When one is in harmony with the TAO, attaining the One, the sky is clear and spacious, heaven exists; the earth is complete and full, peaceful and stable; the gods and spirits have influence, are known, and empowered; all creatures flourish together, content with the way things are, endlessly repeating themselves, endlessly renewed; rulers, though inconspicuous, have much power and are not seen. When one is disconnected from the TAO, the center is lost; the sky becomes filthy; the earth becomes depleted, polluted, ravaged, broken, unstable; heaven disappears and is forgotten; the equilibrium crumbles; the gods and spirits become impotent, unknown, and forgotten; creatures become extinct; rulers appear, however they have no power. The TAOists view the parts with compassion, because they understand the whole. Their constant practice is humility. They do not glitter like a jewel, but allow themselves to be shaped by the TAO, as rugged and common as a stone, appearing inconspicuous and good for nothing. They are left alone. The noble ones realize themselves to be helpless, insignificant, worth nothing, AZO's, fameless, virtueless. They realize their dependence upon the lowly.