This book review was written by Eugene Kernes
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“Not to Honor the Worthy Puts an end to Contending Among the folk. Not to Prize Rare Goods Puts an end to Theft Among the folk. Not to Display Objects of Desire Removes Chaos From the Heart-and-Mind Of the folk. |
The Taoist rules by Emptying Heart-and-Mind And Filling Belly, By softening the Will to Achieve, And strengthening Bones. The Taoist frees the folk From False Knowledge and Desire. Those with False Knowledge No longer dare to Act. The Taoist Accomplishes Through Non-Action, And all is well Ruled.” |
– Lao Tzu, Chapter 3: Non-Action,
Page 51
“Letting Go is better
Than Filling to the Brim.
A blade overly sharpened
Does not last long.
Halls stuffed with gold and jade
None can preserve.
Wealth, Rank, Pride,
All bring Calamity.
The Tao of Heaven-and-Nature
Is to Accomplish
And to Withdraw.”
– Lao Tzu, Chapter 9: Letting Go, Page 67
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“Which is Dearer” Name Or True Person? Which means more: Person or Property? Which causes greater Harm: Gain or Loss? Undue love Comes at Great Cost. |
Hoarding entails Heavy Loss. To Know Sufficiency Averts Disgrace; Whosoever Knows When to Halt Averts Misfortune, Endures” |
– Lao Tzu, Chapter 44: Sufficiency, Page 171
Is This An Overview?
Taoism is often contrasted to the authoritarian
Confucianism. Taoism means way or
road. Meant as a practical guide to
improve people’s lives, to enable the person to become kinder, and
gentler. Taoism focuses on inner
freedom.
Outwardly expressions of greatness create chaos for others,
and bring calamity upon oneself. With
possession comes great loss. Taoists
rule through non-action, through nonintervention. A Taoist ruler does no violence, for
violence rebounds. A Taoist is inclusive
with people and knowledge, and is attentive to minor details for even minor
details have complexity. Taoists prevent
false knowledge and desire, and understand that there are limits to
knowledge. That complete complexity
cannot be understood. Those who think
they understand, are enabling misunderstanding.
Taoist apply and put ideas into practices more than consider the ideal
version of ideas.
Caveats?
Taoism is expressed through poetry, that has various
contradictions. Meant as a personal
method of reflection, to enable the individual to think for themselves on how
they would respond to the demands of society and on how they would resolve the
contradictions. This version of the book
contains various commentaries, from various philosophers, to guide the reader
through Taoism.
