Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Sixty One 

“A great country is like low land. 
It is the meeting ground of the universe, 
The mother of the universe. 

The female overcomes the male with stillness, 
Lying low in stillness. 

Therefore if a great country gives way to a smaller country, 
It will conquer the smaller country. 
And if a small country submits to a great country, 
It can conquer the great country. 
Therefore those who would conquer must yield, 
And those who conquer do so because they yield. 

A great nation needs more people; 
A small country needs to serve. 
Each gets what it wants. 
It is fitting for a great nation to yield.”

This is describing the Tao as the female, the giver and source of life, like rivers will naturally gravitate to the larger bodies of water like lakes or the sea, mother nature supports with the same quiet stillness and a large country if peaceful and supportive will naturally absorb smaller countries on its borders and the smaller countries can have the same favourable result when everyone works together.

There is great power in the source of all life, yielding, still and quiet, in peace, harmony and using a light touch, in supporting and helping – this is the way, lost to so many.