第七章


天长地久。
天地所以能长且久者，以其不自生，故能长生。
是以圣人后其身而身先；
外其身而身存。
非以其无私邪，故能成其私。



Chapter 7


The Tao is infinite, eternal.
Why is it eternal?
It was never born;
thus it can never die.
Why is it infinite?
It has no desires for itself;
thus it is present for all beings.

The Master stays behind;
that is why she is ahead.
She is detached from all things;
that is why she is one with them.
Because she has let go of herself,
she is perfectly fulfilled.