Chapter 10 of Lao-tsu.

Can you keep the spirit and embrace the One without departing from them?

Can you concentrate your Ki(vital force) and achieve the highest degree of weakness like and infant?

Can you love the people and govern the state without knowledge(cunning)?

Can you play the role of the female in the opening and closing of the ages of Heaven?

Can you understand all and penetrate all without taking any action?

To produce things and to rear them

To produce, but not to take possession of them,

To act, but not to rely on one's own ability,

To lead them, but not to master them-

This is called profound and secret virtue.

<Comment>

It is interesting that Taoism wants the concentration of Ki(vital force, breath) to be weak, whereas Confucianism wants the vital force to be strong. The aim in Confuciansim is what Mencius calls the "strong moving power". Such is the contrast between Confucianism and Taoism.

The concentration of Ki is not yoga, as Waley thinks it is. Yoga aims at transcending the self and extrenal environment. Nothing of the sort is intended here. Note that the cnocentration is followed by "loving the people" and "governing the state." Because the yoga breathing technique was later promoted by the religious Taoists, some scholars have unjustifiably read it into earlier texts.