Best of Taoism – Right words sounding wrong

Nothing in this world is as soft and weak as water. Yet nothing is so effective as water at wearing away stones, which are hard and strong. And as it wears away stones, it remains unaltered. Thus softness overcomes hardness; weakness overcomes strength. Everyone knows this; but few people use this knowledge.

Wise people say: ‘By regarding yourself as a sinner, you become virtuous. By regarding yourself as lowly, you become mighty.’ Yes, life is full of paradoxes, in which right words sound wrong.

After a conflict is over, some enmity remains. How can peace be made? Wise people keep to the agreement that was made, but do not make demands on their former enemies.

Those whose power is genuine, concentrate on fulfilling their own obligations. Those whose power is hollow, insist on others fulfilling their obligations.

The way has no favourites; it is on the side of goodness.

Best of Taoism – The lower and the higher

The lake is master of the river that runs into it. Why? Because the lake is lower and the river is higher; and that which is lower, is master of that which is higher.

The wise person, wanting to teach other people, talks to them from below. The wise person, wanting to guide other people, follows them.

So the wise person advises without cajoling, leads without forcing, educates without informing. The wise person never competes for attention for others, knowing that competition is always futile.

As a result, people never tire of listening to the wise person’s words, and praising the wise person’s insight.

Best of Taoism – Small and Easy

Do without doing. Act without action. Taste without tasting any flavour. Treat the small as large, and the few as many.

When you are injured, respond with a kind deed. When you are insulted, respond with a kind word.

When life is easy, prepare for hard times. Solve problems that are small, before they grow large. Remember that even the greatest problems in the world were originally tiny problems.

Thus wise people, by never doing great things, get great things done.

It may be said that, if you only do small tasks, your work will be worthless. It may be said that, if you only do easy tasks, you show yourself to be feeble. But wise people know that by undertaking only small tasks, they achieve much; and that by only doing easy tasks, they show their strength.

Best of Taoism – Knowing and Talking

Those who know, do not talk. Those who talk, do not know.

Close every window; shut every door; make every knife blunt; untangle every knot; dim every light. Do not allow yourself to be influenced or controlled by anyone or anything. Do not allow yourself to be influenced or controlled by calculations of profit or loss. Do not allow yourself to be influenced by praise or disgrace.

Let your wheels move only along odd ruts. There is a sacred mystery in doing the same as people have always done. You will be honoured by heaven.

Best of Taoism – The place of inaction

You do not need to leave your house in order to know what happens in the world. You do not need to look out of the window to see the path to heaven. The further you travel, the less you understand.

Wise people do not move about, yet they know; they do not look, but they see; they do not act, but they do what needs to be done.

If you study books and memorize facts, you learn more day by day. If you follow the way, you do less day by day. Eventually by following the way you arrive at the place of inaction; in that place nothing is done, and nothing is undone.

To manage an organization well, do not fuss over it. Anyone who fusses is unfit to manage anything.

Best of Taoism – Knowing Enough

That which is perfectly whole, seems flawed; yet you can use it forever. That which is perfectly full, seems empty; yet you can never drain it. That which is perfectly straight, appears crooked. That which is done with perfect skill and dexterity, seems clumsy. That which is expressed with perfect eloquence, seems confused.

To be comfortable in the cold, keep moving. To be comfortable in the heat, keep still. To be comfortable in the world, keep calm and clear.

When the world is following the way, people use horses to plough and manure the fields. When the world has abandoned the way, people use horses on the field of battle.

The greatest evil is to want more. The worst misfortune is discontent. The most terrible curse is greed.

If you know when enough is enough, you know enough.

Best of Taoism – Knowing yourself

If you know how other people behave, you are intelligent. If you know yourself, you are wise.

If you are able to overcome other people, you are strong. If you can overcome yourself, you are stronger.

If you are content with your circumstances, you are fortunate. If you are content with yourself, you are rich.

If you persevere in the face of adversity, you have determination. If you remain unmoved in the face of temptation or pressure, you have courage.

If you are happy to live until you die, then you will live as long as you want.

Best of Taoism – The world is a sacred place

Some people want to win the world by changing it; they always come to grief. The world is a sacred object. Nothing should be done to change it; any attempt to change it is bound to damage it. To try and possess the world, and treat it as your own, is to lose it.

Under heaven some people lead, and some follow. Some are gentle, and some are hard. Some are hot with passion and some are cool. Some are strong, and some are weak. Some succeed in what they do, and some fail.

Wise people steer a middle course between extremes. They can lead or follow, as circumstances require. They can be gentle or hard, as circumstances require. They can be hot or cool, as circumstances require. They can be strong or weak, as circumstances require. And they make no distinction between success and failure.

Best of Taoism – Male and Female

The female should understand the male, yet not imitate him; she should be happy being a female. The male should understand the female, yet not imitate her; he should be happy being male. Nothing can be built on a female foundation alone; and nothing can be built on a male foundation alone. But when the female and the male are together and yet distinct, the whole world can be built on them.

Darkness should understand light, yet not imitate it; darkness should be happy being dark. Light should understand dark, yet not imitate it; light should be happy being light. Nothing can be revealed by darkness alone. But when darkness and light are together and yet distinct, the mystery of eternity and infinity is made plain.

Glory should understand modesty, yet not imitate it; glory should be happy being glorious. Modesty should understand glory, yet not imitate it. Nothing can be gained by glory alone; and nothing can be gained by modesty alone. But when glory and modesty are together and yet distinct, the world can be made as it should be.

Uncut wood is carved to make useful things; wise people can be shaped into great leaders. The best carving is done without cutting and joining.

Best of Taoism – Being broken to be whole

In order to be whole, you must first be broken. In order to be straight, you must be twisted. In order to be full, you must be empty. In order to be renewed, you must first be worn out. In order to gain much, you must have little. In order to understand, you must be confused.

Wise people understand the unity of all things, and know that unity consists in diversity.

In order to be well known, you must never pursue fame. In order to be above suspicion, you must never justify yourself. In order to be honoured, you must never seek praise. In order to win, you must never compete.

Wise people in the past frequently said, “In order to be whole, you must be broken.” Were they mistaken? It is certainly true that those who are broken, are most likely to flourish.

Moral: Seemingly opposites are two sides of the same coin. Both are fully related to each other and provide a way achieve one another. They are like two branches of the same tree.

Best of Taoism – Raw silk and uncut wood

Do not strive to be holy. Forget trying to be wise. If you cast aside all aspirations towards holiness and wisdom, your relatives and friends will be greatly relieved.

Do not strive to be virtuous. Forget trying to be good. If you cast aside all aspirations towards virtue and goodness, you will remember what true human compassion is.

Do not strive to plan for the future. Forget trying to build up assets. If you cast aside all ambitions towards wealth and riches, thieves and cheats will leave you alone.

But even these three rules can be ignored. All that matters is that you appreciate raw silk and uncut wood. Need little and want less. Then you can forget the rules. Your life will be free of trouble.

Best of Taoism – Returning to the root

Do your utmost to be empty. Hold firmly to stillness.

Thousands of events are occurring at any moment. Observe events as they occur, and observe them pass. Nothing lasts. Events are like flowers: they bloom for some time, and then sink back into their roots.

Returning to the root is piece. Yes, peace consists in accepting what is, and knowing what endures. With that acceptance and knowledge you are wise. Without that acceptance and knowledge your life descends into chaos and ruin.

If you know what endures, you are generous, magnanimous, gracious, and serene. If you know what endures, you follow the way, because the way endures forever. The body will come to an end, but that is no cause for fear.

Best of Taoism – Invisible, Inaudible and Intangible

What cannot be seen, is called invisible. What cannot be heard, is called inaudible. What cannot be touched, is called intangible.

That which is invisible, inaudible and intangible is one. You cannot differentiate one invisible, inaudible, intangible thing from another; there is perfect unity in invisibility, inaudibility and intangibility.

Nor can you say that above or below invisibility, inaudibility and intangibility is visibility, audibility and tangibility.

This oneness can never be named. It both is, and is not; it exists, and it does not exist. It is the form of the unformed; it is the image of no image.

It is the unthinkable thought. You may face it, yet it cannot be faced. You may follow it, but it has no end.

Hold fast to the Way that people of old times followed, in order to live in the present. If you remember the times of antiquity, you hold the thread of now.

Best of Taoism – Questions to ask yourself?

Can you keep the soul in your body? Can your body function in harmony with the soul? Can you learn to be whole?

Can you draw your energy back into yourself? Can you become supple? Can you learn to be a baby?

Can you keep deep water still and clear, so that it reflects without distortion? Can you love people as they are?

Can you manage things without exerting authority? Can you organize things be doing nothing?

Can you open and close the gates of heaven with ease? Can you enter and leave heaven, as a bird enters and leaves its nest?

Can you pierce the mystery of the universe? Can you know without knowing?

Can you bear a child, give birth to it and nourish it, without possessing it?

Can you act without taking credit for your actions?

Can you lead, and not rule?