More Tao Te Ching
Chapter/Verse 59
Moderation is an important factor in regulating our human tendencies and
in doing spiritual things: “rendering the (proper) service to the heavenly” . It
is only by moderation that man can return to a normal state of being. Every return is what Lao Tzu calls “the
repeated accumulation of the attributes (of the Tao)”. To me this means…that the more we return home
to the spiritual state which is our natural state of being and the sooner we
can do it “early” …the more Tao like…the more true we become.
The more Tao like we become…the more “spiritually centered” …the better
we are able to control the obstacles that get in our way. Though it is not mentioned as such here…I
immediately think that these obstacles are our “mental modifications…our “mind
stuff”…our thinking that creates a veil between us and true awareness. We have
no idea what the limits are to the way we can control our minds? …these
obstacles…but not knowing makes us “ruler of a state”. That state, I assume, is our own human
condition.
He who possesses the “mother of the state”, which I assume is the way, will continue long. This Tao like nature
makes him like the plant which has deep roots and a strong stalk…and this
assures that “its enduring life”…its eternal nature will long be seen.
My Take: Do everything in moderation including our human tendencies and our spiritual ones. Avoid extremes, especially in our striving, doing, wanting, preferring and our "Seeking"...even if it is spiritual seeking. Just be present and in the way. The obstacles that stand in the way of our being spiritual will slip away.
My Take: Do everything in moderation including our human tendencies and our spiritual ones. Avoid extremes, especially in our striving, doing, wanting, preferring and our "Seeking"...even if it is spiritual seeking. Just be present and in the way. The obstacles that stand in the way of our being spiritual will slip away.
Chapter/Verse 60
Governing a
great state is like cooking small fish.
For good energy (that which doesn’t hurt others)…even that that is left behind by the departed…the kingdom has to be governed by the Tao. When neither this energy nor the energy of ruling sage provokes injury on others…the two energies converge in the goodness of the Tao.
My Take: The energy of the other realm and the energy of the leaders in the world , if benevolent, will come together in the Tao to make the world a better place.
For good energy (that which doesn’t hurt others)…even that that is left behind by the departed…the kingdom has to be governed by the Tao. When neither this energy nor the energy of ruling sage provokes injury on others…the two energies converge in the goodness of the Tao.
My Take: The energy of the other realm and the energy of the leaders in the world , if benevolent, will come together in the Tao to make the world a better place.
Chapter/Verse 61
What makes a
great state is its being (like) a low-lying, down-
flowing (stream);--it becomes the centre to which tend (all the small
states) under heaven.
flowing (stream);--it becomes the centre to which tend (all the small
states) under heaven.
As an
example to further illustrate this point Lao Tzu uses the stillness of the female to
explain how that stillness overcomes the male.
Stillness is like a basement which gains adherents and gains favors at the
same time. A great state only wishes to unite men together and nourish them.
And a smaller state only wishes to be welcomed and to serve the other. Both the
lower and the higher get what they want but the great state must learn to “abase
itself”…concede to the little state.
My Take: Don't try to be greater than or to overpower...it is the less threatening, still presence that nourishes people and draws them to it.
Chapter/Verse 62
Tao has of all things the most honoured place.
No treasures give good men so rich a grace;
Bad men it guards, and doth their ill efface.
No treasures give good men so rich a grace;
Bad men it guards, and doth their ill efface.
The Tao is the greatest thing men can have. It is the greatest gift for good men and it
wishes no ill on bad men. It can make men honorable and above others. Even bad men are not left out of its grace.
One lesson of the Tao is greater than any high ranking position a leader can receive. It is the most valuable thing under heaven because it can be attained merely by seeking it and it removes the stain of guilt from the guilty.
My Take: Presence, spirituality...even a step towards it through a lesson, is the greatest gift and the greatest success a person can achieve.
One lesson of the Tao is greater than any high ranking position a leader can receive. It is the most valuable thing under heaven because it can be attained merely by seeking it and it removes the stain of guilt from the guilty.
Chapter/Verse 63
(It is the way of the Tao) to act without (thinking of) acting;
to conduct affairs without (feeling the) trouble of them; to taste
without discerning any flavour; to consider what is small as great,
and a few as many; and to recompense injury with kindness.
to conduct affairs without (feeling the) trouble of them; to taste
without discerning any flavour; to consider what is small as great,
and a few as many; and to recompense injury with kindness.
It is the
way of the Tao to act without needing to narrate and think through the action;
to conduct all affairs with ease; to avoid judging or discerning , or deciding
on preferences; and to kindly forgive
all wrong doings.
The one
who can master the Tao does the greatest of things even through the smallest
acts because he realizes that great things come from small and difficult things
were once easy. The sage sees difficulty
in what is easy and therefore has no difficulty. (Does not expect or assume things should be a
certain way?)
My Take: The way, the Tao, the spiritual path, presence... is a natural state of being and doing that exists beneath thinking about it, getting caught up in emotional drama, judging, preferring, creating opposites in our mind etc. One can do amazing things once they return to this level of being.
Chapter/Verse 64
Problems should be solved before they become problems. Don’t wait for things to get bad before you
act.
Each thing begins with one small step.
This is where the big line from Lao Tzu comes in …”A
journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
We should be like the sage and not act or attempt to cling and hold onto something with an ulterior purpose because it causes harm and we will lose what we attempt to hold if we do.
Therefore the sage desires what (other men) do not desire, and does
not prize things difficult to get; he learns what (other men) do not
learn, and turns back to what the multitude of men have passed by.
We should be like the sage and not act or attempt to cling and hold onto something with an ulterior purpose because it causes harm and we will lose what we attempt to hold if we do.
Therefore the sage desires what (other men) do not desire, and does
not prize things difficult to get; he learns what (other men) do not
learn, and turns back to what the multitude of men have passed by.
The wise
man does not want things other men want.
He wants different things and does not get lost in competition for these
prizes normal men seek. He does not act
for “selfish” or greedy purposes.
My Take: Don't procrastinate and put off things. They will just get big....and even when the task before you seems too large...begin anyway...with one step. A spiritually wise person wants different things than others do. He does not compete for egoic prizes and does not do good for ulterior ego reasons. He is guided by Spirit or the Tao.
Chapter/Verse 65
The ancient masters of the Tao did not seek to teach others to enlighten
them but to make them simple and ignorant.
It is difficult to lead others who have “much knowledge”. It is best to have little “knowledge”…it is a
blessing.
“The mysterious excellence of a governor “ arises from knowing this truth.
My Take: The best way to lead, the best way to be is without "knowledge" which belongs to the conceptual mind. A true spiritual teacher does not seek to provide more knowledge but attempts to remove what one thinks they know. Ignorance is bliss.
“The mysterious excellence of a governor “ arises from knowing this truth.
My Take: The best way to lead, the best way to be is without "knowledge" which belongs to the conceptual mind. A true spiritual teacher does not seek to provide more knowledge but attempts to remove what one thinks they know. Ignorance is bliss.
Chapter/Verse 66
A true sage, in order to lead and be above men, will
put himself below men and in order to be before them puts himself behind
them. He is like the sea below the level
of valleys and streams. This way men do
not feel over powered by their leader or harmed.
He does not “strive” so others under him do not
feel the need to “strive”.
Therefore all in the world delight to exalt him and do not weary of
him. Because he does not strive, no one finds it possible to strive
with him.
My Take: A true leader and/or wise master will not seek to be "superior" to others but will put themselves below men. He does not strive so others are not "threatened" and are drawn to the leader's peaceful, nourishing presence.
Therefore all in the world delight to exalt him and do not weary of
him. Because he does not strive, no one finds it possible to strive
with him.
My Take: A true leader and/or wise master will not seek to be "superior" to others but will put themselves below men. He does not strive so others are not "threatened" and are drawn to the leader's peaceful, nourishing presence.
NOTE: Take what I write here with a grain of salt. I read the chosen translation ( which I am not all that fond of by the way :)) quickly and jot down my interpretation of that. I could be missing the point. so it is best that you read these wise words yourself from your own chosen translation. I am no expert ...just a learner.
All is well
James Legge (1895) Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu.http://www.sacred-texts.com/tao/taote.htm
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