Lao Tse: Tao Teh Ching: Classic of the Way and its Nature

John R. Leebrick, 1980, 64 pages. The book starts out with a preface which contains a good bit of interesting information. It then goes into the verses of the Tao. These are not printed like in other books, though, for these are done in paragraph form.

In the preface there is a good explanation of what 'non-action' is. That's a tough thing to figure out, but the author clears up its meaning by noting that '...non-action doesn't mean inaction. Basically, the idea is to do nothing to upset things being as they are. Let things follow their own nature.

He later notes that 'Personal attachments of things prevent us from entering 'the gateway to all mystery.' This is something that turns up in all translations, and that is the need to not center oneself on acquiring things. Have enough to fulfill your actual needs, but that's it. One you center on acquiring things (and protecting them from being lost or stolen) you are distracted from pursuing the Tao.

Verse 8

'The highest goodness, like waetr, benefits the ten thousand things and dwells in low places men dislike. But so, is close in nature to the way. The worth of a dwelling is in the site. The worth of a mind is in its depth. The worth of associations is in their benevolence. The worth of words is in their sincerity. The wroth of government is in order. The worth of business affairs is in ability. The worth of an action is in its timing. Because does not contend, it is free from blame.'

The part of this verse in this translation that I like the most is 'The worth of a mind is in its depth.'

Verse 44

'Which is dearer, fame or self? Which is worth more, self or wealth? Which is worse, gain or loss? Therefore, he who loves things excessively will pay the highest price. He who hoards will suffer heavy loss. He who is contented suffers no shame. He who knows when to stop avoids danger. Thus, he will long endure.'

Again, a verse that relates to the accumulation of things. He's saying that having lots of things and hoarding things will eventually cause the person problems. Perhaps a fire will destroy all he has. Perhaps much of what he has will be stolen. It's sort of like the Japanese saying that 'the nail that stands up will be hammered down.' If you have lots and lots of things, other people may envy you or may hate you. You will spend much of your time worrying about your things, where to get more of the things, and how to protect what you have.

In my own opinion part of this should include the use the things are put to. If a person has lots and lots of money, for example, but gives generously to good charities that help people, then that is good. Maybe a person who has a lot of historical antiques might choose to leave them to a museum. If, on the other hand, the person acquires things and never uses them to benefit others, then there's a problem there.

Let's take a practical example. Say someone likes to play the ukulele and ends up buying, over time, twenty different ones. Then that person decides to record different videos for You Tube for the purpose of bringing the pleasure of playing and singing to other people. That, to me, is good. If the person just acquires the ukuleles and never uses them for a purpose like that, then there's a problem.

The book also includes three pages of footnotes.


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