Taoism and Lao Tzu
Before we go on, 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.
When I had my book published in China the publisher and editor had a hard time defining what could be the meaning of the phrase la ti da or la li da and what this could possibly mean in reference to the Tao Te Ching. I would tell them it meant for a person to live in a unpretentious manner, or to try to be more in a way than they are or supposed to be. I would explain that this was the gist of it. That we must first see beyond who we think we are in only an earthly manner, to recognize the more heavenly manner of what I call as spirit. Looking at things in relation to how we view ourselves and the struggles we face in life.
Living only in the present, in the here and now, can keep us from becoming like a rock smoothed and polished by a river’s current, constantly refined as it flows, gradually wearing away our rough edges. I like to imagine an ancient shaman leading children to the edge of a river or stream, picking up a smooth stone, and asking where they think it came from.
Over time, nature has worn away its edges, shaping it into a smooth, rounded form as it journeyed through life’s twists and turns. Life is a lot like collecting wisdom, slowly smoothing out our rough edges to uncover the true heart, mind, and spirit inside.
Over the centuries this is what Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching was to become to inflect the meaning of people’s lives. Here in the first line of what was to become 81 chapters or verses was the secret to how one is to live one’s life. It is like seeing the paradoxes of our lives as they become wisdom collected together like pearls on the string that expresses unity and gives us a sense of purpose.
That our success and failures rest in seeing that which lies outside us can never be as important as what lies within us. When we think of Confucius, Chuang Tzu, and many others, they had this basic concept that would later become Taoism as the touchstone of their own way going forward.
Verse 1 – Just one big la ti da after another
Encountering constant renewal.
Understanding the paradox living brings each day. That once we find comfort in the way or direction we pursue today, we become aware that this is not the true way we are here to travel.
That when we are free of desire we can see where things begin and when we are subject of desire we can see where things end.
第１章
第１节 接踵而来
我们面临的是一个日新月异的世界。
要理解每天充满悖缪的生活。一旦找到了我们认为舒坦的道，然而，今天刚刚上道，我们就发现这个并不是真道。
当我们没有欲求，就可以看到事情的来由。当我们拥有欲求，就可以看到事情的终结。
Encountering constant renewal without knowing what the end results will look like is meant to become the context to our lives true meaning. Cherishing these rounded stones of wisdom in our hearts, carrying them in our thoughts and actions each day, is what gives us the purpose to build upon. Returning to our nature and learning to live within the true meaning of life, we first look to the stars with an innate sense of knowing where we came from and where we will one day return. 
From what we’ve learned in the I Ching, there’s no single way for all things to begin, as each follows its own path, knowing that everything will continually change. Maturity comes as each one experiences growth and transformation according to its own nature, grounded in living with virtue.
That nature is comprised of the ten thousand things each with his or her own endeavor and destiny to fill. That we must first understand our beginnings before we can learn to travel the path that leads to our return home. Finding, or rediscovering latent talents we are here to simply build on and fulfill and why our memories become so important. To what I often found at the university teaching in China with time spent uncovering talents, skills, or abilities that are not immediately apparent but that can be discovered over time that led to growth and acknowledging talents we are here to share with others.
We learn from seeing opposites, realizing that what we call beautiful or ugly is just a matter of opinion. The sage understands that the countless things in life arise naturally, but he does not initiate them. He acts in their service without making them dependent on him, following the natural flow of life. The sage accomplishes tasks with ease and imparts lessons best without words.
Verse 2 – Transforming Realities
The sage transforms his feelings and returns to his true nature thus becoming one with the universe once again.
What displays beauty cannot be beautiful. What is hard must become soft.
He focuses on ending distinction, getting rid of name and form and making of himself a home for virtue.
第2节 改变真实
圣人改变主意，返璞归真，再度成为凡夫俗子。
美可以不是美，刚硬的也会变成柔软。
圣人在消除差别，摆脱名和形，为自己营造大德的家园。
Leave a Reply