Tao Te Ching Passage 3

Passage 3 is one in which I found very considerable variation amongst the translations that I have. I have actually taken sections for different translations, since I didn't find any one translation that I felt was totally adequate from beginning to end. Thus, the first passage is taken from The Illustrated Tao Te Ching by Man-Ho Kwok, Martin Palmer and Jay Ramsay.

"If the sage refuses to be proud
Then people won't compete for his attention;
If the sage does not buy treasures
Then the people won't want too steal them.
If the sage governs with vision
Then his people will not go wrong."

Remember that the Tao Te Ching is aimed largely at people in leadership positions. This translation in particular shows this, telling the leader that he or she should not be a person unreasonably proud; in effect, don't' get a big head over being in the #1 leadership position. If the person is not making it overly, clearly plain that he or she is the leader, then the people "under" him or her will not be vying for attention and currying favor.

The leader should not have a lavish lifestyle (If the sage does not buy treasures). This can not only lead to people wanting to take those treasures (and eliminating that leader in the process), but it can also make the people being ruled jealous and feel discontent with their own positions.

A good leader will govern the people with vision; they will never forget that they are one of the people. The good leader will lead by example, trying to see "the big picture" so that whatever he or she does will be for the best for "the people" as possible. If a leader is focused mainly on the good of his political party, then his leadership will not be as effective as if he was concerned with the welfare of all rather than just a few.

The second part of this section is from The Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu by Brian Browne Walker:

"Therefore, the wise person sets an example by
emptying her mind,
opening her heart
relaxing her ambitions,
relinquishing her desires,
cultivating her character.
Having conquered her own cunning and cravings, she can't be manipulated by anyone."

The good leader does away with her own desires and ambitions; she rules with true compassion for everyone; she rules without prejudice or pre-judgment; she constantly tries to cultivate and improve her own character, thus setting an example for others. Once a leader is able to do such things, then he or she won't be easily manipulated by others who would want to play on the person's desires.

The last part of the passage is the hardest to find a translation that makes sense. I'm returning to the same book I used for the first part of the passage:

"He keeps them in truth like this, acting invisibly
You see, if there is nothing to fight for,
then there is nothing that can break the flow."

The good leader will lead but not in a spectacular way; he or she will not put themselves up as paragons to emulate; rather, they will try to get the people to emulate their ideals, not them as a person. If people see a leader as a person who is rich with an extravagant lifestyle, then there will be some who will want to physically take that person's position and their possessions; if a person leads by example and their "riches" are those of virtue, vision, compassion, etc, then the people will not be trying to become jealous or envious and fight to get hold of physical treasures.

So leading the people by example, encouraging emulation of good behavior and ideals will help the country (etc) flow smoothly and avoid internal conflict.

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