Taoism and Lao Tzu
What truly prevails is governing without force. Lao Tzu reminds us that the world is a sacred vessel, not something to be manipulated without risk of harm. When we try to control or cling to it, we ultimately lose it. People are like many things—some lead, others follow. Some burn with a sense of power, while others are easygoing or weak. Some rise some fall. The wise know to avoid extremes and steer clear of anything overly excessive or extravagant.
Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching was seen in his day as a treatise for the sage on proper governing with the caveat that it would be presumptuous for any person to see himself as the sage. This was important in extolling the virtues of others and not simply what would be seen as promoting himself.
As we go through each chapter and verse of the Tao Te Ching, you are again reminded that it is reflective of The Way of Virtue. Numerous commentaries over the centuries, would cite the need to promote what is considered as natural and that the world can only be governed by spirit, not by human strength and knowledge.
Li Hsi-chai, the Taoist master who I have cited before, says “The sage considers his body transitory and the world its temporary lodging. How can he rule what is not his and lose the true and lasting Way?” I like to take it a step further and consider the words of Wang Pi, who said,
“The sage penetrates the nature and condition of others. Hence, he responds to them without force and follows them without effort. He eliminates whatever misleads and confuses them. Hence their minds become clear, and each realizes his or her own nature.”
Chuang Tzu taught that each of us needs a personal philosophy and a path of wisdom for our own lives. He emphasized the relativity of values and encouraged us not to simply conform to conventional ideas.
He believed that in the end, we should allow everything to return to its origin, back to nature’s source, shaping order from chaos as we go. He reminded us that forcing things often leads to the exact opposite of what we hope to achieve.
Following the premise of cosmic deities seen as Confucius and Lao Tzu, the Yellow Emperor was an entity known as T’ai I meaning the Great Unity. This term meant having the ultimate understanding of the Tao as the foundation, origin, and pre-origin of all existence.
This led to even more meaning attributed to following Lao Tzu and the Yellow Emperor denoting was to be call the Supreme Unity. What this meant was that we all shared a common ancestor. This unity could be seen as a collaboration of all under Heaven.
The Yellow Emperor who we followed with Lieh Tzu, also known as Huangdi, is a significant figure in Chinese history and mythology. His birthplace, Shou Qiu, is located on the eastern outskirts of Qufu. I have visited the monument several times while living in Qufu. He is believed to have reigned around 2697 to 2597 and is often depicted as a wise and benevolent ruler who brought stability to a fragmented society.
Verse 29 – Showing the way while remaining behind
It is in stillness that the sage comes forth to govern the world. He has learned that it cannot be controlled consciously and that we must learn to trust what comes naturally.
That human strength and/or knowledge cannot lead us and that it is our spirit must govern us.
That nothing can be governed by force, that it is in stillness that spiritual things respond and that which is considered spiritual does not act on its own, but is guided by the Tao. When force comes into play, what is real leaves the field.
Remain transitory with your surroundings only as temporary lodging. Having no stake in the outcome you are able to determine what is not yours, lose your way, or forget why you are here.
Staying at the highest point of mediation letting all things come forth to find their place, the sage is at his best when he does not oppose things. Simply by letting the spirit of oneness penetrate the nature of others, he responds to them without force and follows them without effort.
He eliminates what confuses them, hens their minds become clear, and each person finds their place in the scheme of things to come. By remaining calm and still letting the spirit guide your way you focus on simplicity, remaining content and eliminate extremes. It is with kindness and humility you succeed, and it is with all three every situation bows to your command.
29. 为众人引路，但不抛头露面
宁静中，圣人前来统治这个大千世界。他知道，这个世界不能够用感知来治理，只能够顺其自然。人类的力量和智慧不足以指导我们，我们必须依靠精神的力量。
天下没有什么事情可以用武力来解决，宁静时才会有心灵响应。没有道，精神就不能单独行动。穷兵黩武之时，就是真实离去之日。
你来去匆匆，食宿无定。因为不与众人分享结果，你知道什么不属于你的，为何迷路，或忘记为何你在这里。
守着斡旋的最高点，让万物纷纷前来寻找自己的地位。圣人对事情不横加干涉时，就显得格外伟大。让合一的精神深入人心。圣人回应万物，不用武力。圣人跟踪万物，不费吹灰之力。
圣人替众人排除疑难，他们的头脑变得清晰起来，每个人都找到自己在万物丛中的地位。
保持平静和安宁，让感觉引路，你的仁慈是胜利之本。只要做到简朴，满足和不偏激, 你就能够无往而不胜。
Leave a Reply