Chapter 67

Some say that this teaching is nonsense. Others call it lofty but impractical. But to those who have looked inside themselves, this nonsense makes perfect sense. And to those who put it into practice, this loftiness has roots that go deep. I have THREE TREASURES which I preserve and protect: ESSENCE, VITALITY, AND SPIRIT; and THREE PRACTICES which allow me to keep and fortify these treasures: The first is T'ZU, or MOTHERLY LOVE, COMPASSION, and GENTLENESS. The second is FRUGALITY, ECONOMY. The third is HUMILITY, daring not to take the lead. Whoever has COMPASSION can be brave, courageous. Whoever has FRUGALITY can be generous. Whoever dares not to be first can become a leader. All three treasures are conserving and life sustaining. MOTHERLY LOVE conserves by nourishing and sheltering all beings. Daring not to be at the front conserves by avoiding exposure, vulnerability, and premature death from the world's destructive forces; while to remain behind and be HUMBLE is to allow oneself time to fully ripen and bear fruit. To be brave without compassion is violence; generous without frugality is extravagance; prominent without humility is pride and arrogance. These are all fatal. Whoever shows compassion in battle will conquer. Whoever shows compassion in defense will stand firm. Heaven helps and protects those with compassion.