Taoism and Lao Tzu
Why does Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching still resonate as strongly today as it did over twenty-five hundred years ago, and why is that important? 
When we reflect on the best or essence of human nature, who do we turn to for defining the standard of what we consider our basic nature that we are eternally tied to as spirit, the virtue within us?
What matters is taking in the full scope of how things unfold—both within us as we pursue what might be called “inner cultivation,” and the way we engage with the world around us every day. The writings of Lao Tzu vividly reflect the world as it was up to the time they were composed in the sixth century BC.
Living with the belief that our spirit endures through time, from beginning to middle to end, often inspiring us to look to the stars and our history for guidance. Lao Tzu’s own family, said to be descended from the Shang dynasty four to five centuries before his time, offers an example of why acknowledging the past matters. His writing reveal how absolute power can erode the values and norms that guide human behavior, and how certain patterns often repeat over time. Over the centuries, his Tao Te Ching has been regarded as a guide for governing the state effectively.
Two hundred years before Lao Tzu, Ji Dan, who is considered to be one of China’s earliest sages, wrote the Rites of Man, describing both basic human rights and the virtues found throughout nature that all things possess, emphasizing that rulers should never stray from them. Tradition holds that Lao Tzu traveled from state to state as a government advisor, only to be repeatedly driven away. Eventually, in disgust, he departed westward telling all, fading into immortality and what we now remember as our history. 
Asking how is it we develop what was to be called “Inward training” in such way that we empty ourselves of traits not in keeping with our highest endeavors.
The verse below is about the basics of cultivation. We must first acknowledge and let go of the obstacles we face when we step through what is often called the gate to wisdom.
Before we go on with Verse number 9 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”. As referred to above, it’s important to note that Lao Tzu wrote the Tao Te Ching in the sixth century BC.
An ancient sage and follower of Lao Tzu Liu Shih-li tells us to avoid fullness.
“Since fullness always leads to emptiness, avoid satisfaction; since sharpness always leads to dullness, avoid zeal; since gold and jade always leads to worry, avoid greed; since wealth and honor encourage excess, avoid pride; since success and fame bring danger, know when to stop and where lies the mean or middle. You don’t have to live in the mountains and forests or cut yourself off from human affairs to enter the Way of Virtue, or Tao. Success and fame, wealth and honor are all encouragements of practice.”
Another sage tells us “You need a raft to cross a river. But once across, you can forget the raft. You need to study the rules to learn how to do something. But once you know how, you can forget the rules.” and that “virtue and the Way of Heaven is to bring down the high and to lift up the low.” I would call it’s like paddling a canoe down the river knowing the current. Once you know the way avoiding the shoals you can go with ease.
Verse 9 – Maintaining a Reservoir of Enthusiasm
Be careful of what you cultivate and prepared to let go of what fills you. Know your obstacles before you enter the room or gate to further knowledge and understanding. As if you were a waterfall, only releasing that which does not define your true motives and destination.
Since fullness leads to emptiness – remain empty prepared to become full again and again. Since sharpness leads to becoming dull, avoid zeal and maintain a reservoir of enthusiasm. Since riches lead to worry and excess avoid calling attention to yourself and maintain value within so that it cannot be taken away.
When your task is done treat it as though it were nothing and move on to be reminded of the knowledge of ten thousand things.
As you let your enthusiasm carry the day.
第９节 保持一腔热忱
当心你所修炼的，准备放弃你所拥有的。在迈进寻找知识和理解的房间或门槛之前，当知道你的障碍是什么。
如同瀑布，抛弃那些不代表你真正动机和目的的东西。月盈则亏－保持虚空才能够不断充实。因为锋利会变钝，所以要避免狂热，保持热忱。因为财富会引起忧虑和奢华，所以不要抛头露面，保持自身价值永不失去。事成之后，视之为无，继续漫游，成为万物的真知。
让热忱主宰你的每一天。
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