If you learn to follow the Tao,
You learn not to force things,
Or engage in senseless arguments.
Every force has a counter-force,
Every “wrong” person wants their turn to be right.
Arguing or violence always activates a counter balance.
The inner alchemist performs
His spiritual practice and then rests.
He doesn’t try to dominate situations
Or rush his spiritual progress.
He doesn’t need to get his way in an argument,
Because he is happy with himself.
Because he is happy with himself,
He does not have to overdo his progress.
To overdo your progress is to go against the Tao.
To go against the Tao is to hasten decay.