Taoism and Lao Tzu

In reading and writing additional commentary to what I wrote twenty-five years ago in the Tao Te Ching, I often try to emulate the sage off in his retreat, huddled with reference materials and sometimes the music similar to what they may have listened to, and even turning to Netflix and a Chinese movie with English sub-titles. The show will often have a set design or even natural surroundings of how people lived centuries ago. All designed to take my thoughts, writing, and pen to a place where there is comfort for the next words to be written by me, often as the storyteller. Teaching us that there is still a story to tell.

Chapter 2 begins with the entry titled “Preparing for our grand performance” as though there is nothing left to prove. For me, since about ninety-five percent of what I write is autobiographical, it feels like everything I’ve written or will write is meant to follow this same pattern.

Everything I write feels like it reflects what I’ve always known, aiming to highlight the virtue present in all aspects of nature. It’s about giving freedom to everyone and welcoming all without judgment and creating a place where this virtue thrives.

Over twenty years of travel and visiting historic sites, national museums, Buddhist and Taoist Temples, etc., times seemingly roaming the same streets and seeing things where I have been before, in Qufu and dozens of other small villages, cities, and towns have all been for the same purpose. Jogging my memories as though creating a starting point from where I left off maybe centuries ago the last time I was here. Often taking pictures only to see what has changed since my last visit.

In Qufu I lived and taught in old town inside the rebuilt city wall and walked in the footprints of Confucius every day. It was always that I had lived here in Shandong Province over many lives. Returning now both in the flesh but also for the sake of memories I had forgotten.

To the left is a picture of me at the hill in Qufu next to the river where Confucius was said to gather his followers and students to give lessons where most all communications at the time were verbal. Most of what it is said or inferred to have been said by Confucius is from memories of his followers and their descendants.

He is given credit for updating the five classics from early Chinese history and contributed to how the I Ching and Lao Tzu would be remembered.  What is said of his own version of the I Ching and reflections on Lao Tzu became important over two to three hundred years after he died. His only wish when he lived was that he had hoped government leaders would have listened to what he had to say.

Now over twenty-five hundred years after Confucius his influence in China and the world would have to be said to have been immeasurable.

What has endured for both Confucius and Lao Tzu is the integrity of their teachings, rooted in the idea of looking toward the light within each of us. Their ability to rise above what they encountered, finding a sense of tranquility where all things could rest in ease transcending all concerns, has been essential to their longevity. Confucius would often remind us of when others weren’t watching that “A gentleman who has no weight is not held in awe, and his learning is not secure.” That it would through their own words and actions that they too could become immortal.

Before we go on with Verse number 26 of 81, it’s worth noting that the title of the book we’re adding commentary to—Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching—is my own version, titled “Thoughts on Becoming a Sage: The Guidebook to Leading a Virtuous Life”. It’s important to note that Lao Tzu wrote the Tao Te Ching in the sixth century BC, while I wrote mine in May and June of 2000 and published it in China in 2006.

Chapter 2

Verse 26 – Preparing for our grand performance

Remaining heavy and still always controlling yourself and learning to keep your place.

In stillness you control those who are busy and are undeterred by what is small that cannot hold down something large.  In keeping with the path you now travel, keep your words weighty and what you have learned close to your vest.

Travel as if you are the son of Heaven with ten thousand chariots at your command.

Remembering all the while that what remains external from your body; success and failure, wealth and honor will be forever fleeting. That it is in stillness that tranquility endures allowing you to remain simply within yourself and your true nature.

Remaining still, the universe comes forth at your command.

26.   准备你的盛大表演

保持严肃宁静，控制自己和学会如何站稳脚跟。

你以宁静的心态，解脱那些被小事困扰，而又不能应付大事的人。为了继续你的漫游，应当牢牢地恪守诺言，把你所学过的记在心中。

仿佛你是天之娇子，统领千军万马，奋勇前行。

牢记切，不光是表面的东西。成功和失败，财富与荣耀都将会消失。只有宁静才能持久，使你坚守内在和真性。

保持宁静，宇宙将在你的召唤下前来。