天下有始，以為天下母。既得其母，以知其子，复守其母，没身不殆。塞其兑，闭其门，终身不勤。开其兑，济其事，终身不救。见小曰明，守柔曰强。用其光，复归其明，无遗身殃；是為袭常。

Te Ching Chapter Fifty-two

The beginning of the universe is Tao,

It is the mother of all.

By knowing the Mother, we will know her creations.

By knowing the creation of all lives, one can then return to the origin and abide by the Mother.

It is in this way that although the body dies, the spiritual nature will not perish.

To abide by the Mother of Tao is to keep guard on one’s sensory desire and shut the doors of temptation so as to prevent one from pursuing outwards.

Thus, by doing so one’s whole life may be preserved from exhaustion and pains.

However, if on the contrary one indulges oneself in the pleasure of desire and opens the door of temptation to pursue outwards,

Then one’s true nature will be lost and hence is beyond rescuing.

Those who are aware of the essence of the original nature are said to be enlightened.

Those who abide by the gentleness of Tao are said to be strong.

Those who employ the glory of Tao,

And were able to return to the true nature, are ensured of no distress and is said to embrace the Nature Tao.