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The profound wisdom concealed in the “Tao Te Ching” concerning Chinese principles surpasses the impact of Feng Shui laws.
The most classical six verses in the “Tao Te Ching” conceal the sagacity of life.
Are you beleaguered by work underperformance, feeling overwhelmed? Does your concern linger due to your child’s academic performance? Does interpersonal discord cast a pall over your spirits? Consider perusing the six most classic verses in the book; they may unravel many perplexities.
01
Embrace the virtue akin to water, which, without contention, nourishes all things.
Explanation: The highest virtue, like water, tirelessly nourishes all things without engaging in strife for superiority.
Zhang Liang, renowned as one of the “Three Heroes of the Early Han Dynasty” along with Han Xin and Xiao He, displayed sagacity during the Hongmen Banquet by rescuing Liu Bang from imminent danger.
After the establishment of stability in the realm, Liu Bang rewarded his meritorious subjects. While Xiao He received the title of Marquis Zao with the most extensive fief, and Han Xin was granted the title of King of Chu, Liu Bang granted Zhang Liang the opportunity to choose thirty thousand households as his fief within the territory of Qi. However, Zhang Liang graciously declined, opting instead for the land where he first met Liu Bang.
Understanding the principle of “When the enemy’s country is defeated, the counselor loses,” he chose to remain low-key and rarely involved himself in political affairs, leading a semi-retired life. Through non-contention, he avoided the limelight, enabling him to enjoy his twilight years, while Han Xin ultimately faced a tragic fate.
Non-contention may seem passive and pessimistic, but in reality, it is an active preservation of one’s wisdom.
In this age of intense competition, people are anxious and restless, struggling but unable to break free, lying down but unable to find tranquility.
The essence of this intense competition is “strife.” Everyone competes fiercely, climbing higher and higher, with no respite.
Non-contention is the remedy for healing the effects of overwork.
Amid the clamor of the world, adhere to your own rhythm, avoiding contention with the world.
Laozi said, “The highest virtue is not virtuous, therefore, it has virtue. The lowest virtue holds on to virtue, therefore, it is not virtue.”
By not vying for fame and gain, one gains character and a broader perspective, and opportunities come without invitation.
By not fixating on immediate gains and losses, with a farsighted view and strategic planning, a bright future unfolds.
By not engaging in verbal sparring, gaining friends means gaining the world and receiving more assistance.
Be your best self, refrain from contention and aggression, and paradoxically, you will gain more.
Non-contention is the ultimate contention.
02
Man emulates the earth, the earth emulates heaven, heaven emulates the Tao, and the Tao emulates nature.
Explanation: Humans model themselves after the earth, the earth after heaven, heaven after the Tao, and the Tao after nature.
There is an anecdote about three people riding an elevator. The first person does push-ups, the second person runs laps around the elevator, and the third person stands still.
After exiting the elevator, someone asks how they managed to ascend.
The first person says, “I did push-ups to ascend.” The second person says, “I ran to ascend.” The third person says, “I ascended without doing anything.”
Striving forcefully is not as effective as going with the flow.
Renowned entrepreneur Lei Jun once said, “When you stand at the windward side, even pigs can fly.”
Traveling with the wind is easier and more efficient than traveling against it.
Yet in life, people often go against the natural order.
In the pursuit of making one’s child a prodigy, some push and pressure, sacrificing the child’s physical and mental well-being. This results in more harm than good. Allowing the child to develop naturally would be more beneficial.
In order to please others, some humble themselves excessively, leading a constrained life and earning the disdain of others. Going with the flow, being neither humble nor arrogant, allows one to live comfortably and earn the respect of others.
Going with the flow, adapting to circumstances, is the key to achieving more with less effort.
03
Wisdom lies in understanding others, enlightenment in understanding oneself. Power over others results in strength, mastery over oneself leads to true power.
Explanation: Knowing others is wisdom, knowing oneself is enlightenment. Overcoming others requires strength, overcoming oneself results in true strength.
In ancient times, in a secluded valley named Nanqi, the residents suffered from a disease called “thick neck” due to iodine deficiency in the water.
One day, a visitor from outside arrived, and the villagers gathered to see him. They remarked that his neck was thin and long, an unsightly condition likely caused by some illness.
The visitor responded, “You all have the thick neck disease.”
The people of Nanqi replied, “Our entire village has necks like this, plump and charming.”
In real life, many people, like the residents of Nanqi, are self-righteous and self-centered.
The ability to have self-awareness is wisdom, but people often assume they are right.
Goethe once said, “It is not difficult to recognize the wrong direction of others, but it is difficult to recognize the wrong direction of oneself; this requires great mental clarity.”
Many people are quick to criticize others while turning a blind eye to their own issues.
Objective self-awareness is true wisdom.
What hinders our progress is often not others but ourselves.
True strength is not just overcoming external obstacles but conquering our own limitations.
04
The softest in the world overcomes the hardest in the world.
Explanation: The softest and most flexible things in the world can overcome the hardest and most rigid.
Water, soft and boneless, can drip and wear away stone. Women, gentle as water, have a soft demeanor, yet throughout history, heroes have found it challenging to resist the charm of a beautiful woman.
French writer La Fontaine wrote a fable.
The north wind and the south wind made a bet to see who could take off a pedestrian’s coat.
The north wind went first, howling fiercely with immense strength. The pedestrian felt the biting cold, but he wrapped his coat tighter.
Then the south wind blew gently, the warm breeze made the pedestrian feel comfortable, and he willingly took off his coat.
The north wind wanted to forcibly remove the pedestrian’s clothes, but it backfired. The south wind, with a gentle warmth, made people willingly undress.
This was the first time in his life that Bismarck, known for his courage, chose to withdraw from a duel.
The scientist, by choosing not to engage in a duel, employed intelligence to achieve victory.
Choosing not to confront is sometimes a greater form of courage.
Bravery is not about being forceful and reckless, testing one’s strength against a rock.
Not daring is not about being weak and incapable but about assessing the situation and considering the overall picture. Leaving the green mountains intact ensures a steady supply of firewood.
A noble person can yield and stretch, displaying both strength and gentleness. Being gentle, at times, is a
greater form of courage.
05
Therefore, those who know contentment are not humiliated, those who know when to stop are not endangered, and they can endure and prosper.
Explanation: Those who understand contentment avoid humiliation, those who know when to stop avoid danger, and they can endure and prosper in the long run.
In the Western Han Dynasty, a man named Yan Zun ran a small business. He earned one hundred coins daily and closed his shop to read because one hundred coins were his family’s daily expenses.
A wealthy local named Luo Chong, also an intellectual, wanted to help him.
Yan Zun politely declined, saying, “I am quite content. If any aid is to be given between us, I would be the one helping you because you are too poor.”
Luo Chong thought he had gone mad.
Yan Zun explained, “I passed by your house and saw you working late into the night to earn money. You never seem satisfied.
Even though I only earn one hundred coins a day, I have time to read. Life is short, and if one constantly thinks about making money without time to enjoy other aspects of life, what is the point? What are you if not poor?”
Yan Zun’s so-called “poor person” refers to someone who does not know when to stop.
The “Great Learning” states, “To know when to stop ensures stability; stability ensures tranquility; tranquility ensures careful consideration; careful consideration ensures success.”
Many human troubles arise from insatiable greed and an inability to be content.
Knowing contentment is not easy; knowing when to stop is even more challenging.
Happiness is often thwarted by excessive desires for wealth, status, and fame. Being content and knowing when to stop is the true wisdom of life.
06
Be bold when daring leads to victory, be bold in not daring to ensure survival.
Explanation: Being bold and forceful may lead to defeat, but being bold in being soft and yielding ensures survival.
Otto von Bismarck, a famous “Iron Chancellor” of 19th-century Germany, was known for his prowess in dueling.
Once, he had a dispute with a scientist, and they decided to duel.
On the day of the duel, Bismarck allowed the scientist to choose the weapons first.
The scientist took out two sausages prepared in advance and said, “Since I am a scientist, I choose sausages as our weapons. One sausage is delicious, and the other is filled with deadly bacteria. Come, you choose your ‘weapon,’ and let’s eat together!”
Bismarck, renowned for his courage, stared at the two sausages in disbelief, said nothing, and walked away.
It was the first time in his life that Bismarck chose to withdraw from a duel.
If the scientist had chosen to duel conventionally, it would have been a suicidal move. He chose not to dare, using intelligence to achieve victory.
If Bismarck had chosen the sausage, he would have risked his life. He chose not to dare, withdrawing from the duel.
Being able to bend and stretch, being brave and showing weakness when needed – these are acts of great courage.
Wise non-daring surpasses blind bravery.
Life involves both daring and not daring.
Daring is the accelerator, not daring is the brake. In the journey of life, both the accelerator and the brake are indispensable.
07
In today’s rapidly changing society, people face increasing stress and restlessness.
The “Tao Te Ching” is like a clear spring, nourishing our restless souls.
This book, the “Tao Te Ching,” elucidates the wisdom of life: non-contention, going with the flow, self-awareness, being soft yet overcoming the strong, knowing when to stop, and having the courage to not dare…
Your life perplexities can find answers in this book.
Understanding it is like encountering a guide on the road, saving you from many detours.
