Daodejing Part Five

LYRICS: Heaven and Earth show no mercy or plan, They cradle all things, yet favor no man. The straw dogs burn when the rite is done, Still smoke ascends to the silent sun. No gift, no rule, no hand to mold — And truth remains when hearts grow cold. Empty bellows, breathing still, Hollow heart that never will Cease to flow or fade away — The Way endures when words decay. The sage is calm, the crowd his flame, He treats them all as Heaven’s same. No love, no hate, no chosen few, The wind moves on, the sky is true. He bends, he yields, he makes no claim, And life restores its hidden name. Empty bellows, breathing still, Hollow heart that never will Cease to flow or fade away — The Way endures when words decay. Too many words will drain the soul, The fuller the hand, the less control. Let go the self, let things align, The dust will settle, the stars will shine. If the bellows wished to sing its tone, The breath would die, the sound be gone. Empty bellows, breathing still, Hollow heart that never will Cease to flow or fade away — The Way endures when words decay. DAODEJING PART FIVE: Heaven and earth do not act from any wish to be benevolent; they deal with all things as the dogs of grass are dealt with. The sages do not act from benevolent; they deal with the people as the dogs of grass are dealt with. May not the space between heaven and earth be compared to a bellows? 'Tis emptied, yet it loses not its power; 'Tis moved again, and sends forth air the more. Much speech to swift exhaustion lead we see; Your inner being guard, and keep it free.