The Tao Te Ching
For The 21st Century
Stanley F. Bronstein
Copyright 2011
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Introduction
Who Was Lao Tzu?
Lao Tzu was the founder of a major world religion known as Taoism. You can read more about Lao Tzu and Taoism by clicking the links above to wikipedia.
There is some doubt as to whether or not Lao Tzu even existed, OR, if he did exist, he might have been a “synthesis” of multiple persons.
The name Lao Tzu literally translates into “Old Wise One.” Myth has it that he was born wise and already knew, from birth, the arts of energy, medicine, healing, longevity, clairvoyance, protection and transcendence.
Whether or not this is true, who knows.
The bottom line is that it doesn’t really matter whether or not he ever actually existed or whether or not he was a synthesis of multiple persons.
What matters are the ideas expressed in his central work – the Tao Te Ching
What Is The Tao Te Ching?
Tao Te Ching literally translates into the “Way To Heaven.”
Myth has it that in his old age, Lao Tzu wanted to leave the Chinese court and live out his life in peace elsewhere. As we was leaving, one of his disciples refused to let him pass. He said before you can pass, you must write a book for the good of all mankind. He told Lao Tzu that his was the debt that he had to pay to the world.
The Tao Te Ching was that book.
The book has two sections:
Tao Ching – which tells the Way of Heaven and
Te Ching – Virtue
The Tao Te Ching is composed of 81 verses.
A Quote From The Tao Te Ching
The Way of Heaven is like a well that is used but never used up.
It is eternal, and the creator of everything in the world.
In it all sharpness is dulled, all tangles untied, all glare shut out, all dust swept away.
Where did it come from? I do not know. It is older than eternity.
What Does This Quote Mean?
This quote talks about energy. The energy behind everything.
Lao Tzu suggests several points in this quote:
The energy of the universe is unlimited. It can be used, but it is never used up. It is a source of unlimited power.
The energy of the universe lasts forever. It is immortal.
The energy of the universe can straighten out any problem; it can figure out a solution to anything if you simply ask. It is a source of infinite wisdom.
Lastly, he implies that he doesn’t know where this energy comes from and it really doesn’t matter. It is older than everything else. All that matters is that it exists and that he believes in its power.
Chapter 1
Being The Very Best
A Quote From The Tao Te Ching
The very best are like water: They benefit all things without trying to; they are content with low places that others dislike.
That is why water is so near to Heaven’s Way.
The very best in their homes love simplicity, in their hearts love what is deep, in their words love what is true, in friendship love what is gentle.
The very best in their world love what is peaceful, in government love what is orderly, in deeds love what is right, in actions love what is timely.
It is because they do not compete with others that they are loved by all.
Some Helpful Definitions First
I’d like to provide a few definitions before analyzing the quote.
Best – Of the highest quality, excellence or standing. Most advantageous, suitable or desirable.
Benefit – To do good to; be of service to.
Try – To attempt to do or accomplish.
Content – Satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.
Simplicity – Freedom from complexity or intricacy. Sincerity. Absence of luxury or pretentiousness.
Love – Strong predilection, enthusiasm, or liking for anything.
Deep -Not superficial; profound. Heartfelt; sincere.
True -Real, genuine, authentic.
Gentle – Not severe, rough or violent; mild. Honorable; respectable.
Peaceful -Free from commotion, violence or disorder. Not argumentative, quarrelsome or hostile.
Orderly – Arranged or disposed in a neat, tidy manner or in a regular sequence. Observant of or governed by system or method. Disciplined, well-behaved, law-abiding.
Right -In accordance with what is good, proper or just.
Timely – Occurring at a suitable time. Opportune. Well-timed.
Compete – To strive to outdo another for acknowledgment or supremacy.
What Does This Quote Mean?
To me, the quote suggests that you are at your very best when you simply ARE; when you simply be YOURSELF; when you are NATURAL.
However, there is a second part to this equation. Being what you simply are; being yourself; being natural is only good, IF you are naturally predisposed to the proper character traits.
If you are predisposed to evil; to bad traits, then being yourself is NOT a good thing. (although I guess you would still be the best, you would just simply be the best “bad” thing out there).
However, if you are predisposed to the proper traits, then you will be predisposed to being the best in a “good” way.
So, What Are Some Of These Traits
Just look at Lao Tzu’s quote above:
To be of benefit to others;
To not be afraid to try;
Being content; being satisfied;
Being simple; not being overly complicated;
Being loving;
Being profound;
Being genuine;
Being mild; not overly harsh; being honorable;
Being peaceful;
Being orderly;
Doing what is proper;
Striking when the moment is hot; acting at the proper time; and
Not wasting your energy trying to outdo everyone else; simply be yourself.
What Do You Think?
Do you agree with Lao Tzu here?
Personally I agree with him “most of the time”, but I still think there are circumstances when one must (and should) violate the helpful precepts outlined above.
To me, that is part of acting appropriately; at the right time. In other words, it is part of being the right person, in the right place, at the right time.
Chapter 2
Silence
A Quote From The Tao Te Ching
Those who know don’t speak. Those who speak don’t know.
Close your mouth, dull your senses, smooth what’s sharp, untie all tangles, shut out all glare, wipe away all dust.
This is your real Self.
Be on Heaven’s Way without desires or dislikes, benefit or harm, honor or disgrace.
This is being Heaven’s highest, for one under Heaven.
Some Helpful Definitions First
I’d like to provide a few definitions before analyzing the quote.
Know – To perceive or understand clearly and with certainty. To be cognizant or aware of.
Speak – To communicate vocally. To make a statement in written or printed words. To communicate.
Close – To stop or obstruct. To block or hinder passage across or access to.
Dull – Lacking keenness of perception in the senses or feelings.
Senses – Any of the faculties, as sight, hearing, smell, taste or touch, by which humans and animals perceive stimuli.
Smooth / Sharp – Opposites of each other. Smoothing something that is sharp is intended here to signify the importance of reaching an undisturbed, tranquil, or equable state.
Untie / Tangles – Again, opposites of each other. Untying something that is tangle is basically setting it loose, setting it free.
Shut Out / Glare – Again opposites. Glare signifies harshness and brightness. Shutting out such things implies that we have them under control.
Real – True. Not merely ostensible or apparent. Being an actual thing; having objective existence; not imaginary. Genuine.
Desire – To wish or long for; crave; want.
Dislike – To regard with displeasure.
Benefit – Something that is advantageous or good.
Harm – Injury or damage. To do or cause injury or damage to.
Honor -Integrity in one’s beliefs and actions. A source of credit or distinction.
Disgrace – The loss of respect, honor or esteem. Shame.
Highest – That point beyond which further advancement is impossible.
What Does This Quote Mean?
To me, the quote reflects the predominant characteristic I’ve seen so far in my readings / reviews of the Chinese Classics.
It once again talks about BALANCE. The interesting thing is that it does NOT talk about balance itself. It simply talks about the highs and the lows and then suggests that neither is the best way to proceed.
In other words, it talks about BALANCE.
Balance – A state of equilibrium. Mental steadiness or emotional stability. Habit of calm behavior, judgment.
Now the question is: what do I believe ?
Personally, based upon my life experiences, I think one of the characteristics of living a balanced life is NOT necessarily to live in the middle.
This is where I potentially disagree with all of the Chinese Classics.
I believe that SOMETIMES, it is important that we live on the EDGES.
Sometimes we have to be hard; sometimes we have to be soft.
Sometimes we have to be loud; sometimes we have to be quiet.
Sometimes we need to be angry; sometimes we need to understanding.
So, What Am I Suggesting
I’m suggesting that we can’t always live our lives IN THE MIDDLE. Sometimes we need to be high and sometimes we need to be low.
But, we need to be aware of what we are doing – our choices need to be ones that were consciously made.
In other words, IF YOU WANT TO BE HARD, do so because you decided (CONSCIOUSLY) that was the best thing for you to do. IF YOU WANT TO BE SOFT, do so because you decided (AGAIN CONSCIOUSLY) that was the best thing for you to do.
Chapter 3
Knowing
A Quote From The Tao Te Ching
Without leaving his door the Wise One knows everything under Heaven.
Without looking out his window he knows the Way of Heaven.
For the farther one travels, the less one knows.
Therefore the Wise One arrives without going, sees Heaven without looking, does nothing, yet achieves everything.
Some Helpful Definitions First
I’d like to provide a few definitions before analyzing the quote.
Without – Free from; excluding. Not accompanied by. With the absence, omissions, or avoidance of; not with; with no or none of; lacking.
Leaving – To go out of or away from. To depart from.
Know – To perceive or understand as fact or truth. To be cognizant or aware of.
Everything – All. All relevant matters.
Looking – To search. To turn one’s attention to.
Farther - At or to a greater distance. At or to a more advanced point. More distant or remote.
Travel – To go from one place to another. To move or go from one point to another.
Arrive – To come to a certain point in the course of travel. To attain a position of success, power, achievement, fame, or the like. To come to.
Going – The act of leaving or departing.
See -To perceive. To understand. To be cognizant of.
Do -To perform. To execute. To accomplish.
Achieve – To bring to a successful end. To carry through. To accomplish.
What Does This Quote Mean?
To me, this quote suggest that everything we needs lies within us.
All too often we go searching for answers; searching for solutions; while all the time, the answer lies within us.
That is what is being suggested here.
The further away from ourselves we look the further away we “might” be getting from the solution.
Sometimes we try so hard to figure things out, that we wind up figuring out nothing. Sometimes, the best way to figure things out is to simply sit back and reflect.
So, What Am I Suggesting
Once again, I’m going to go back to my favorite word in the English language – BALANCE
That is what the Tao Te Ching is suggesting.
In this particular quote, the author suggests that we are all looking for answers.
I agree with him on this. We all want answers.
The question is this:
Where do we find these answers?
Personally, I think these answers are close to home. They lie inside of each of us. The question is, are we aware enough to look deeply inside of ourselves for the answers?
We will expand upon this subject more as we continue to explore the Tao Te Ching in greater depth.
I think, unfortunately, all too often, we are not aware of what is happening around us.
Personally, I think we need to learn to appreciate what is around us every day, all the time.
Chapter 4
Being Ordinary
(Balanced)
A Quote From The Tao Te Ching
It is because people say something are beautiful that the idea of ugliness exists.
It is because people say somethings are good that the idea of evil exists.
Being and non-being come out of each other. Difficult and easy are part of each other. Long and short define each other. High and low determine each other. Sharp and flat harmonize each other. Front and back follow each other.
Therefore the Wise One acts without doing, shows without saying, accepts without reservation, receives but doesn’t possess, raises but doesn’t own, guides but doesn’t depend, succeeds but isn’t proud.
And for this very reason, he is successful.
What Does This Quote Mean?
As in most all of the Chinese classics, we once again come across the theme of Balance.
Balance is decreasing what is excessive and increasing what is deficient.
Lao Tzu begins by pointing out that our world (our reality) is defined by its extremes.
There would be no concept of one end of the spectrum, were it not balanced out by the other.
As he says, high and low determine each other … front and back follow each other.
Once he makes his point about the world being defined by its extremes, he then suggests that you walk down the middle of the path.
The middle of the path is where balance lies.
If we are balanced; we will be happy. If we are balanced; we will be successful.
So, What Am I Suggesting
Don’t be high. Don’t be low. Just be ordinary and walk the middle of the path.
Don’t be up front, don’t be left behind. Just be ordinary and walk the middle of the path.
Don’t be difficult, don’t be easy. Just be ordinary and walk the middle of the path.
Don’t go too far, don’t stop too short. Just be ordinary and walk the middle of the path.
Now here’s my point, if you keep walking the middle of the path, you will keep going and not be stopped short.
That is why you will be successful.
What Is Success?
Success is what YOU define it to be.
It is a measure of how well YOU achieve YOUR goals.
It is NOT what someone else defines it to be.
While interviewing people for my third book Achievement IQ Moments, I met some incredibly successful people.
They were not always the most wealthy; nor were they always perceived by others as being the most successful.
BUT, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM has successfully achieved their own goals. THEY ARE SECURE in the knowledge that they have done what THEY set out to do and that they have done it well. They are CONSCIOUS of their success and they APPRECIATE it every day.
Chapter 5
Sitting Still
(and Allowing Things to Happen)
Another Quote From The Tao Te Ching
The dark is the root of the light.
The still is the source of all motion.
Though the Wise One travels all day, he never leaves his heart.
However beautiful the view, he stays serenely quiet.
How foolish is a great lord who runs around like a fool, losing himself to all the world and the chance of Heaven.
What Does This Quote Mean?
Yet again, Lao Tzu maintains his central theme of Balance.
Balance is decreasing what is excessive and increasing what is deficient.
Dark and light are opposites. Neither one would exist without the other.
Stillness and motion are opposites. Neither one would exist without the other.
And most important of all, wherever and whenever we travel, we must always remain in touch with our heart; our source of strength; the source of our being.
To me, by heart, he is not only implying our physical heart, but he is implying much more.
Heart – The center of the total personality, esp. with reference to intuition, feeling, or emotion. The center of emotion, esp. as contrasted to the head as the center of the intellect. The vital or essential part; core.
That is what Lao Tzu is talking about.
So, What Am I Suggesting
Balance is all about not being too much of any one thing. Walk the middle path.
Now, here is the point of this particular quote.
If we are constantly in motion, attempting to achieve our goals, we are out of balance. We are too far along one extreme !
While it is natural to assume that we must constantly push, push push and work, work work toward our goals, sometimes we need to simply sit still and wait for things to come to us.
In other words, we need to restore the balance.
An Example From My Life
I find this chapter, especially poignant and on-point for me.
I have been working, working, working, for over 18 months toward some major changes in my life and in my career.
It is often hard to be patient, and often one believes that if something doesn’t work, we must IMMEDIATELY try something else.
However, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, one needs to simply sit back, BE STILL, and wait for the things they’ve put in motion to bear fruit.
That is what is currently happening for me. Many things I put in motion 18 months ago (heck even 5 years ago if you want to go back that far), are FINALLY starting to hit. Things are FINALLY starting to happen.
There’s an old saying. Have you ever noticed how overnight success usually takes about 15 years?
You CAN’T Give Up
SO, here’s my ultimate point. While you must ALWAYS pay attention to what is going on around you and while you must ALWAYS adjust your actions accordingly, If, if, if, you know you are on the right path, you can’t give up !!!
I have NEVER given up and I NEVER will.
That should be your new motto !!!
Chapter 6
Moderation
Another Quote From The Tao Te Ching
Stretch a bow to the very full, and you’ll wish you’d stopped in time.
Grind a sword to its sharpest edge, and you’ll find it soon grows dull.
When gold and jade fill your house, you’ll find they can’t be safely guarded.
What Does This Quote Mean?
Every single time I read from the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu maintains his central theme of Balance.
Balance is decreasing what is excessive and increasing what is deficient.
Moderation – Kept or keeping within reasonable or proper limits; not extreme, excessive or intense. To reduce the excessiveness of; make less violent, severe, intense, or rigorous.
Doesn’t this sound like balance to you? It certainly does to me.
That is what Lao Tzu is talking about.
So, What Am I Suggesting
Balance is all about not being too much of any one thing. Walk the middle path.
Now, here is the point of this particular quote.
If we are too much of any one thing, something will be lost on the opposite end.
Once again, we are talking about creating, maintaining or restoring BALANCE.
Just How Moderate Should We Be?
One of my favorite quotes which I use as I live my life is:
Everything in moderation, including moderation.
In other words, while we should constantly try to moderate ourselves, EVERY SO OFTEN, we should let everything hang out. THAT IS WHERE THINGS BEGIN TO HAPPEN.
Moderation maintains things and keeps us within established parameters.
Stepping outside of MODERATE PARAMETERS opens things up. Sometimes it might get us in trouble, BUT sometimes, it just might change the world !!!
You CAN’T Give Up
SO, here’s my ultimate point. While you must ALWAYS pay attention to what is going on around you and while you must ALWAYS balance your actions accordingly, sometimes, sometimes, sometimes, it might just be appropriate for you to go outside the balanced areas, because that is where innovation often takes place.
Chapter 7
Winners
Another Quote From The Tao Te Ching
The best charioteers don’t rush ahead.
The best fighters don’t show their strength.
The greatest leaders win without a fight.
The richest salesmen act with great humility.
This is the power that comes with NOT fighting.
This is the Way that Heaven uses people.
And this is the way to win.
What Does This Quote Mean?
This quote ties in quite a bit with the previous chapter’s quote on Moderation.
The central point is to NOT RUN OFF CRAZILY.
Sit back, wait for things to begin happening around you. Analyze the situation and act accordingly.
Plus, here is the main point. If you rush off in the beginning of any battle, you may get wiped out.
Winners are the ones who SURVIVE !!!
A Second Quote From The Tao Te Ching
He who stands on tiptoe isn’t steady.
He who pushes ahead doesn’t go far.
He who tries to be a star clouds his own way.
He who defines himself cannot be distinct.
He who boasts of what he’ll do cannot succeed.
He who’s proud of his own work creates nothing that will last.
This is like feeding people who are already full.
They will be rejected by heaven and its Way.
So, What Am I Suggesting
I am suggesting that WE ALL need to learn to sit back and let things happen.
If we prepare accordingly;
If we put all the proper underlying pieces in place;
If we set everything in motion;
Then things will begin to happen, all of which will allow us to win.
Chapter 8
Balance
Another Quote From The Tao Te Ching
If you try to change the world, you won’t succeed.
For the world is like a holy vessel, dangerous to toy with.
Those who mess with it harm it.
Those who grab at it lose it.
For in the world some are first and some are last; some are loud and some are quiet; some are quick and some are slow; some are winners and some are losers.
Therefore the Wise One accepts things as they are, rejects all extremes, and balances right in the middle.
What Does This Quote Mean?
BALANCE, BALANCE, BALANCE. That seems to be the central theme in virtually any Chinese classic I have ever read.
If you swing so far toward winning, that means someone else must lose.
If you must be first, then that means someone else must be last.
If you must be loud, then someone else must be quiet.
If you must be fast, someone else must be slow.
Personally, while I generally agree with this philosophy, it also causes me some problems. After all, if we want to get better; if we want the world to get better; if we want everyone’s lives to be better (as I do), how is that best accomplished by taking the middle ground?
What Do I Think?
Personally, I think balance is only good if all you’re looking for is to have the least stressful life possible.
If that is what you want, then balance is for you.
BUT, BUT, BUT, if you’re willing to be daring, if you’re willing to go out on a limb, greater things lie within your reach.
HOWEVER, this is where I now agree with the concept of balance. IF you are willing to risk going out on the limb to do something great, THEN, you have to accept the reality that (because of the universal law of balance), you run the risk of something less than great coming into your life to balance things out.
Should We Be Afraid Then?
No, ABSOLUTELY NOT. As in all things in life, we must exercise balance and moderation. As Sun Tzu said in The Art of War, we must know when to fight and when not to fight.
Pick your battles. Just yesterday, I made 2 or 3 phone calls where I had good reason to get upset. HOWEVER, I picked my battles. While I let the other party know I wasn’t happy, I backed off and gave them a chance to make things right.
Guess what they did? They made things right.
So, What Am I Suggesting
Balance keeps us in control. It is necessary, BUT sometimes we have to move beyond the middle. Sometimes we have to be bold and daring. BUT, BUT, BUT, for every time we move beyond the middle, there will no doubt be a corresponding time when we must drop down below the middle, relax and allow things to happen on their own.
In other words, we must restore the balance !!!
Balance does not mean that we should ALWAYS live our lives in the middle. It means that if we go high for one thing, we must correspondingly go low for another. If we go left for one thing, we must go right for another. That’s what balance is about.
One can only do that if they are conscious as to what is going on around them. Are you conscious of what is going on around you?
Chapter 9
Empty Space
(Valuing What Is Not As Much
As What Is)
Another Quote From The Tao Te Ching
Thirty spokes put together make a wheel, but it’s in the space where there is nothing that the usefulness of the wheel depends.
Clay that’s shaped will make a pot, but it’s in the space where there is nothing that the usefulness of the pot depends.
Wood that’s cut will make a house, but it’s in the space where there is nothing that the usefulness of the house depends.
Therefore we should value not only what is, but also what is not.
What Does This Quote Mean?
This quote has a simple message:
Stop focusing on what is and examine what is not !!!
Often, what is NOT is more important than what is.
For example, I may not have everything I want in my life, BUT, BUT, BUT, I have absolutely no problems in my life.
I grew up in Galveston Texas and it was absolutely devastated this past weekend by Hurricane Ike. HOWEVER, here I sit in lovely Scottsdale, AZ and I don’t have to live with any of the problems.
In other words, while i may not be 100% happy, i have nothing to complain about.
What is NOT is often better than what is.
Chapter 10
Knowing Yourself
(The Root of All Personal Power)
Another Quote From The Tao Te Ching
To know others is intelligence; to know yourself is wisdom.
To conquer others is power; to conquer yourself is strength.
To be content with yourself is to be rich.
To be discontent with yourself is to be poor.
Keep the essence of Heaven inside yourself, and you will never die.
Some Definitions First
Intelligence – Capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding, and similar forms of mental activity; aptitude in grasping truths, relationships, facts, meanings, etc..
Wisdom – Knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.
Conquer – To overcome by force; subdue. To gain, win or obtain by effort, personal appeal, etc. To gain victory over.
Power – Ability to do or act. Capability of doing or accomplishing something. Great or marked ability to do or act; strength; might; force.
Strength – Mental power, force or vigor. Moral power, firmness, or courage. Power by reason of influence, authority, resources, numbers, etc.
Content – Satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else.
Rich – Abundantly supplied with resources, means or funds; wealthy. Of great value or worth.
Poor – Deficient or lacking in something specified. Of an inferior, inadequate, or unsatisfactory kind.
What Does This Quote Mean?
Once again, as in pretty much all of our discussions about Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching and other Chinese classics, we keep talking about Balance.
In this case, we’re talking about 2 different kinds of knowledge.
Knowing others and knowing yourself.
To paraphrase Sun Tzu, in The Art of War, he said: If you know others and you know yourself, you will prevail.
In other words, if you know others AND you know yourself, you will have a FULL picture of the situation; you will have a FULL understanding of the situation.
In other words, you will have intelligence, wisdom, power and strength.
That’s about all most people need in order to function in this world.
BUT, BUT, BUT, there is one last part to be concerned about.
What Is That Part We Should Be Concerned About?
Are we content?
Personally, that question is one I encounter over and over and over in my personal world and in the business world. I know some people who, no matter how much they achieve; no matter how successful they are, they are NEVER content. They are never happy.
They always want more.
Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with wanting more, but to foreclose the possibility of happiness, just because we want more, is NOT healthy.
We need to be happy along the way . . .
It’s okay to strive for more; it’s okay to want more; BUT be happy for what we have along the way.
That is the message Lao Tzu was trying to convey.
What Do You Think?
The purpose of this entire book is not to give you set answers to your questions.
The purpose is to get you thinking so that you may come up with your own answers; your own solutions.
That my friends is the beginning of wisdom.