Tao Te Ching     (The Book Of The Way)     #Lao Tzu                       [audiobook]   [FREE, FULL]

daodejing can be translated as the book of the imminence of the way or the book of the way and of how it manifests itself in the world or simply the book of the way since it is already well known by its Chinese title I have let that stand about Lao Tzu its author there's practically nothing to be said he may have been an older contemporary of Confucius 551 to 479 BCE and may have held the position of archive keeper in one of the petty kingdoms of the time but all the information that has come down to us is highly suspect even the meaning of his name is uncertain the most likely interpretations the old master or more picturesquely the old boy like an Iroquois woodsman he left no traces all he left us is his book the classic manual on the art of living written in a style of gem-like lucidity radiant with humor and grace and large heartedness and deep wisdom one of the wonders of the world people usually think of Lao Tzu as a hermit a dropout from society dwelling serenely in some mountain hut unvisited except perhaps by the occasional traveler arriving from a 60s joke to ask what is the meaning of life but it's clear from his teachings that he deeply cared about society if society means the welfare of one's fellow human beings his book is among other things a treatise on the art of government whether of a country or of a child the misperception may arise from his insistence on Wei Wu Wei literally doing not doing which has been seen as passivity nothing could be further from the truth a good athlete can enter a state of body awareness in which the right stroke or the right movement happens by itself effortlessly without any interference of the conscious will this is a paradigm for non-action the purest and most effective form of action the game plays the game the poem writes the poem we can't tell the dancer from the dance less and less do you need to force things until finally you arrive at non action when nothing is done nothing is left undone nothing is done because the doer has wholeheartedly vanished into the deed the fuel has been completely transformed into flame this nothing is in fact everything it happens when we trust the intelligence of the universe in the same way that an athlete or a dancer trusts the superior intelligence of the body hence louts his emphasis on softness softness means the opposite of rigidity and is synonymous with suppleness adaptability endurance anyone who has seen a tai chi or Aikido master doing not doing will know how powerful this softness is louts a central figure as a man or woman whose life is in perfect harmony with the way things are this is not an idea it is a reality I have seen it the master has mastered nature not in a sense of conquering it but of becoming it in surrendering to the DAO in giving up all concepts judgements and desires her mind has grown naturally compassionate she finds deep in her own experience the central truths of the art of living which are paradoxical only on the surface that the more truly solitary we are the more compassionate we can be the more we let go of what we love the more present our love becomes the clearer our insight into what is beyond good and evil the more we can embody the good until finally she is able to say in all humility I am the DAO the truth the life the teaching of the daodejing is moral in the deepest sense unencumbered by any concept of sin the master doesn't see evil as a force to resist but simply as an opaqueness a state of self-absorption which is in disharmony with the universal process so that as with a dirty window the light can't shine through this freedom from moral categories allows him his great compassion for the wicked and the selfish thus the master is available to all people and doesn't reject anyone he is ready to use all situations and doesn't waste anything this is called embodying the light what is a good man but a bad man's teacher what is a bad man but a good man's job if you don't understand this you will get lost however intelligent you are it is the great secret the listener will notice that in the many passages were allowed to describes the master I've used the pronoun she' at least as often as he the Chinese language doesn't make this kind of distinction in English we have to choose but since we are all potentially the master since the master is essentially us I felt it would be untrue to present a male archetype as other versions have ironically done ironically because of all the great world religions the teaching of Lao Tzu is by far the most female of course you should feel free throughout the recording to substitute he or she or vice versa as to method I worked from Paul Karras as literal version which provides English equivalents often very quaint ones alongside each of the Chinese idea grams I also consulted dozens of translations into English German and French but the most essential preparation for my work was a 14 years long course of Zen training which brought me face to face with Lao Tzu and his true disciples and heirs the early Chinese Zen masters with great poetry the freest translation is sometimes the most faithful we must try its effect as an English poem dr. Johnson said that is the way to judge of the merit of a translation I have often been fairly literal or as literal as one can be with such a subtle kaleidoscopic book as the daodejing but I have also paraphrased expanded contracted interpreted work with the text played with it until it became embodied in a language that felt genuine to me if I haven't always translated Lao tzus words my intention has always been to translate his mind describing the indescribable teaching the unteachable pointing the way to the way what does Lao Tzu think he is doing here it can't be done no way hence poet rui poet and stand-up comedian wrote he who talks doesn't know he who knows doesn't talk that is what Lao Tzu told us in a book of 5000 words if he was the one who knew how could he have been such a blabbermouth that's the problem with spiritual teachers they have to be blabber mouths but their words are in the traditional Buddhist metaphor fingers pointing at the moon if he watched the finger you can't see the moon how meticulous the great masters had to be a monk asked Natsu why do you teach mind is Buddha Matsu said to stop a baby from crying the monk said when the crying has stopped what then mat-su said then I teach not mind not Buddha the monk said how about someone who isn't attached to either Mozza said I would tell him not beings the monk said and what have you met a man unattached to all things what would you tell him Matsu said I would just let him experience the great Dao in fact the truth is right before our eyes right under our noses so simple that every child understands it and yet as bank' said the farther you enter into it the deeper it is where is the weight of the way what a question still for complicated minds drastic measures are needed louses book was written as a response out of grandmotherly kindness according to the oldest biography Lao Tzu lived for a long time in the country of Chu but seeing its decline he departed when he reached the frontier the guard said since you are going away sir could you write a book to teach me the art of living err upon Lao Tzu wrote his book about the Dao and departed this is legend but it is an accurate description of the way in which true teaching happens he who knows doesn't talk but words are no hindrance for him he uses them as he would use gardening tools when someone asks he answers daodejing one the dial that can be told is not the eternal Dow the name that can be named is not the eternal name the unnameable is the eternally real naming is the origin of all particular things free from desire you realize the mystery caught in desire you see only the manifestations yet mystery and manifestations arise from the same source this source is called darkness darkness within darkness the gateway to all understanding to when people see some things as beautiful other things become ugly when people see some things as good other things become bad being and non-being create each other difficult and easy support each other long and short define each other high and low depend on each other before and after follow each other therefore the master acts without doing anything and teaches without saying anything things arise and she lets them come things disappear and she lets them go she has but doesn't possess acts but doesn't expect when her work is done she forgets it that is why at lasts forever three if you over esteem great men people become powerless if you over value possessions people begin to steal the master leads by emptying people's minds and filling their cores by weakening their ambition and toughening their resolve he helps people lose everything they know everything they desire and creates confusion in those who think that they know practice not doing and everything will fall into place for the Dow is like a well-used but never used up it is like the eternal void filled with infinite possibilities it is hidden but always present I don't know who gave birth to it it is older than God five the dowel doesn't take sides it gives birth to both good and evil the master doesn't take sides she welcomes both saints and sinners the Dow was like a bellows it is empty yet infinitely capable the more you use it the more it produces the more you talk of it the less you understand hold on to the center 6 the Dow is called the Great Mother empty yet inexhaustible it gives birth to infinite worlds it is always present within you you can use it any way you want 7 the Dow is infinite eternal why is it eternal it was never born thus it can never die why is it infinite it has no desires for itself thus it is present for all beings the master stays behind that is why she is ahead she is detached from all things that is why she is one with them because she has let go of herself she is perfectly fulfilled eight the supreme good is like water which nourishes all things without trying to it is content with the low places that people disdain thus it is like the DAO indwelling live close to the ground in thinking keep to the simple in conflict be fair and generous in governing don't try to control in work do what you enjoy in family life be completely present when you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete everybody will respect you 9 fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner do your work then step back the only path to serenity ten can you coax your mind from its wandering and keep to the original oneness can you let your body become supple as a newborn child's can you cleanse your inner vision until you see nothing but the light can you love people and lead them without imposing your will can you deal with the most vital matters by letting events take their course can you step back from your own mind and thus understand all things giving birth and nourishing having without possessing acting with no expectations leading and not trying to control this is the supreme virtue eleven we join spokes together in a wheel but it is the center hole that makes the wagon move we shaped clay into a pot but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want we hammer wood for a house but it is the inner space that makes it liveable we work with being but non-being is what we use twelve colors blind the eye sounds deafened the ear flavors numb the taste thoughts weaken the mind desires wither the heart the master observes the world but trusts his inner vision he allows things to come and go his heart is open as the sky thirteen success is as dangerous as failure hope is as hollow as fear what does it mean that success is as dangerous as failure whether you go up the ladder or down it your position is shaky when you stand with your two feet on the ground you will always keep your balance what does it mean that hope is as hollow as fear hope and fear are both phantoms that arise from thinking of the self when we don't see the self as self what do we have to fear see the world as yourself have faith in the way things are love the world as yourself then you can care for all things 14 look and it can't be seen listen and it can't be heard reach and it can't be grasped above it isn't bright below it isn't dark seamless unnameable it returns to the realm of nothing form that includes all forms image without an image subtle beyond all conception approach it and there is no beginning follow it and there is no end you can't know it but you can be it at ease in your own life just realize where you come from this is the essence of wisdom 15 the ancient masters were profound and subtle their wisdom was unfathomable there is no way to describe it all we can describe is their appearance they were careful as someone crossing an iced over stream alert as a warrior in enemy territory courteous as a guest fluid as melting ice shapeable as a block of wood receptive as a valley clear as a glass of water do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself the master doesn't seek fulfillment not seeking not expecting she is present and can welcome all things 16 empty your mind of all thoughts let your heart be at peace watch the turmoil of beings but contemplate their return each separate being in the universe returns to the common source returning to the source is serenity if you don't realize the source you stumble and confusion and sorrow when you realize where you come from you naturally become tolerant disinterested amused kind-hearted as a grandmother dignified as a king immersed in the wonder of the DAO you can deal with whatever Life brings you and when death comes you are ready 17 when the master governs the people are 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 18 when the great Dao is forgotten goodness and piety appear when the body's intelligence declines cleverness and knowledge step forth when there is no peace in the family filial piety begins when the country falls into chaos patriotism is born 19 throw away holiness and wisdom and people will be a hundred times happier throw away morality and justice and people will do the right thing throw away industry and profit and there won't be any thieves if these three aren't enough just stay at the center of the circle and let all things take their course twenty stop thinking and end your problems what difference between yes and no what difference between success and failure must you value what others value avoid what others avoid how ridiculous other people are excited as though they were at a parade I alone don't care I alone am expressionless like an infant before it can smile other people have what they need I alone possess nothing I alone drift about like someone without a home I am like an idiot my mind is so empty other people are bright I alone am dark other people are sharp I alone am dull other people have a purpose I alone don't know I drift like a wave on the ocean I blow as aimless as the wind I am different from ordinary people I drink from the great mother's breasts 21 the master keeps her mind always at one with the Dow that is what gives her her radiance the Dow is ungraspable how can her mind be at one with it because she doesn't cling to ideas the dow is dark and unfathomable how can it make her radiant because she lets it since before time and space were the dow is it is beyond is and is not how do I know this is true I look inside myself and see 22 if you want to become whole let yourself be partial if you want to become straight let yourself be crooked if you want to become full let yourself be empty if you want to be reborn let yourself die if you want to be given everything give everything up the master by residing in the DAO sets an example for all beings because he doesn't display himself people can see his light because he has nothing to prove people can trust his words because he doesn't know who he is people recognize themselves in him because he has no goal in mind everything he does succeeds when the ancient masters said if you want to be given everything give everything up they weren't using empty phrases only in being lived by the DAO can you be truly yourself 23 express yourself completely then keep quiet be like the forces of nature when it blows there is only wind when it rains there is only rain when the clouds pass the Sun shines through if you open yourself to the DAO you are at one with the dow and you can embody it completely if you open yourself to insight you are at one with insight and you can use it completely if you open yourself to loss you are at one with loss and you can accept it completely open yourself to the dow then trust your natural responses and everything will fall into place 24 he who stands on tiptoe doesn't stand firm he who rushes ahead doesn't go far he who tries to shine dims his own light he who defines himself can't know who he really is he who has power over others can't empower himself he will clings to his work we'll create nothing that endures if you want to accord with the DAO just do your job then let go 25 there was something formless and perfect before the universe was born it is serene empty solitary unchanging infinite eternally present it is the mother of the universe for lack of a better name I call it the DAO it flows through all things inside and outside and returns to the origin of all things the dow is great the universe is great earth is great man is great these are the four great powers man follows the earth earth follows the universe the universe follows the dow the dow follow us only itself 26 the heavy is the root of the light the unmov'd is the source of all movement thus the master travels all day without leaving home however splendid the views she stays serenely in herself why should the Lord of the country flit about like a fool if you let yourself be blown to and fro you lose touch with your root if you let restlessness move you you lose touch with who you are 27 a good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving a good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants a good scientist has freed himself of concepts and keeps his mind open to what is thus the master is available to all people and doesn't reject anyone he is ready to use all situations and doesn't waste anything this is called embodying the light what is a good man but a bad man's teacher what is a bad man but a good man's job if you don't understand this you will get lost however intelligent you are it is the great secret twenty-eight know the mail yet keep to the female receive the world in your arms if you receive the world the Dow will never leave you and you will be like a little child no the white yet keep to the black be a pattern for the world if you are a pattern for the world the Dell will be strong inside you and there will be nothing you can't do know the personal yet keep to the impersonal accept the world as it is if you accept the world the Dow will be luminous inside you and you will return to your primal self the world is formed from the void like utensils from a block of wood the master knows the utensils yet keeps to the block thus she can use all things twenty-nine do you want to improve the world I don't think it can be done the world is sacred it can't be improved if you tamper with it you'll ruin it if you treat it like an object you'll lose it there is a time for being ahead a time for being behind a time for being in motion a time for being at rest a time for being vigorous a time for being exhausted a time for being safe a time for being in danger the master sees things as they are without trying to control them she lets them go their own way and resides at the center of the circle 30 whoever relies on the Dow in governing men doesn't try to force issues or defeat enemies by force of arms for every force there is a counter force violence even well-intentioned always rebounds upon oneself the master does his job and then stops he understands that the universe is forever out of control and that trying to dominate events goes against the current of the Dow because he believes in himself he doesn't try to convince others because he is content with himself he doesn't need others approval because he accepts himself the whole world accepts him 31 weapons are the tools of violence all decent men detest them weapons are the tools of fear a decent man will avoid them except in the diarist necessity and if compelled will use them only with the utmost restraint peace is his highest value if the peace has been shattered how can he be content his enemies are not demons but human beings like himself he doesn't wish them personal harm nor does he rejoice in victory how could he rejoice in victory and delight in the slaughter of men he enters a battle gravely with sorrow and with great compassion as if he were attending a funeral 32 the Dow can't be perceived smaller than an electron it contains uncountable galaxies if powerful men and women could remain centered in the Dow all things would be in harmony the world would become a paradise all people would be at peace and the law would be written in their hearts when you have names and forms know that they are provisional when you have institutions know where their functions should end knowing when to stop you can avoid any danger all things end in the dow as rivers flow into the sea 33 knowing others is intelligence knowing yourself is true wisdom mastering others is strength mastering yourself is true power if you realize that you have enough you are truly rich if you stay in the center and embrace death with your whole heart you will endure forever 34 the great Dao flows everywhere all things are born from it yet it doesn't create them it pours itself into its work yet it makes no claim it nourishes infinite worlds yet it doesn't hold on to them since it is merged with all things and hidden in their hearts it can be called humble since all things vanish into it and it alone endures it can be called great it isn't aware of its greatness thus it is truly great thirty-five she who is centered in the Dow can go where she wishes without danger she perceives the universal harmony even amid great pain because she has found peace in her heart music or the smell of good cooking may make people stop and enjoy but words that point to the dow seem monotonous and without flavor when you look for it there is nothing to see when you listen for it there is nothing to hear when you use it it is inexhaustible 36 if you want to shrink something you must first allow it to expand if you want to get rid of something you must first allow it to flourish if you want to take something you must first allow it to be given this is called the subtle perception of the way things are the soft overcomes the hard the slow overcomes the fast let your workings remain a mystery this is called the subtle perception of the way things are the soft overcomes the hard the slow overcomes the fast let your workings remain a mystery just show people the results 37 the Dow never does anything yet through it all things are done if powerful men and women could Center themselves in it the whole world would be transformed by itself in its natural rhythms people would be content with their simple everyday lives in harmony and free of desire when there is no desire all things are at peace 38 the master doesn't try to be powerful thus he is truly powerful the ordinary man keeps reaching for power thus he never has enough the master does nothing yet he leaves nothing undone the ordinary man is always doing things yet many more are left to be done the kind man does something yet something remains undone the just man does something and leaves many things to be done the moral man does something and when no one responds he rolls up his sleeves and uses force when the dow is lost there is goodness when goodness is lost there is morality when morality is lost there is ritual ritual is the husk of true faith the beginning of chaos therefore the master concerns himself with the depths and not the surface with the fruit and not the flower he has no will of his own he dwells in reality and lets all illusions go 39 in harmony with the Dow the sky is clear and spacious the earth is solid and full all creatures flourish together content with the way they are endlessly repeating themselves endlessly renewed when man interferes with the Dow the sky becomes filthy the earth becomes depleted the equilibrium crumbles creatures become extinct the master used the parts with compassion because he understands the whole his constant practice his humility he doesn't glitter like a jewel but lets himself be shaped by the dow as rugged and common as a stone 40 return is the movement of the dow yielding is the way of the dow all things are born of being being is born of non-being 41 when a superior man hears of the dow he immediately begins to embody it when an average man hears of the dow he half believes it half doubts it when a foolish man hears of the dow he laughs out loud if he didn't laugh it wouldn't be the dow thus it is said the path into the light seems dark the path forward seems to go back the direct path seems long true power seems weak true purity seems tarnished truth steadfastness seems changeable true clarity seems obscure the greatest art seems unsophisticated the greatest love seems indifferent the greatest wisdom seems childish the Dow is nowhere to be found yet it nourishes and completes all things 42 the Dow gives birth to one one gives birth to two two gives birth to three three gives birth to all things all things have their backs to the female and stand facing the male when male and female combine all things achieve harmony ordinary men hate solitude but the master makes use of it embracing his aloneness realizing he is one with the whole universe 43 the gentlest thing in the world overcomes the hardest thing in the world that which has no substance enters where there is no space this shows the value of non action teaching without words performing without actions that is the master's way 44 Fame or integrity which is more important money or happiness which is more valuable success or failure which is more destructive if you look to others for fulfillment you will never truly be fulfilled if your happiness depends on money you will never be happy with yourself be content with what you have rejoice in the way things are when you realize there is nothing lacking the whole world belongs to you 45 true perfection seems imperfect yet it is perfectly itself true fullness seems empty yet it is fully present true straightness seems crooked true wisdom seems foolish true art seems artless the master allows things to happen she shapes events as they come she steps out of the way and lets the DAO speak for itself 46 when a country is in harmony with the Dow the factories make trucks and tractors when a country goes counter to the Dow warheads are stockpiled outside the cities there is no greater illusion than fear no greater wrong than preparing to defend yourself no greater misfortune than having an enemy who ever can see through all fear will always be safe 47 without opening your door you can open your heart to the world without looking out your window you can see the essence of the Dow the more you know the less you understand the master arrives without leaving sees the light without looking achieves without doing a thing 48 in the pursuit of knowledge every day something is added in the practice of the Dow every day something is dropped less and less do you need to force things until finally you arrive at non-action when nothing is done nothing is left undone true mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way it can't be gained by interfering 49 the master has no mind of her own she works with the mind of the people she is good to people who are good she's also good to people who aren't good this is true goodness she trusts people who are trustworthy she also trusts people who are untrustworthy this is true trust the Masters mind is like space people don't understand her they look to her and wait she treats them like her own children 50 the master gives himself up to whatever the moment brings he knows that he is going to die and he has nothing left to hold on to no illusions in his mind no resistances in his body he doesn't think about his actions they flow from the core of his being he holds nothing back from life therefore he is ready for death as a man is ready for sleep after a good day's work 51 every being in the universe is an expression of the DAO it springs into existence unconscious perfect free takes on a physical body let circumstances complete it that is why every being spontaneously honors the Dow the Dow gives birth to all beings nourishes them maintains them cares for them comforts them protects them takes them back to itself creating without possessing acting without expecting guiding without interfering that is why love of the Dow is in the very nature of things 52 in the beginning was the Dow all things issue from it all things return to it to find the origin trace back the manifestations when you recognize the children and find the mother you will be free of sorrow if you close your mind and judgments and traffic with desires your heart will be troubled if you keep your mind from judging and aren't led by the senses your heart will find peace seeing into darkness is clarity knowing how to yield is strength use your own light and return to the source of light this is called practicing eternity 53 the great way is easy yet people prefer the side paths be aware when things are out of balance stay centered within the dow when rich speculators prosper while farmers lose their land when government officials spend money on weapons instead of cures when the upper class is extravagant and irresponsible while the poor have nowhere to turn all this is robbery and chaos it is not in keeping with the Dow 54 whoever is planted in the Dow will not be routed up whoever embraces the Dow will not slip away her name will be held in honor from generation to generation let the Dow be present in your life and you will become genuine let it be present in your family and your family will flourish let it be present in your country and your country will be an example to all countries in the world let it be present in the universe and the universe will sing how do I know this is true by looking inside myself 55 he was in harmony with the DAO is like a newborn child its bones are soft its muscles are weak but its grip is powerful it doesn't know about the union of male and female yet its penis can stand erect so intense is its vital power it can scream its head off all day it never becomes hoarse so complete is its harmony the Masters power is like this he lets all things come and go effortlessly without desire he never expects results thus he is never disappointed he is never disappointed thus his spirit never grows old 56 those who know don't talk those who talk don't know close your mouth block off your senses blunt your sharpness untie your nuts soften your glare settle your dust this is the primal identity be like the Dow it can't be approached or withdrawn from benefited or harmed honored or brought into disgrace it gives itself up continually that is why it endures 57 if you want to be a great leader you must learn to follow the Dow stop trying to control let go of fix plans and concepts and the world will govern itself the more prohibitions you have the less virtuous people will be the more weapons you have the less secure people will be the more subsidies you have the less self-reliant people will be therefore the master says I let go of the law and people become honest I let go of economics and people become prosperous I let go of religion and people become serene I let go of all desire for the common good and the good becomes common as grass 58 if a country is governed with tolerance the people are comfortable and honest if a country is governed with repression the people are depressed and crafty when the will to power is in charge the higher the ideals the lower the results try to make people happy and you lay the groundwork for misery try to make people moral and you lay the groundwork for vice thus the master is content to serve as an example and not to impose her will she is pointed but doesn't pierce straightforward but supple radiant but easy on the eyes 59 for governing a country well there is nothing better than moderation the mark of a moderate man is freedom from his own ideas tolerant like the sky all-pervading like sunlight firm like a mountain supple like a tree and the wind he has no destination in view and makes use of anything life happens to bring his way nothing is impossible for him because he has let go he can care for the people's welfare as a mother cares for her child sixty governing a large country is like frying a small fish you spoil it with too much poking centre your country in the dow and evil will have no power not that it isn't there but you'll be able to step out of its way give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself 61 when a country obtains great power it becomes like to see all streams run downward into it the more powerful it grows the greater the need for humility humility means trusting the DAO thus never needing to be defensive a great nation is like a great man when he makes a mistake he realizes it having realized it he admits it having admitted it he corrects it he considers those who point out his faults as his most benevolent teachers he thinks of his enemy as the shadow that he himself casts if a nation is centered in the Dow if it nourishes its own people and doesn't meddle in the affairs of others it will be a light to all nations in the world 62 the Dow is the center of the universe the good man's treasure the bad man's refuge honors can be bought with fine words respect can be won with good deeds but the Dow is beyond all value and no one can achieve it thus when a new leader is chosen don't offer to help him with your wealth or your expertise offer instead to teach him about the Dow why did the ancient masters esteem the Dow because being one with the Dow when you seek you find and when you make a mistake you are forgiven that is why everybody loves it 63 act without doing work without effort think of the small as large and a few as many confront the difficult while it is still easy accomplish the great task by a series of small acts the master never reaches for the grade thus she achieves greatness when she runs into a difficulty she stops and gives herself to it she doesn't cling to her own comfort thus problems are no problem for her 64 what is rooted is easy to nourish what is recent is easy to correct what is brittle is easy to break what is small is easy to scatter prevent trouble before it arises put things in order before they exist the giant pine tree grows from a tiny sprout the journey of a thousand miles starts from beneath your feet rushing into action you fail trying to grasp things you lose them forcing a project to completion you ruin what was almost ripe therefore the master takes action by letting things take their course he remains as calm at the end as at the beginning he has nothing thus has nothing to lose what he desires his non desire what he learns is to unlearn he simply reminds people of who they have always been he cares about nothing but the Dow thus he can care for all things 65 the ancient masters didn't try to educate the people but kindly taught them to not know when they think that they know the answers people are difficult to guide when they know that they don't know people can find their own way if you want to learn how to govern avoid being clever or rich the simplest pattern is the clearest content with an ordinary life you can show all people the way back to their own true nature 66 all streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are humility gives it its power if you want to govern the people you must place yourself below them if you want to lead the people you must learn how to follow them the master is above the people and no one feels oppressed she goes ahead of the people and no one feels manipulated the whole world is grateful to her because she competes with no one no one can compete with her 67 some say that my teaching is nonsense others call it lofty but impractical but to those who have looked inside themselves this nonsense makes perfect sense and to those who put it into practice this loftiness has roots that go deep I have just three things to teach simplicity patience compassion these three are your greatest treasures simple in actions and in thoughts you return to the source of being patient with both friends and enemies you accord with the way things are compassionate toward yourself you reconcile all beings in the world sixty-eight the best athlete wants his opponent at his best the best general enters the mind of his enemy the best businessman serves the communal good the best leader follows the will of the people all of them embody the virtue of non competition not that they don't love to compete but they do it in the spirit of play in this they are like children and in harmony with the Dow 69 the generals have a saying rather than make the first move it is better to wait and see rather than advance an inch it is better to retreat a yard this is called going forward without advancing pushing back without using weapons there is no greater misfortune than under estimating your enemy under estimating your enemy means thinking that he is evil thus you destroy your three treasures and become an enemy yourself when two great forces oppose each other the victory will go to the one that knows how to yield 70 my teachings are easy to understand and easy to put into practice yet your intellect will never grasp them and if you try to practice them you'll fail my teachings are older than the world how can you grasp their meaning if you want to know me look inside your heart 71 not knowing is true knowledge presuming to know is a disease first realize that you are sick then you can move toward health the master is her own physician she has healed herself of all-knowing thus she is truly whole 72 when they lose their sense of awe people turn to religion when they no longer trust themselves they begin to depend upon Authority therefore the master steps back so that people won't be confused he teaches without a teaching so that people will have nothing to learn 73 the Dow is always at ease it overcomes without competing answers without speaking a word arrives without being summoned accomplishes without a plan its net covers the whole universe and though its meshes are wide it doesn't let a thing slip through 74 if you realize that all things change there is nothing you will try to hold on to if you aren't afraid of dying there is nothing you can't achieve trying to control the future is like trying to take the master carpenters place when you handle the master carpenters tools chances are that you'll cut your hand 75 when taxes are too high people go hungry when the government is too intrusive people lose their spirit act for the people's benefit trust them leave them alone 76 men are born soft and supple dead they are stiff and hard plants are born tender and pliant dead they are brittle and dry thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life the hard and stiff will be broken the soft and supple will prevail 77 as it acts in the world the Dow was like the bending of a bow the top is bent downward the bottom is bent up it adjusts excess and deficiency so that there is perfect balance it takes from what is too much and gives to what isn't enough those who try to control who use force to protect their power go against the direction of the Dow they take from those who don't have enough and give to those who have far too much the master can keep giving because there is no end to her wealth she acts without expectation succeeds without taking credit and doesn't think that she is better than anyone else 78 nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as water yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible nothing can surpass it the soft overcomes the hard the gentle overcomes the rigid everyone knows this is true but few can put it into practice therefore the master remains serene in the midst of sorrow evil cannot enter his heart because he has given up helping he is people's greatest help true words seem paradoxical 79 failure is an opportunity if you blame someone else there is no end to the blame therefore the master fulfils her own obligations and corrects her own mistakes she does what she needs to do and demands nothing of others 80 if a country is governed wisely its inhabitants will be content they enjoy the labour of their hands and don't waste time inventing labor-saving machines since they dearly love their homes they aren't interested in travel there may be a few wagons and boats but these don't go anywhere there may be an arsenal of weapons but nobody ever uses them people enjoy their food take pleasure and being with their families spend weekends working in their gardens delight in the doings of the neighborhood and even though the next country is so close that people can hear its roosters crowing and its dogs barking they are content to die of old age without ever having gone to see it 81 true words aren't eloquent eloquent words aren't true wise men don't need to prove their point men who need to prove their point aren't wise the master has no possessions the more he does for others the happier he is the more he gives to others the wealthier he is the DAO nourishes by not forcing by not dominating the master leads

Channel: Peter x

Views: 947,342

Rating: 4.8208361 out of 5

Keywords: Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, audiobook, listen, book

Id: o2UYch2JnO4

Length: 102min 47sec (6167 seconds)

Published: Tue Sep 04 2018

Reddit Comments

[u/shrouded_mystery]

I feel this deep.

[u/alynnathecold]

A beautiful book, and the bedrock of my library. Following the Tao can be just as effective as any spell, and it guides much more than occult practices, it can help you so much in your day-to-day life.