But I have three precious things that I prize and hold fast. The first is gentleness; the second is economy; and the third is shrinking from taking precedence of others.
-Lao Tzu
Chapter/ Verse 67
"All the world" proclaims that though "my" Tao is great it is inferior to other modes of teaching. [Confucianism which was prominent at the time of the Tao?]. Because it is so great it appears small but if it were like any other system ...its smallest would be known.
There are three precious things I [Lao Tzu] holds dear: gentleness, economy and humility (shrinking from taking precedence over others). Gentleness makes him bold, economy makes him free to spend and give?, and humility gives him honor. The other teachings these days are about being bold and giving up on gentleness, being too free and giving up on economy and being ahead and giving up the position behind or beneath others.
Gentleness however is self saving and protective even in battle... for heaven will protect the gentle.
My take: sometimes the teachings that do not profess to be the greatest actually are in their humility. Gentleness, economy and humility are things to value in a teaching and in life.
Chapter/ Verse 68
In war (be it literal or figurative) if one has skill they do need to strike out at the vulnerable parts of others; if one has good will they do not succumb to rage; if one backs off and leaves the battle field...he will keep his foes apart; and if one does not seek to win he can "humbly ply his art". The wisest men who do more for others are those who do not seek to use might and power, to win on the battlefield but to unite for the sake of peace.
My Take: As above
Chapter/ Verse 69
A war master once said that he did not want to be the one to start the war; he preferred to be on the defensive side rather than the offensives. I dare not to advance an inch; I prefer to retire a foot. Meaning that it is best to back down than to instigate a battle. This is all about realizing there is no need to defend or offend because really there is no enemy. ( I think of ACIM).
When we engage in war we risk losing what is so precious to our humanity: gentleness. So when we have no choice but to fight...we do only because we have to but we hate all of it. by deploring war we conquer.
My Take: Thinking of what Lord Krishna told Arjuna when he was attempting to make away from war. Just the opposite but at the same time having the same meaning?????
Chapter/Verse 70
"My" words(Lao Tzu's) are easy to know and practice but no one in the world can know or practice them. There is a natural and authoritative 'law" in my words that I enforce. It I because men do not know these principles, men do not know me. The few who do know me tend to prize me so I must go undetected in a poor mean's garb while I hold what is truly precious and sought after in my heart.
My Take: The words are just pointers that Lao Tzu uses to guide men into understanding the principles and laws of some great truth that cannot be known by the mind or practiced by the body. Because of this men do not know the sage when they see him...never know if he carries the truth (the jade). If they knew they will hunt him down to get that truth. The sage then is hidden in a poor man's clothes ( not professing to be a sage in a humble way) and holds the truth within the heart ( the only place it can be held). Truth is an inner treasure.
After reading this I question the assumption of many that Lao Tzu was actuality not one man but a collection of many sages.
Chapter/Verse 71
To know and think we do not know is the greatest achievement. To think we know and know nothing is a disease ( of the mind?) . We are spared of this disease if the thought of having it causes us suffering. (That is...we would not be content with thinking we know when we don't...we want truth). The sage does not have this disease...he knows how painful it would be so he doesn't have it.
My Take: Taken back to Socrates and this teaching: The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing. Most of us do not know anything though we think we do and that is the disease of the mind that plagues humanity and causes a great deal of our suffering. The moment we realize that our suffering is induced by conceptually believing our thinking we can be released. If we know that our minds are responsible for suffering because we fill them with things other than truth we can admit we know nothing...and that is the greatest attainment...a step toward enlightenment.
Chapter/Verse 72
If we do not fear what we should fear, that dread (or maybe the thing we fear the most) will come upon us. We should not get lost in our ordinary lives nor should we be weary of what life depends on. If we avoid the daily mind numbing indulgences we will not weary of Life. The sage knows this but does not parade his knowledge, loves but does not appear to value himself. He puts the 'little self" away for Truth and does not get lost in indulgences.
My Take: Not sure about this one.
Chapter/Verse 73
If a man uses his boldness to break the law and wrong others , he will be punished possibly with execution. If a man uses his boldness and refrains from hurting others or breaking the law, he lives on. One of these cases appears to advantageous, the other injurious...but...what if Heaven's anger hurts a man? The sage ponders this. It is the way of heaven not to strive yet it attains what it needs, the way of heaven not to speak yet it gets a reply...men answer a call to heaven they cannot hear. Heaven is quiet in its demonstrations yet its plans are skillful and effective. The meshes in the net of heaven are large and far apart but at the same time it allows nothing to escape.
My Take: I a not sure what Lao Tzu (or Legge) was getting at here.
Chapter/Verse 74
If people do not fear death (as a punishment for committing crimes?), why attempt to frighten them with it to keep them on the straight and narrow. If people however were afraid and they could be seized any time they did wrong and be put to death, who would dare do wrong? There is One( capitol letter making it significant) who presides over death. If one would commit an execution in the presence of this One he will end up hurting himself.
My Take: Who is the One who presides over death? I would say God but Lao Tzu doesn't use God? Is Lao Tzu for or against capitol punishment...that would depend on this One meaning, wouldn't it? If One is God...then no he is saying it isn't good...we hurt ourselves by killing others who commit crimes. If the one is someone trained as an executioner...whole different ball game. He would be more or less saying...leave it to the executioners. Anyway...I believe he meant the One as a supreme being because of the heaven reference in the previous verse.
All is well
James Legge (1895) Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu. https://www.sacred-texts.com/tao/taote.htm
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