Originally I was going to go ahead and talk about one of the second chapter’s themes, but the more I tried to write, the more I realized that there was another theme from the first chapter that I still needed to address. After saying a bit about the Dao and about the limitations of language …
Tag Archives: Tao Te Ching
On The Daodejing — The Dao
A couple years ago I started a series of posts on the Daodejing in which I attempted to say anything I could think of regarding every one of its 81 passages. This turned out to be a bad approach for me, and I soon started skipping chapters before dropping the project not even halfway through …
Meditations on the Tao Te Ching: Chapter 33
Knowing others is wisdom; Knowing the self is enlightenment. Mastering others requires force; Mastering the self needs strength. He who knows he has enough is rich. Perseverance is a sign of willpower. He who stays where he is endures. To die but not to perish is to be eternally present. -Translation by Gia-Fu …
Meditations on the Tao Te Ching: Chapter 29
Do you think you can take over the universe and improve it? I do not believe it can be done. The universe is sacred. You cannot improve it. If you try to change it, you will ruin it. If you try to hold it, you will lose it. So sometimes things are ahead …
Taoist and Stoic Nature
I’ve been reading some Epictetus recently and noticed some points of similarity and dissimilarity between Taoism and Stoicism, so I figured I’d say a little about them here. The main points of similarity seem to come from the shared ideal of the sage as someone who’s actions are in perfect accord with nature. For both …
Meditations on the Tao Te Ching: Chapter 24
He who stands on tiptoe is not steady. He who strides cannot maintain the pace. He who makes a show is not enlightened. He who is self-righteous is not respected. He who boasts achieves nothing. He who brags will not endure. According to followers of the Tao, “These are extra food and unnecessary luggage.” They …
Meditations on the Tao Te Ching: Chapter 19
Give up being great, forget being clever And people will benefit enormously. Give up being kind, forget being just And love will return to the family. Give up being sly, forget being greedy And there’ll be no more thefts or robberies. Yet as a lesson These three are incomplete. The essential part to be added …
Meditations on the Tao Te Ching: Chapter 18
When the great Tao is forgotten, Kindness and morality arise. When wisdom and intelligence are born, The great pretense begins. When there is no peace within the family, Filial piety and devotion arise. When the country is confused and in chaos, Loyal ministers appear. -Translation by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English When something no longer …
Meditations on the Tao Te Ching: Chapter 17
When the Master governs, the peopleare hardly aware that he exists.Next best is a leader who is loved.Next, one who is feared.The worst is one who is despised.If you don’t trust the people,you make them untrustworthy.The Master doesn’t talk, he acts.When his work is done,the people say, “Amazing:we did it, all by ourselves!”-Translation by Stephen …
Meditations on the Tao Te Ching: Chapter 15
The ancient masters were subtle, mysterious, profound, responsive.The depth of their knowledge is unfathomable.Because it is unfathomable,All we can do is describe their appearance.Watchful, like men crossing a winter stream.Alert, like men aware of danger.Courteous, like visiting guests.Yielding like ice about to melt.Simple, like uncarved blocks of wood.Hollow, like caves.Opaque, like muddy pools.Who can wait …
Under the Spell of Words 