Monday, February 23, 2015

Tao Te Ching, 3


Not exalting the gifted prevents quarreling. 
Not collecting treasures prevents stealing. 
Not seeing desirable things prevents confusion of the heart. 
The wise therefore rule by emptying hearts and stuffing bellies, by weakening ambitions and strengthening bones. 
If men lack knowledge and desire, then clever people will not try to interfere. 
If nothing is done, then all will be well.
(Tao Te Ching, 3)



Today, I would try to interpret the above text from the Gia Fu Feng and Jane English translation of the Tao Te Ching.

It could be understood from the text that the wise man or the sage should be empty of the material desires. He should not aim for things that aren't part of the needs of his natural self. The person should not settle or be boxed from the things in the universe. He should have a control over his self and not the other way around. When things over power the self, it will result to greediness thus violating the rule of nature which is not using force to things.

When one is empty of the desires of the stomach, he will prevent his self from the confusions of his mind and heart. He will be more focused on attaining things that are essential to him and not those unnecessary things like those in the material world. Also, he will not be bothered by the people around him as he does not bother them too.

When the person let things happen and does not interfere with it, then all things will be well.

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Source
The wisdom of Lao Tzu. Retrieved from http://peacefulrivers.homestead.com/LaoTzu.html

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