completes them,I can see how some people might be perplexed by the use of the words comfort and protect. If we each die, how then are we comforted and protected?
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~
Sheltered, comforted,
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~
Perfects them, matures them
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~
protects them,
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~
In my mind's eye, what is comforted and protected is the process itself and, since we each are part of this process, we are comforted and protected too. For me, by understanding that each life form flows within the process, I can feel comforted and protected in the idea that all is well and is as it should be.
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These lines are about the way Te takes care of the manifestations of Tao. I don't think it's about our "comfort or protection" in the face of death or anything else (except insofar as we are manifestations of Tao).
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