Tê / Dé 德

Tê / Dé 德

spontaneity and trust
in the flow of harmony
core and progress pure
with regress detached
sound with all the love
happy outshines sad
the inner experience
in one's own space
sacred untouchable
by any outer impact
spiritual freedom
realization of heart
away everything goes
when all is present
in moments of bliss
free of all frames
for none are left
to hinder pure being
as the moon sets
and the sun rises
beyond mountains
canyons and planes
soaring like eagles
in the heavens above
feet firm on the ground
the moment here now
the jewel of the present
in eternal gratitude
德

In Chinese, tê / dé 德 means virtue, personal character, inner strength, or integrity. It characterizes tao / dào 道 literally meaning the way.

“Things are either increased through reduction, or reduced through increase.”
— from verse 42 of the Tao Te Ching 道德经 by Lao Tzu (1972 Diederichs edition, p. 85)