Category: Tao Te

A traditional break in the book of Tao Te is located here. Chapter 37 ends a reflection on Tao, and Chapter 38 begins a focus on Te choices available amid ten thousand things. Of course, this is an artificial break as we have already had to deal with applied or realized ethics (Te), and Tao is a constant background within which Te operates.

Tao is a great antecedent. To be grounded here does affect choices. Not all choices are equal, and attending to Tao reduces choices. Most choices are between this ten-thousandth of a thing and that. All manner of justifications can be used and abused in this sort of choosing. It might be asked, “Which Tao image, Jesus saying, Koranic verse, Prophetic utterance, or other organizing principle is attended to?” No consistency is available in these ongoing choices.

Choices that we might claim carry integrity rather than victory are more complex. We easily fall into teapot tempests where war and other ultimacies are predominant metaphors.

It would be helpful for readers here to take time to write out a current understanding of Tao they have gleaned from the first 37 chapters. Such a list can helpfully clarify responses to the concluding chapters (38–81).

What would you add to this beginning of a Top 10 list?

1. Tao is undefinable
2. Tao flows unbidden
3. Tao generates through the primal feminine
4. Tao is not power, neutrality, or passive
5. Tao in Nature+
6. Tao integrates integrity
7. Tao …
8. Tao …
9. Tao …
10. Tao …

Included in the above question is, “Which of the first six miss the mark and should be omitted or highly edited?”

Tao rests actionless
will all already returning
were leaders to notice
ten thousand things would flow naturally
should they still desire to act
Tao would quiet them
not forcing a result remembering intermediacy
opening desire to rest
resting in stillness

shrinkage
follows expansion
to fail
was first strengthed
something pulled down
was previously raised
before receiving
there has been a giving

herein is a recognition of the nature of things
soft or weak remain after hard or strong

fish as fish cannot live beyond water
weapons are most effective when unrevealed

those attending to Tao are a magnet
for those without rest happiness peace

visitors may come for music and meal
but these do not define Tao
without form or flavor
it cannot be heard or otherwise sensed
yet more is coming and returning

Tao a great antecedent
flows everywhere left around right
ten thousand things depend upon it
nothing is held in reserve
its purpose already fulfilled
silence its only presence

ten thousand things are nourished
without being directed
without a goal Tao is less than nothing

ten thousand things return to Tao
without a command to do so
such is great greatness

Tao’s significance does not show
which is of great significance

relying on others is wisdom
trust self enlightens
mastering others is violence
knowing self strengthens

to be rich is to come to terms with enough
courage grows from perseverance
to endure find satisfaction in this place
continuing presence persists past death

forever will Tao be undefined
never defined unformed ungraspable
if ever harnessed by a king
ten thousand things would obey
heavens and earth would united
rain would come when desired
laws would not be needed
all things would work together

as the whole is divided names are needed
already there are too many names
we need to know when to stop naming
knowing how to stop stops trouble
Tao freed from definition flows river to sea

effective weapons are instruments of fear
hated by all
those attracted by Tao do not use weapons
the wise are drawn left
soldiers attracted right

weapons are instruments of fear
they are not tools of the wise
only used as a last resort
their hearts invested in peace and rest
they do not rejoice in victory necessitating killing
to delight in killing kills yourself

satisfying events lean to the left
sad occasions move right
generals stand left
commanders right
so war in conducted as a funeral
when many and much is killed
heart-felt sorrow is mourned
victory is to be observed as a funeral

when allowed by rulers the wise advise Tao
Tao does not use force to conquer
force only brings forth resistance
thorns follow a marching army
poor crops are a result of a great war
do only what needs to be done
power is not to be taken advantage of

achieve results
without glorying in them
achieve results
with no boasting
achieve results
without puffed-up pride
achieve results
naturally
achieve results
without violence

force turns to weakness
force is not Tao
that not Tao
ends poorly

are you out to conquer or improve the universe
wrong construct

the universe is the universe
its perfection is beyond implementation
try to change it – ruin
try to freeze it in place – loss

some experiences flash by others drag interminably
some breathing is constricted some free
some days bring strength some sap energy
sometimes I’m up sometimes down

to participate wisely
avoid extremes and complacency
excess and depletion