Stanza 10 of the Tao Te Ching is a profound exploration of self-cultivation, leadership, and effortless action (Wu Wei 无为). Laozi presents a series of paradoxes and rhetorical questions, inviting us to reflect on our relationship with vitality, consciousness, energy, perception, governance, and understanding.
At its core, this stanza asks:
Can we harmonize body and mind without separation?
Can we cultivate inner strength without rigidity?
Can we lead others without controlling them?
Can we act in the world without attachment to results?
Laozi suggests that achieving these qualities leads to the "mysterious power" (Xuan De 玄德): a deep, effortless alignment with the Tao that allows life to unfold naturally.
Unity of Vitality and Consciousness
"Carrying vitality and consciousness, embracing them as one, can you keep them from parting?"
Laozi opens with a question about the unity of body and mind. Vitality (Jing 精) refers to the life force, the physical energy that sustains us. Consciousness (Shen 神) refers to awareness, spirit, and higher perception.
Most people experience a separation between their physical existence and their awareness; their body pulls in one direction while their mind is restless or distracted.
What is Laozi asking us to do? To harmonize body and mind. To live in a way where our actions and awareness move as one. To not let desires, overthinking, or external distractions fragment our being.
This is the essence of Taoist cultivation: living in a natural, effortless flow where our inner and outer worlds are united.
How can we achieve this unity? Through stillness and presence, being fully engaged in whatever we are doing. Through meditation and breathwork, practices like Qigong and Taoist breathing help unify the body and spirit. Through simplicity, letting go of unnecessary mental clutter.
This is the foundation of a life lived in harmony with the Tao.
Becoming Like an Infant
"Concentrating energy, making it supple, can you be like an infant?"
Laozi presents one of the most famous metaphors in Taoism: the infant. An infant represents pure, unconditioned energy (Qi 氣) :
Soft, yet strong.
Flexible, yet full of vitality.
Effortless in its actions, yet perfectly in tune with life.
This reflects a key Taoist paradox:
True strength is not in rigidity but in flexibility.
True wisdom is found not in complexity but in simplicity.
What does it mean to be like an infant? To release tension and control, allowing energy to flow naturally. To remain open and curious, free from rigid beliefs. To trust in life rather than trying to force outcomes.
A hard and stiff tree breaks in the wind, but a young tree that bends and sways survives. Likewise, the soft and adaptable person outlives those who are rigid and controlling.
How do we cultivate this flexibility? Practice non-resistance; instead of pushing against life, move with it. Breathe deeply and relax. Taoist energy practices emphasize softness over force. Stay playful and open-minded; approach life with childlike curiosity rather than rigid certainty.
This is the secret to true strength: softness that endures rather than force that collapses.
Seeing Without Distortion
"Purifying hidden perception, can you make it flawless?"
Here, Laozi refers to the refinement of inner awareness. Hidden perception (Xuan Jue 玄觉) refers to our subtle intuition, the ability to see beyond surface appearances. Making it flawless means removing distortions, biases, and illusions.
Most people's perception is clouded by:
Desires—we see what we want to see rather than what is.
Fears—we react based on insecurity rather than clarity.
Ego—we judge based on personal attachment rather than truth.
How can we purify perception? Meditation and stillness allow the mind to settle so that clarity arises naturally. Letting go of preconceptions means being open to seeing things as they are, not as we wish them to be. Cultivating inner quiet means learning to listen beyond words, thoughts, and emotions.
When perception is pure, wisdom flows effortlessly.
Governing Without Force
"Loving the people, governing the nation, can you be uncontrived?"
This is a lesson in leadership, whether of a nation, a community, or even one's life. Loving the people; a good leader acts with compassion, not selfish ambition. Governing the nation; true leadership does not rely on force or manipulation. Being uncontrived (Wu Wei 无为). The leader does not interfere unnecessarily but allows things to unfold naturally.
Like a wise parent, a wise leader does not need to dominate or control; they guide gently, invisibly, with wisdom and trust.
The best leadership creates conditions where people govern themselves, just as the best way to grow a plant is to provide good soil and sunlight rather than force it to grow.
Embracing Change Without Attachment
"As the gate of heaven opens and closes, can you be impassive?"
The gate of heaven represents the natural cycles of life, birth and death, success and failure, beginnings and endings.
Most people cling to the good times and resist the bad, causing suffering. A sage accepts both with equanimity. They do not grasp or resist; they flow with the changes.
Practical Application
Do not fear change, it is the way of life.
Let go of attachment to success or failure.
Remain steady and at peace, no matter what happens.
The Power of Non-Possessive Action
"Producing and developing, producing without possessing, doing without presuming, growing without domineering: This is called the mysterious power."
Laozi ends with the ultimate secret of the Tao: acting without attachment.
A truly wise person creates but does not cling to their creation. Works but does not seek personal recognition. Leads but does not dominate.
This is the mysterious power (Xuan De 玄德): an effortless, humble, and unstoppable way of being.
Stanza 10 of the Tao Te Ching teaches us to:
Unite the mind and body in harmony.
Be strong yet flexible, like an infant.
Purify perception, seeing without distortion.
Lead with wisdom, not control.
Accept without attachment.
Act without possessiveness; allow things to flourish naturally.
This is the highest path: the way of the Tao, the way of effortless action, the way of true mastery.
When we follow this path, we move with life rather than against it. And in doing so, we become one with the eternal flow of the Tao.