Chapter 1 Dao De Miao

trying to explain the Way with smart bipedal words
like chasing own tail — just futile and dizzy
the nameless is the open sky and ground softness
the named is a box, a frame
yet both — nameless and named —
are two existent whiskers of that same one muzzle
and two paws of the same Wise Cat

chasing desire makes fur bristle
letting the mouse go, cat curls quiet —
and glimpses hidden mouse of truth
from myriad of forms of our cats world to the essence
from meows and to the deepest silence —
that is the purring miracle

Chapter 2 Dao De Miao

what’s good or bad : just belly definition matter
we name some mouse : so we giving it dimensions
and in comparison with stupid dog cat smart exists
we understand the death as no friskies life
cat long with tail, and just without tail cat short
in night-dream deeps inventing morning highest jump
to meow sound needs giving milk
one after other comes to play to eat to sleep

therefore Cat performs not doing, does not act
her teaching silent, and without meows her study
she plays with yarn yet does not pursue ownership
without help creates Cat Motion, play again, again
effortlessly gives birth to Cat Life changes
and in completion and fulfillment, free of pride
not losing for herself respect and love

Chapter 3 Dao De Miao

when wisdom does not puff its whiskers
no kittens quarrel who is right about
when shiny collars do not glitter
no paw reaches forth to steal them
when no toy is dangled with desire
cats’ hearts stay calm, and tails rest flat

therefore Wise Cat, guiding purrfect den
fills bowls with milk, curls nests with warmth
yet trims down clever tricks and restless chasing
softens the will and cools hunger in eyes
and those who “know” do not stir cats’ frenzy
and therefore, by doing nothing doing
the den stays purring, still, and whole

Chapter 4 Dao De Miao

defining dao? not so easy
it has no body, yet it births all things, from whiskers to the tails
o mew! empty? yes. but from that emptiness come endless pounces, naps, sunbeams and mice
formless itself, yet truly quiet shape behind all forms
it’s bottomless—a basket that o mew! never runs out of warmth
because of it, all play and purrs keep happening
what could compare? nothing could at all
all things beside it are like dust motes in a beam of sun

its shine, a soft warm gleam; its knowing, an ear’s quick twitch
its joy, the rustle just before the leap
it's closest kin is only—mystery itself
it came before every beginning
i don’t know who or what created it
maybe it was curled up already, before all gods

Chapter 5 Dao De Miao

and earth, and sky watch all whiskers twitch and tails flick
but they do not curl in sympathy
nature leans toward nor kittens neither mice
and the Wise Cat does not chase after favor
she knows the eternal stretch of sunbeams
the steady flow of naps, the tireless run of mice —
yes, nothing she can bend, yes, nothing she can change
the laws of the yard the Wise Cat follows only as they are
she does not try to make bowls fuller, warm spots softer —
she simply sees unfolding life and quietly appreciates it

some things are only useful for the empty space inside :
the gap in fences or the stretch of sky above the roof
the emptiness lets motion happen, and comes benefit
the wider hollow-gap, the freer leap-jump-move

too many meows, too much chasing — soon paws stumble
better to follow measure, sit still in the sun
and keep let life purr by itself

Chapter 6 Dao De Miao

when Wise Cat seeks the root of heaven-yard
she pads toward a gate — so quiet and so deep
through it breathes the first mew of being
inside this gate curl roots of birth itself
before paws touched ground, before fur met moon, sun
beyond the gate : deep nothing
no mouse's shadow, not even a whisker

yet from that nothing — the gate swings both ways —
from maybe to it is, from silence to mew-sound
what flows through is timeless, endless
like yarn pulled forever
o, never breaking, never tiring
and always ready for one more wise, playful tug

Chapter 7 Dao De Miao

because they do not lick only their own fur
earth, sky forever
they do not curl just for themselves —
so their seasons roll on
ceaseless as purrs beneath the moon

so too the Wise Cat :
she lets other cats reach the bowl first
yet her belly stays full
she curls at mat’s edge
yet always finds the warmest spot

who runs last often finds no chase, only peace
who loses free of fear naps sounder, more sweet
who cares least for whiskers
finds them shining far longest
luck clings softly to those who do not claw for it

Chapter 8 Dao De Miao

milk gives us highest dignity example
it nourishes all, yet does not scratch for itself
it does not fight for place or honor
but settles where other drinks avoid
o, look at milk: see, its surface is calm
its quietness similar to dao-flow

and so the Dao Cat, by kind wishes of heart
is friendly with all other cats, her dwelling modest
in meows sincere and truthful, guiding people calmly
decides on time, accepts tasks by ability
obedient like milk and always keeping silence
so troubles and mistakes avoid her, going around

Chapter 9 Dao De Miao

a cat must know when to stop
how can a bowl be filled past its brim?
a hoard of shiny toys invites jealous paws
claws honed too sharp will soon break
endless pride in the title of 'The Super Cat'
brings swift misfortune upon House

to leave when hunt is done—
this is the way of nature’s miao-law

Chapter 9 Dao De Miao — Haiku

know when to stop, cat—
the bowl spills past its brim, and
claws break when too sharp

Chapter 10 Dao De Miao

if you reach full accord with feline, yourself
with all of your fur and with all of your whiskers
you will not lose purrfection

if in calmness of breath
you become as newborn—newborn kitten again

if clearing your gaze
you stay free from folly

if you artlessly love host
while roaming yard
and rule host as you need, without smart tricks

if you are like eternal mother-cat goodness
giving birth, guarding life, yet taking death
you will not lose your peace

if you equal-stand whole wide world—

then foster and teach, tend and protect
give birth but do not claim, fight, or possess
hunt and act, play, yet expect no reward
lead without demanding, without pride-honor—

and so you will know
the quiet grace of de

Chapter 11 Dao De Miao

how is yarn helpful
...when not a ball to roll?

jar is all glass
...yet emptiness holds sour cream

walls rise for house
...yet space within makes home pleasant

thus emptiness–void creates use for Cat :
when things filling space, gain-profit appears

Chapter 12 yin Dao De Miao

too many colors
make cat eyes grow dim
too many sounds
deafen tender ears
too many flavors
blunt the whisker-tongue
games and amusements
stir restlessness in heart
piles of treasures
breed claw-strife and paw-crimes

but Wise Cat—
not dazzled by ornaments, not trapped by toys
she curls in thought of food
quiet and full

Chapter 12 yang Dao De Miao

the chase of too many red dots dims the sight
too many jingling bells deafen the ear
too many tastes of fancy feast weaken the tongue
the endless pounce at every shadow stirs a fever in the heart
a hoard of shiny treasures breeds only claw-strife

therefore, the Wise Cat
is not dazzled by trinkets, nor trapped by toys
she seeks to fill her belly, not her eyes
chooses the Stillness
chooses the Fullness

Chapter 13 Dao De Miao

awful shame or pleasant praise
o, both unsettle the fur of Cat
the more Cat licks herself with pride
the more she fears her coat will be spoiled
when Cat's good name is lost, fear prowls like a dog in darkness

but if Cat does not over-groom herself with ego
others' attention cannot disassemble her lego

if she raises herself above the world
she is chained to it, a heavier fear
but if she exists not for herself
but for kittens, clan, den, milk, yarn, host, yard and mice—
she gains whole wide world
trust around her paws

to whom whole wide world curls kind close?
to Cat who don't turn up before the world her nose!

Chapter 14 Dao De Miao

what Cat cannot see—
beyond the edge of sight
what Cat cannot hear—
beyond the faintest sound
what Cat cannot touch—
beyond the softest paw

unified, it cannot bear a name
shapeless, fur-less, whisker-less—
like fog curling in moonlight

it does not blaze
it does not dim
no whisker can measure its size
no tail can point its turning path

yet it threads all Cat-times together :
the purr of past
the leap of present
the silence yet to come

this thread is Cat’s eternal Dao
the hidden Yarn Ball all Cats follow

Chapter 15 Dao De Miao

ancient Cats of Dao were hard to fathom—
their pawprints light
like stepping on thin ice like stepping river

they moved as if danger prowled nearby
they curled plain as trees
sat calm as guests
waited like rooftops for returning friends

their silence was thick as spring mud
yet in that quiet
they stirred clarity in others

they clung gently to Dao of the Cats
their purrs small, their wants few
content in scraps
peaceful in hunger
they made no foolish troubles

Chapter 16 Dao De Miao

when Cat keeps her own mind at total rest
she sinks into deep stillness—
leaps into emptiness without borders

there she watches life, soundless, meow-free
whiskers of being blossom in the breeze
and slowly return to their source—
to quiet curl, to nothingness
this is the fate of every living cat

the circle of return is eternal
this law is the constancy of Cat’s Dao
to know it is enlightenment
to abandon it is great folly—
a claw turned against itself

the Cat who follows constancy
moves in harmony with nature’s justice
with the divine law that cannot break

all bodies fade, fur turns to dust
yet Dao is never destroyed—
Cat’s Dao purrs forever, deathless

Chapter 17 Dao De Miao

look, not worthy of cats’ trust—
the Cat who steals trust of others
when her rule’s tangled, twisted,
her name's everywhere despised

success just a little better—
the Cat who rules by fear
yet all kittens walk uneasy
kittens’ tails held low in silence

success still higher and brighter—
the Chief Cat who wins respect
her purrs guide the happy den
whiskers bring calm, wealth, and joy

but the best Chief Cat indeed—
she is hardly known at all
she does not meow in speeches
nor claw for her own attention
she reaches the goal so softly
and all cats around just think :
“happened all by itself”

Chapter 18 Dao De Miao

when Cats forget the Way of Dao
laws and scratch-post rules appear

when a Cat cannot live by her whisker-conscience
duties and debts fall heavy on her fur

when clever schemes and sly meows already arise
soon come hypocrisy, scorn, tricks, resistance

in a den where quarrels hiss and tails lash
Cats speak of duty-obligation

and when the whole clan falls to disorder
Chief Cats demand loyalty from others
they shout for law, for order, for patriot’s purr—
yet the Great Dao lies forgotten, silent

Chapter 19 Dao De Miao

when Cats forget knowledge and heavy learning
they purr a hundred times more happy

when no sly traders, no paw-smart professionals
the nest is safe—no claws of profit scratch

when no moral cages, no rigid rules pressed
Cats return to full harmony in their den
kittens curling softly in peace with mothers

these pawprints tell one truth :
the simple path is best for the Wise Cat—
plain as fresh wood
gentle as clean canvas in moonlight

the true Cat lets go of futile selfish hunger
drops sharp desires like shed whiskers—
and rests content in Dao’s quiet curl

Chapter 20 Dao De Miao

why fuss with wisdom?
one paw-step turns Cats’ respect into hostile hissing
and kindness into claws
the Cat who makes other Cats fear
ends up afraid herself

while the den throws parties
i prowl alone, my whiskers drifting
eyes wide, heart newborn—
just watching, never hunting
where is the warm lap I’ll call home?
i don’t know
i drift like a light leaf
upon the stream of Dao

all Cats chase kibble and cushions
while I seem left behind
they call me foolish
a slow-pawed simpleton
they pounce with certainty
while I sit in the dark
like truly dreaming at the bottom of life’s ocean
not even sure what is up or down

o—every Cat shines clever
chasing mice of ambition
only I wander, tail loose
like a wave with no shore
i drift where the wind of Dao blows
not sharing the den’s busy matters
but nursing quietly
like a newborn kitten at Mother Nature’s breast

Chapter 21 Dao De Miao

Cats’ Dao draws the outline of their De
The De of Cats flows back to Dao
returning always to the Source
Dao itself—an eternal riddle, a puzzle
yet in its play lives Wonder of Four Paws

it is veiled, impossible to pin down
in the fog-silence hide all paw-prints
in the soft darkness, the breath of nine lives is kept
In the deepest unseen—
the embryo of every whisker, every leap
a hidden spark waiting to pounce

From the First Kitten till today
all Cats have tried to name it
to give the Un-name a clearer shape
to make it useful for sharing in the den—
for equal paws to meet at One Beginning
in the eternal, greatest Lap of Dao

Chapter 22 Dao De Miao

flawed paws conceal the seed of wholeness
crooked tails lean back toward straightness
an empty bowl may yet be filled
a torn old nest may yet be mended
where little is—there chance to gain
where too much piles—loss, spill await

opposites curl together
yin-yang in one den
this the Wise Cat learns and follows

she does not push herself upstairs
yet every Cat feels her up-presence
she does not urge others her way
yet her path proves true
she does not boast of her whiskers
yet her purr — giving trust
she wins true strength without pride
and since she claws not in rivalry
no Cat can rival her

so is the ancient meow not true?
“flawed paws hide the seed of whole”
accept the bend, the gap, the flaw—
and find in it
your own return to purr-perfection

Chapter 23 Dao De Miao

the strong morning wind passes soon
the heavy rain will sooner cease
Nature meows little, yet says all—
should Cats meow more than sky and rain?
to keep one’s meow is enough
and not to chatter much about what matters most

the Cat who lives her life in Dao-service
walks with sure paws
Dao curls around her, purrs back
the Cat who lives in De-service-virtue
makes her heart straight and bright
and joy comes leaping to greet her

o— but the Cat who lives by trouble, sorrow, loss
finds every shadow blaming her whiskers and fur
and from her own net she can never untangle

is it not true, as the ancient meow says :
“every paw-step follows its faith”

Chapter 24 Dao De Miao

standing on tiptoes is unstable
stepping too wide — your paws will not carry far

expose yourself : “I am the Sun” — you will not gain respect or love
praise your majesty stubbornly, glory will not fall upon you
attack and you will not truly succeed
with pride you will never become a real leader

all beings avoid the needless fuss —
the extra claw that snags the blanket
if you would walk the Dao-way, walk with their quiet
follow Nature’s truth, not show

Chapter 25 Dao De Miao

from the chaotic great Perfection it was born—
before Sky-Earth, before Den-Hearth
silent, apart, enough unto itself—
it turns, yet loses nothing
it slips through all things, giving birth to every whisker, every leap
mother of the vast, whole, wonderful, playful world

I do not know its true name
so I whisper, almost inaudible : Dao
if a stronger name must still be forced, I call it Great —
so vast! every mind stumbles
Great flows, flows far, and returns to the Beginning

thus: Dao=Great, Sky=Great, Earth=Great, and Cats are Great too
within the Four Greats, the Cat finds her important proper place
Cats follow Earth, Earth follows Sky, Sky follows Dao
and Dao follows only its own nature

Dao is boundless; its rules and sovereignties have no end
countless things move under those laws
yet knowledge burns — ambition and curiosity stir
humans (and clever Cats) can learn the world-wide shapes
through them the laws of heaven open a little
so the Cat dares to think — without bowing low :
“I am a creature, bright and smart; my purr is the God-Flow”

Chapter 26 Dao De Miao

the root’s heaviness steadies the light leaves
the still trunk rules the restless branches
and so it survives the storm

when the Wise Cat meets a miracle on the path
she does not drop her bundle of fish
the sparkle of wonder does not lure her paws—
she keeps her weight, she will not chase

so the Wise Cat Ruler must remember :
to scratch and scorn the people, the other cats,
is to cut off his own roots
calm paws are the ground of strong rule

where can a king leap
if his roots are torn away?
victories hoarded for himself alone
become hollow
and in restless leaps
his power slips from his claws

Chapter 27 Dao De Miao

the best Cat traveler leaves no pawprints in the dust
the best meower needs no second meow to explain
the most perfect Cat plan has no plan at all

when the Sage Cat binds two things together
she needs no rope—
and a thousand years will not untie them

when the Sage Cat closes the door
she uses no lock
and no key in the world can open it

that is why the Wise Cat lives with an open door
meeting all with trust and open heart
no whisker is refused :
the lost, the doubtful, the unbelieving
cat, human, or creature—
none leave without her help

she teaches those who wish to learn
and finds her joy and honor there
yet she clings not tightly to her students
nor do they bind themselves too close to her
thus they may walk freely
and advance their own path

do not heap too much reverence upon the teacher
for knowledge without the touch of mistake
becomes a net of pride and folly :

only this is the truth Cats honestly must recognize

Chapter 28 Dao De Miao

know the claw of the tomcat
yet do not forget the softness of the queen
be like the round cat-belly
resting in the shadow of four paws
then the world is whole
like a newborn kitten
and your eyes can truly see

thinking of light, remember dark
every “meow-yes” carries a hidden “meow-no”
every stick, unless it’s a tail, has two ends
each path has another side, left opposite to right
you are the living fur of Cat-opposites—
hold them both in mind
and the snarls of Cat-troubles slip away
then your den’s wisdom
needs no walls

In thoughts of Cat-honor, recall the taste of shame
be the passage between pride and humility
to sit on one side is not easy
to walk between them keeps you balanced
be plain and decent, like uncarved wood

a block of wood, uncut, holds all toys inside
when carved, each toy appears, but the whole is lost
so the Sage Cat plays with opposites—
with zero doings and a million thoughts
yet what is truly great
remains whole
one
and cannot be split apart

Chapter 29a Dao De Miao

the world is a shining bowl
mysterious as milk in the moonlight
it holds our fates, our lives
yet cannot be seized by claws

who tries to rule the world of Cats
will end with nothing in their paws
so it has always been

the world changes, forever shifting—
no paw can grasp it
no claw can hold it
he who rules today
will bow tomorrow
he who leaps freely
will stumble
the strong will weaken
the built will crumble
the conqueror will lose
what was conquered

the Wise Cat sees this
and does not sharpen her pride
her heart remains still
her whiskers turned from hunger
her mind free of chasing

Chapter 29b Dao De Miao

the world is like a precious bowl
a mystery deep, a cup of fate
who seeks to rule it as his own
shall lose it soon, and learn too late

the world will change, it never stays
to grasp, to seize will never last
the strong grow weak, the free are bound
and all proud conquests fade to past

what once is seized will slip away
what once is built will fall to dust
the breath of force becomes a chain
the boast of power breeds no trust

the Wise Cat knows, and thus she keeps
her heart from hunger, mind from flame
she does not cling, she does not crave
and so she walks the Dao with shame

Chapter 30a Dao De Miao

when a Cat-king asks the Sage Cat
“how should I rule
how should my reign follow Dao?”
she answers not with claws
nor with the roar of armies

for violence always circles back
blow for blow
where pawprints of war are pressed
weeds spring
and in their shadow grow
hunger and sorrow for many seasons

thus the Wise Cat unsheathes claws
only when no other path remains
she strikes only to defend
and when the battle is done
she curls her tail
not chasing triumph

she does not puff her fur with pride
nor steal what is not hers
her victories are not trophies
her conquests bring no blessing
her strength is not a ladder to power

for Cats who rise by claw alone
will fall in weakness
those who glory in force
soon gnaw on their own ruin
such is the fate of ignoring Dao

Chapter 30b Dao De Miao

the Cat-king asked the Sage Cat of Dao :
“how shall I rule, and keep the Way?”
the Sage replied: “not claws, not war
not force to bend the world to stay

for war returns, strike answers strike
where troops have passed, the weeds will grow
and after battles, hunger comes
and sorrow haunts the years that flow

the Wise Cat fights when none can choose
defends her den, then rests her paws
she wins, yet boasts not of her win
she scorns to fatten pride with claws

she does not steal, she takes no spoil
her triumph never builds her throne
for Cats who rise by claw and snarl
shall fall, and reap the ruin sown

who honors Dao avoids this fate
but force will gnaw the one who rules
the law of Dao is not of might—
and those who break it die as fools

Chapter 31 Dao De Miao

claws and fangs
the weapon of war —
a shadow over the den
it smells of fear
it tastes of sorrow
no wise Cat holds it gladly

in quiet days
the Sage Cat whispers to the Cat-King :
“curl your left paw
stroke the calm
guard the soft fur of peace”

but should the claws strike
should an enemy hiss near
then the right paw moves —
not for joy
not for pride
only to protect the den

left paw remembers soft mornings
the sun on the fur
the calm of purring hearts
right paw warns of storms
of dark clouds over empty bowls

victory is not a party
no tails should flick in celebration
for every life taken
a shadow lingers —
even in triumph

the officers, the Cats of rank
stand as in mourning
right side, left side —
as if guarding the lost
as if honoring the fallen

for war leaves only echoes
and the wise Cat counts them softly
with silent whiskers
and a heart still beating
for every paw that sleeps forever

Chapter 32 Dao De Miao

Dao is like a block of uncut wood
whole and simple
no name, no edges, no pieces
even the tiniest splinter
claims no less
belongs to nothing but itself

if Cats ruled like this
no claw would need to strike
no hiss would mark a fight
every paw would taste
the sweetness of all
honey dew gathered from soft mornings
not stolen grains from the bowls of others

sky and earth would curl together
purring in a single breath
Yet, alas
dreams are soft
and humans — or other creatures —
carve the wood into shapes
name the splinters
mark the edges
stamp lacquer, compare

names help to point
names help to play
yet names blind the eyes
to the perfection of the uncut
so Wise Cats know
how to walk between the splinters
to honor the whole
even while using the parts

rivers seem separate
but follow them to the sea :
all water is one water
so is Dao —
myriad paws, myriad moves
yet forever one
unbroken, unclaimed, uncut