with Commentaries

The Tao in its regular course does nothing (for the sake of doing it), and so there is nothing which it does not do.

Tao does not work out of interest, desire or intention, it does everything without the awareness that it is doing something because it is not a person, that is, a being endowed with reason, but an active, neutral, impartial principle.

If princes and kings were able to maintain it, all things would of themselves be transformed by them.

Princes and kings must emulate the Tao in the sense of not consciously interfering in the course of things. To stand aside as a mere spectator to the transformation of things.

If this transformation became to me an object of desire, I would express the desire by the nameless simplicity.

If the transformation I witness is or becomes the object of my desire, I will express the desire through simplicity (indifference, apathy).

Simplicity without a name
Is free from all external aim.
With no desire, at rest and still,
All things go right as of their will.

Conclusion - Simply, indifference
Without object.
Without interest, apathetic,
As if everything that exists happens by itself.

--
Translation by James Legge.
Commentaries by Jhian.

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