“The Tao Te Ching,” as an enduring classic, comprises only 5162 characters, yet it serves as a profound guide for many in matters of conduct, self-cultivation, and navigating the intricacies of life.
Many find their way out of life’s dilemmas upon reading it; Bai Yansong relied on it to overcome his midlife crisis, and his fate took a transformative turn.
01
“The highest virtue is like water,
Water benefits all things without contention.”
Interpretation: Supreme virtue is akin to water, which tirelessly nourishes all things without engaging in competition or comparison.
In ancient times, during the Han Dynasty, there were three outstanding individuals known as the “Three Heroes of the Early Han”: Zhang Liang, Han Xin, and Xiao He. Zhang Liang, at the Hongmen Banquet, rescued Liu Bang from imminent danger. After the unification of the empire, Liu Bang rewarded his loyal subjects. Xiao He was titled the Marquis of Zan, with the most abundant land. Han Xin was made the King of Chu. Liu Bang allowed Zhang Liang to select thirty thousand households within Qi’s territory as his reward. However, Zhang Liang gracefully declined and chose to retain the land where he had first met Liu Bang. He understood the principle of “when the enemy’s country falls, the advisor perishes.” Henceforth, he rarely involved himself in political affairs and led a semi-retired life. By avoiding contention, he steered clear of conflicts, allowing him to live out his days in peace, while Han Xin ultimately met his demise.
In this age of excessive competition, people find themselves anxious and restless, trapped in the cycle of competition without respite. The essence of this relentless competition lies in the constant pursuit of superiority, climbing without end, leading to perpetual unrest.
Non-contention becomes the antidote to the malaise of relentless competition. Amidst the clamor of the world, maintaining one’s own pace and abstaining from rivalry is the key.
Laozi said, “Only by not contending can one be unmatched in the world.”
By refraining from the pursuit of fame and fortune, one gains integrity and broad-mindedness, and opportunities naturally present themselves. Without contesting immediate gains and losses, with a vision for the future, a bright path lies ahead. Without engaging in verbal disputes, gaining friends means gaining the world, receiving more assistance.
Embrace one’s true self, refrain from rivalry and grabbing, and one will receive more. Not contending is, in fact, the greatest contention.
02
“Man models himself on Earth,
Earth models itself on Heaven,
Heaven models itself on the Way,
The Way models itself on Nature.”
Interpretation: People imitate the Earth’s stability, the Earth imitates the vastness of the heavens, the heavens imitate the Tao, and the Tao imitates the spontaneity of nature.
There is a story about three people in an elevator. The first person did push-ups, the second ran in circles around the elevator, and the third stood still. After they exited, someone asked them how they came up. The first person replied that he did push-ups, the second said he ran, and the third person said he didn’t do anything and just came up.
Striving against the natural flow is often less effective than going with it.
Renowned entrepreneur Lei Jun once said, “Standing on the wind, even a pig can fly.”
Sailing with the wind is both easy and efficient compared to sailing against it.
However, in life, people often go against the natural order. To make their children successful, they push them relentlessly, sacrificing their children’s well-being. This approach proves detrimental, often leading to more harm than good. Allowing children to develop naturally would be a wiser choice.
To conform to others, some people demean themselves, leading to a stifled existence and the disdain of others. Embracing one’s natural self, without being subservient or arrogant, allows for a fulfilling life and earns the respect of others. Going with the natural flow, maintaining composure, and being genuine lead to both personal contentment and the regard of others.
03
“He who knows others is wise;
He who knows himself is enlightened.
He who conquers others is strong;
He who conquers himself is mighty.”
Interpretation: Understanding others demonstrates wisdom; understanding oneself signifies enlightenment. Overcoming others requires strength; overcoming oneself showcases true power.
In ancient times, there was a valley named Nan Qi, almost isolated from the rest of the world. The water in Nan Qi lacked iodine, leading to goiters among the villagers.
One day, a stranger arrived from outside the valley, and the residents gathered around, commenting on the stranger’s long and thin neck, considering it an ailment.
The outsider retorted, “You are the ones suffering from an ailment called goiter.”
The people of Nan Qi replied, “We all have these necks, round and plump. It looks quite pleasant.”
In real life, many people are like the residents of Nan Qi, considering themselves exceptional and admiring their own virtues.
Recognizing one’s true self is essential, yet people often delude themselves. Goethe once said, “It is not difficult to perceive others’ mistaken aspirations, but it is challenging to recognize one’s own misguided ambitions. This requires significant mental clarity.”
Many people are quick to criticize others while turning a blind eye to their own flaws. True wisdom lies in objective self-awareness. Often, the obstacles hindering our progress stem not from others but from within ourselves.
True strength is not in overcoming external obstacles but in conquering one’s own limitations.
04
“The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world.”
Interpretation: The gentlest and most flexible things can prevail over the toughest and most rigid objects.
Water, though soft and boneless, can penetrate even the hardest rock. A woman’s tenderness, though soft as water, has always been a challenge for heroes.
French writer La Fontaine once penned a fable. The north wind and the south wind made a bet to see who could remove a traveler’s coat first. The north wind went first, blowing fiercely and chilling the traveler to the bone. But instead of taking off his coat, the traveler wrapped himself tighter. Then the south wind began to blow gently, and the traveler felt warm and comfortable, so he willingly removed his coat.
In life, often the gentle and the weak prevail over the harsh and the strong. When young, Zeng Guofan adhered to Confucianism’s principle of “Heaven operates with vigor, the gentleman self-improves without rest,” pursuing his goals aggressively without considering others’ feelings.
Due to a rash comment, he offended the emperor and was sent back home. It was then that he realized his folly. Afterward, he practiced the principle of “using gentleness to overcome the hard.” His life became more stable and successful.
“The truly soft is not weak, and the truly hard has no strength.” Brute force can destroy, but subtle skill endures. In interpersonal relationships, the clash of sharp words often leads to mutual harm. However, a gentle breeze amidst a thunderstorm can turn hostilities into harmonious cooperation.
In life, one should be gentle and humble rather than aggressive. It is through gentle persuasion that one can achieve long-lasting success.
05
“He who knows contentment is rich;
He who knows when to stop is never in danger;
He who walks in the middle of the road will never be attacked.”
Interpretation: Understanding contentment prevents humiliation, knowing when to stop avoids danger, and maintaining moderation ensures enduring safety.
In the Western Han Dynasty, a man named Yan Zun operated a small business, earning a hundred coins every day, which covered his daily expenses. A wealthy local named Luo Chong, also an intellectual, wanted to help him. Yan Zun politely declined, saying, “I am already content and prosperous. If there must be assistance between us, it would be me helping you, for you are much poorer than I am.” Luo Chong thought he was insane.
Yan Zun said, “I passed by your house and saw you working late into the night, striving for more money. But I have time to read every day with my hundred coins. Life is short; if one is preoccupied with making money and has no time for anything else, what is the meaning of life? Are you not a poor man in that case?” Yan Zun represented those who know contentment.
The Great Learning states, “To see what is right and not do it is want of courage.”
Most of humanity’s troubles arise from insatiable greed, the inability to be content. The ability to be content is rare, and knowing when to stop is even rarer. Contentment and moderation are the hallmarks of true wisdom.
06
“He who is courageous in daring will be killed;
He who is courageous in not daring will live.”
Interpretation: Bravery in rashness leads to death, bravery in yielding leads to survival.
Otto von Bismarck, the famous “Iron Chancellor” of 19th-century Germany, was renowned for his skill in dueling. On one occasion, he had a disagreement with a scientist, and a duel was proposed. Bismarck allowed the scientist to choose the weapons first.
The scientist took out two sausages prepared beforehand and said, “As a scientist, I choose sausages as our duel weapons. One of them is delicious, and the other is filled with deadly bacteria. Let’s eat together!”
Bismarck, known for his bravery, stared at the sausages, speechless, and left the scene. It was the first time in his life that he chose to withdraw from a duel.
The scientist’s choice of a duel with sausages was equivalent to choosing certain death. However, by opting not to fight, he used intelligence to win. Bismarck, by avoiding the potentially deadly duel, demonstrated courage in not daring, ultimately preserving his life.
Being courageous doesn’t mean reckless aggression, trying to break a rock with an egg. Not daring doesn’t signify weakness; it involves assessing the situation and considering the bigger picture. The ability to yield is sometimes a greater form of courage.
True courage is not just about boldness but also about restraint. In life, there are moments for boldness, but there are also moments for caution. A wise person knows when to advance and when to retreat.
In today’s rapidly changing society, where people face increased stress and restlessness, the Tao Te Ching acts as a refreshing spring, nurturing our restless souls.
Through the Tao Te Ching’s wisdom, encompassing aspects such as non-contention, going with the natural flow, self-awareness, flexibility, contentment, and knowing when to stop, one can find answers to life’s perplexities.
Lu Xun once said, “Without reading the Laozi, one cannot truly understand Chinese culture or grasp life’s true essence.”
Behind the 5000 characters of the Tao Te Ching lies the source of numerous traditional Chinese thoughts.
Understanding it is akin to encountering a sage who guides your way, avoiding many detours, leading your destiny toward a better future!
