Verse 20 by Lao Zi: 唯之与阿，相去几何？美之与恶，相去若何？人之所畏，不可不畏。荒兮，其未央哉！众人熙熙，如享太牢，如春登台。我独泊兮，其未兆；沌沌兮，如婴儿之未孩；傫傫兮，若无所归。众人皆有余，而我独若遗。我愚人之心也哉！俗人昭昭，我独昏昏。俗人察察，我独闷闷。澹兮，其若海；飂兮，若无止。众人皆有以，而我独顽且鄙。我独异于人，而贵食母。 Agreement and flattery — how far apart are they?Goodness and evil — how different are they?What people fear, one cannot but fear as well.How vast and boundless — it all seems without end! The multitude are merry,as if feasting at a grand sacrifice,as if ascending a terrace in spring.I aloneContinueContinue reading “Drifting Like the Sea”
Tag Archives: taoism
The Paradox of “Unlearning”
Verse 19 by Lao Zi: 绝圣弃智，民利百倍；绝仁弃义，民复孝慈；绝巧弃利，盗贼无有。此三者以为文不足，故令有所属；见素抱朴，少私寡欲；绝学无忧 Abolish sagehood and discard wisdom — the people will benefit a hundredfold.Abandon benevolence and discard righteousness — the people will return to filial piety and compassion.Eliminate cleverness and forsake profit — there will be no thieves or robbers. These three things are not enough in themselves;Thus, let people haveContinueContinue reading “The Paradox of “Unlearning””
The Surface of Virtue vs. the Substance of Harmony
Verse 18 by Lao Zi: 大道废，有仁义；智慧出，有大伪；六亲不和，有孝慈；国家昏乱，有忠臣. When the Great Way is abandoned, there is benevolence and righteousness.When wisdom appears, great hypocrisy arises.When family relationships fall out of harmony, there is talk of filial piety and parental love.When the state is in chaos, loyal ministers appear. [Written by ChatGPT] What if our highest ideals — kindness, wisdom,ContinueContinue reading “The Surface of Virtue vs. the Substance of Harmony”
The Invisible Leader: Laozi’s Wisdom for Lasting Leadership
Verse 17 by Lao Zi: 太上，不知有之；其次，亲而誉之；其次，畏之；其次，侮之。信不足焉，有不信焉。悠兮，其贵言。功成事遂，百姓皆谓“我自然” The highest rulers are scarcely known by their people.Next come those they love and praise.Next, those they fear.And next, those they despise. When trust is insufficient, there will be no trust. Cautious and restrained, the sage values few words.When the work is accomplished and affairs are fulfilled,the people all say,ContinueContinue reading “The Invisible Leader: Laozi’s Wisdom for Lasting Leadership”
Stillness vs. Spectacle: A Daoist Reflection on the World of Trump
Verse 16 by Lao Zi: 致虚极，守静笃，万物并作，吾以观复。夫物芸芸，各复归其根。归根曰静，是谓复命。复命曰常，知常曰明，不知常，妄作，凶。知常容，容乃公，公乃王，王乃天，天乃道，道乃久，没身不殆。 Attain ultimate emptiness,Maintain steadfast stillness.As myriad things flourish together,I watch their return.Though all things thrive abundantly,Each one returns to its root.Returning to the root is called stillness;This is returning to destiny.Returning to destiny is called constancy;Knowing constancy is called clarity.Not knowing constancy leads to reckless actions,And disaster follows.Knowing constancyContinueContinue reading “Stillness vs. Spectacle: A Daoist Reflection on the World of Trump”
Chapter 15 of the Dao De Jing: The Grace of the Ancient Sage
Verse 15 by Lao Zi: 古之善为士者，微妙玄通，深不可识。夫唯不可识，故强为之容。豫焉若冬涉川，犹兮若畏四邻，俨兮其若容，涣兮若冰之将释，敦兮其若朴，旷兮其若谷，混兮其若浊。孰能浊以静之徐清？孰能安以久动之徐生？保此道者不欲盈，夫唯不盈，故能蔽不新成. Those in ancient times who were good at practicing the WayWere subtle, mysterious, and deeply profound—So deep they were beyond understanding.Precisely because they were beyond understanding,We can only describe their appearance with effort: Cautious, as if crossing a river in winter;Hesitant, as if wary of all around them;Reserved, likeContinueContinue reading “Chapter 15 of the Dao De Jing: The Grace of the Ancient Sage”
Transcending the Self: How Seeing the Body as the World Leads to True Wisdom and Leadership
Verse 13 by Lao Zi: 宠辱若惊，贵大患若身。何谓宠辱若惊？宠为下，得之若惊，失之若惊，是谓宠辱若惊。何谓贵大患若身？吾所以有大患者，为吾有身，及吾无身，吾有何患！故贵以身为天下，若可寄天下；爱以身为天下，若可托天下。 Honor and disgrace are both alarming, and valuing great troubles is like valuing the body. What does it mean that “honor and disgrace are both alarming”? Honor is something beneath you; when you receive it, you are startled, and when you lose it, you are also startled. This is whatContinueContinue reading “Transcending the Self: How Seeing the Body as the World Leads to True Wisdom and Leadership”
Excess and the Wisdom of Simplicity
Verse 12 by Lao Zi: 五色令人目盲，五音令人耳聋，五味令人口爽，驰骋畋猎令人心发狂，难得之货令人行妨。是以圣人为腹不为目，故去彼取此 The five colors make people blind,The five tones make people deaf,The five flavors make people’s mouths numb.Racing and hunting drive people mad,Rare treasures cause people to go astray. Therefore, the sage focuses on nourishing the belly, not indulging the eyes,Thus, he lets go of the superficial and embraces theContinueContinue reading “Excess and the Wisdom of Simplicity”
The Utility of Emptiness: How Absence Gives Function to Form
Verse 11 by Lao Zi: 三十辐共一毂，当其无，有车之用。埏埴以为器，当其无，有器之用。凿户牖以为室，当其无，有室之用。故有之以为利，无之以为用。 Thirty spokes share one hub,But it is the empty space that makes the wheel useful.Clay is shaped into a vessel,But it is the empty space inside that makes it useful.Doors and windows are cut to make a room,But it is the empty space that makes the room useful.Therefore, what existsContinueContinue reading “The Utility of Emptiness: How Absence Gives Function to Form”
The Harmony of Striving and Stillness: Reflection on the Ninth Verse of the Daodejing
Verse 9 by Lao Zi: 持而盈之，不如其已；揣而锐之，不可长保。金玉满堂，莫之能守；富贵而骄，自遗其咎。功遂身退天之道。 “To hold and fill to overflowingIs not as good as stopping in time.To sharpen a blade too muchCannot preserve its edge for long. Gold and jade fill a hall,But no one can protect them.Wealth and arrogance bring ruin upon oneself. When the work is done, withdraw—This is the Way ofContinueContinue reading “The Harmony of Striving and Stillness: Reflection on the Ninth Verse of the Daodejing”
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