Name and Pattern

'Name and Pattern' is the ninth and last text from the chapter 'Lead to Law'. It 
gives a surprisingly modern view of a scientific approach to investigation.

The titles of the verses and text between [brackets] are not part of the 
original text. The numbers have also been added for editorial reasons. Gaps in 
the numbering mean that the verse is not translated. In all cases this is 
because there were too many illegible characters in the original text. 

Translated and edited by Bram den Hond

9.1 [Mind and Insight]
Tao is the source of mind and insight. 
Mind and insight mean that one takes up a position 
within the standards, and is acting within the standards. 
Who takes a position within the standards, 
is inspiring confidence without words. 
Who acts outside the standards, 
his words cannot be changed. 
Who takes a position within the standards, 
is quiet and cannot be dislodged from his place. 
Who acts outside the standards, 
cannot be persuaded to other objectives. 
[Insight] is quiet and cannot be dislodged from its place. 
[Mind] comes in action  
and does not deviate from its objectives,  
therefore we call it mind. 
Mind and insight are the basics of knowledge 
which rest on observation.  
There is something that [exists] in the beginning, 
it settles itself on Earth and reaches up to Heaven, 
Yet no one is seeing the shape of it. 
Her size is filling the space completely  
between Heaven and Earth, 
but no one knows the name of it.

9.2 [The Perfection of the Opposite]
Because no one can know it from observation, 
there exists the perfection of the opposite, 
because through that the creatures arise. 
Therefore corrective punishments exist, 
and you could be hit by the disaster itself.

9.3 [Next of Kin]
When you try to protect what is damned, 
and when you attack something that should be kept alive, 
if you create a distance to your next of kin 
by attacking your own family and [friends], 
then that will lead to disorder 
and you will end up nameless.

9.4 [The Circle of Life]
Sometimes everything seems glorious 
and then in decay again; 
that is the circle of all things. 
Sometimes everything seems glossy 
and then withered again. 
That is the circle of all life. 
In general, all creatures and wealth  
that arise all at once, 
will disappear in the same way.

9.5 [Action]
These are three examples of action 
and hunting for success out of the standards. 
Such action will certainly not succeed, 
and disaster will surely turn itself around 
and hit you.

9.6 [Hard and Soft]
Who considers hard as soft, stays alive. 
Who considers soft as hard, will be attacked. 
Who esteems that which is soft,  
will experience blessings. 
Who esteems that which is hard, 
will become wiped out.

9.7 [Yes and No]
"Yes" is the seal of words. 
"No" is the crack of words. 
If "yes" and "no" cannot be trusted, 
then knowledge becomes muddy. 
If "yes" and "no" can be trusted well, 
then you are in position within the standards.

9.8 [Good and Wrong]
When something happens in the world, 
then you have to investigate the name of it. 
When the name [is investigated scrupulously] 
just as the direction which name and texture are following, 
then a good pattern brings always luck 
and a bad pattern brings always disaster. 
Good and wrong know their own distribution. 
Emptiness, stillness, attention and obedience,  
are the laws to complete them.

9.9 [Good and Wrong]
A scrupulous investigation of name and pattern 
from end back to the start,  
is called "The texture of the pattern". 
Conform [yourself] exclusive to the common interest, 
without counting with your own involvements. 
Connect that to your knowledge from your own experience, 
if it is not confused, then knowledge will rise up impetus. 
Therefore, the one who makes allowance for the Tao, 
during his observations of the world and [her] events,  
[he will see] true Tao,  
and according to the texture of the pattern,  
he will be able to recover begin and end. 
Therefore he can determine the name  
and define the texture or the pattern. 

9.10 [Integrity]
From Form and Name, reputation is following 
and if the reputation agrees with reality, 
then luck and disaster will be like a shadow  
that arises from the form,  
or like an echo that follows on the sound,  
or like a balance that cannot hide [what is] light or heavy. 
Therefore, only he who follows the true Tao  
is empty and quiet,  
focused on common interest and correctness.  
Only then the texture of the pattern manifests itself. 
Only then you will become part of the truth of name and pattern.

9.11 [Disorder]
Where disorder accumulates internally, 
Where titles get out of order externally, 
At that place an attack will take place. 
When in a state internally the impression rules, 
That she is doomed, and where externally 
Undertakings get out of order, that place will be lost. 
Where violation of the rules cries to the sky, 
And where one goes on without stopping, 
Undoing will take place.

9.12 [Take Part to Heaven]
When a state is moving itself 
And wants to surprise another state, 
And when that effort does not work, 
then that is called: "To take part to Heaven"  
If the effort is successful, 
Then you will surely stay nameless.

9.13 [Opponents]
Esteeming opponents highly … 
... to keep and follow Tao, 
That state will come in danger  
And disaster will take place. 
Where two opponents attack each other, 
There they will bring each other disaster, 
Both states will be in danger to be ruined.