Lao-Tzu #81: The Tao of Heaven nourishes by not forcing.

81

 

True words do not sound beautiful;

beautiful sounding words are not true.

Wise men don’t need to debate;

men who need to debate are not wise.

 

Wise men are not scholars,

and scholars are not wise.

The Master desires no possessions.

Since the things she does are for the people,

she has more than she needs.

The more she gives to others,

the more she has for herself.

 

The Tao of Heaven nourishes by not forcing.

The Tao of the Wise person acts by not competing.

***

Tao Te Ching

By Lao-Tzu

A translation for the public domain by j.h.mcdonald, 1996

www.wright-house.com/religions/taoism/tao-te-ching.html

Lao-Tzu #80: Let people enjoy the simple technologies, let them enjoy their food, let them make their own clothes, let them be content with their own homes, and delight in the customs that they cherish.

80

 

Small countries with few people are best.

Give them all of the things they want,

and they will see that they do not need them.

Teach them that death is a serious thing,

and to be content to never leave their homes.

Even though they have plenty

of horses, wagons and boats,

they won’t feel that they need to use them.

Even if they have weapons and shields,

they will keep them out of sight.

Let people enjoy the simple technologies,

let them enjoy their food,

let them make their own clothes,

let them be content with their own homes,

and delight in the customs that they cherish.

Although the next country is close enough

that they can hear their roosters crowing and dogs barking,

they are content never to visit each other

all of the days of their lives.

***

Tao Te Ching

By Lao-Tzu

A translation for the public domain by j.h.mcdonald, 1996

www.wright-house.com/religions/taoism/tao-te-ching.html

Lao-Tzu #79: A virtuous person will do the right thing, and persons with no virtue will take advantage of others.

79

 

Difficulties remain, even after solving a problem.

How then can we consider that as good?

 

Therefore the Master

does what she knows is right,

and makes no demands of others.

A virtuous person will do the right thing,

and persons with no virtue will take advantage of others.

 

The Tao does not choose sides,

the good person receives from the Tao

because she is on its side.

***

Tao Te Ching

By Lao-Tzu

A translation for the public domain by j.h.mcdonald, 1996

www.wright-house.com/religions/taoism/tao-te-ching.html

Lao-Tzu #78: Everyone knows that the soft and yielding overcomes the rigid and hard, but few can put this knowledge into practice.

78

 

Water is the softest and most yielding substance.

Yet nothing is better than water,

for overcoming the hard and rigid,

because nothing can compete with it.

 

Everyone knows that the soft and yielding

overcomes the rigid and hard,

but few can put this knowledge into practice.

 

Therefore the Master says:

“Only he who is the lowest servant of the kingdom,

is worthy to become its ruler.

He who is willing to tackle the most unpleasant tasks,

is the best ruler in the world.”

 

True sayings seem contradictory.

***

Tao Te Ching

By Lao-Tzu

A translation for the public domain by j.h.mcdonald, 1996

www.wright-house.com/religions/taoism/tao-te-ching.html

Lao-Tzu #77: The Tao works to use the excess, and gives to that which is depleted. The way of people is to take from the depleted, and give to those who already have an excess.

77

 

The Tao of Heaven works in the world

like the drawing of a bow.

The top is bent downward;

the bottom is bent up.

The excess is taken from,

and the deficient is given to.

 

The Tao works to use the excess,

and gives to that which is depleted.

The way of people is to take from the depleted,

and give to those who already have an excess.

 

Who is able to give to the needy from their excess?

Only someone who is following the way of the Tao.

 

This is why the Master gives

expecting nothing in return.

She does not dwell on her past accomplishments,

and does not glory in any praise.

***

Tao Te Ching

By Lao-Tzu

A translation for the public domain by j.h.mcdonald, 1996

www.wright-house.com/religions/taoism/tao-te-ching.html

Lao-Tzu #65: The rigid and stiff will be broken. The soft and yielding will overcome.

76

 

The living are soft and yielding;

the dead are rigid and stiff.

Living plants are flexible and tender;

the dead are brittle and dry.

 

Those who are stiff and rigid

are the disciple of death.

Those who are soft and yielding

are the disciples of life.

 

The rigid and stiff will be broken.

The soft and yielding will overcome.

***

Tao Te Ching

By Lao-Tzu

A translation for the public domain by j.h.mcdonald, 1996

www.wright-house.com/religions/taoism/tao-te-ching.html

Lao-Tzu #75: When people begin to view death lightly, wealthy people have too much which causes others to starve.

75

 

When people go hungry,

the government’s taxes are too high.

When people become rebellious,

the government has become too intrusive.

 

When people begin to view death lightly,

wealthy people have too much

which causes others to starve.

 

Only those who do not cling to their life can save it.

***

Tao Te Ching

By Lao-Tzu

A translation for the public domain by j.h.mcdonald, 1996

www.wright-house.com/religions/taoism/tao-te-ching.html

Lao-Tzu #74: If you do not fear death, then how can it intimidate you?

74

 

If you do not fear death,

then how can it intimidate you?

If you aren’t afraid of dying,

there is nothing you can not do.

 

Those who harm others

are like inexperienced boys

trying to take the place of a great lumberjack.

Trying to fill his shoes will only get them seriously hurt.

***

Tao Te Ching

By Lao-Tzu

A translation for the public domain by j.h.mcdonald, 1996

www.wright-house.com/religions/taoism/tao-te-ching.html

Lao-Tzu #73: Being over bold and confident is deadly. The wise use of caution will keep you alive.

73

 

Being over bold and confident is deadly.

The wise use of caution will keep you alive.

 

One is the way to death,

and the other is the way to preserve your life.

Who can understand the workings of Heaven?

 

The Tao of the universe

does not compete, yet wins;

does not speak, yet responds;

does not command, yet is obeyed;

and does act, but is good at directing.

 

The nets of Heaven are wide,

but nothing escapes its grasp.

***

Tao Te Ching

By Lao-Tzu

A translation for the public domain by j.h.mcdonald, 1996

www.wright-house.com/religions/taoism/tao-te-ching.html

Lao-Tzu #72: Do not meddle with people’s livelihoods; if you respect them, they will in turn respect you.

72

 

When people become overly bold,

then disaster will soon arrive.

 

Do not meddle with people’s livelihoods;

if you respect them, they will in turn respect you.

 

Therefore, the Master knows herself but is not arrogant.

She loves herself but also loves others.

This is how she is able to make appropriate choices.

***

Tao Te Ching

By Lao-Tzu

A translation for the public domain by j.h.mcdonald, 1996

www.wright-house.com/religions/taoism/tao-te-ching.html