THE INNER LAW

He whose law is within himself
Walks in hiddenness.
His acts are not influenced
By approval or disapproval.
He whose law is outside of himself
Directs his will to what is
Beyond his control
And seeks
To extend his power
Over objects.

He who walks in hiddenness
Has light to guide him
In all his acts.
He who seeks to extend his control
Is nothing but an operator.
While he thinks he is
Surpassing others.
Others see him merely
Straining, stretching,
To stand on tiptoe.

When he tries to extend his power
Over objects,
Those objects gain control of him.

He who is controlled by objects
Losses possession of his inner self:
If he no longer values himself,
How can he value others.
He is abandoned
He has nothing left;

There is no deadlier weapons than the will:
The sharpest sword
Is not equal to it:
There is no robber so dangerous
As Nature (Yang and Yin).
Yet it is not nature
That does the damage:
It is man's own will!


- The Way of Chuang Tzu -