The longer a book survives the passage of time, the more valuable it becomes.
And so far I’ve studied several ancient books for the podcast: The Dhammapada, The Book of Five Rings & Dokkodo, The Manual, and Proverbs.
However…
When I read Tao Te Ching for the first time, it unravelled my mind. It expressed concepts that I had wanted to say for many years. But, for so long, I didn’t know how to express them succinctly.
But here in a 2424-year-old book, Lao Tzu eloquently teaches the art of wu wei (action by non-action), the importance of finding Tao (the way), the wisdom of moderation, and the mysticism embedded in life. All this in 81 short chapters…
Lao Tzu has achieved what many teachers, gurus, authors, and sages long to do; that is to express an infinite amount of wisdom succinctly. In this case, in under 5000 characters (Chinese).
If you’re going to read any book I’ve covered in the pod, read Tao Te Ching. It doesn’t matter if you’re religious or not, it’s a must-read.
Listen to the episode where I dive deep into the book
12 Lessons from Lao Tzu
“Humility is the root of greatness. Those in high positions do well to think of themselves as powerless, small, and unworthy. Isn’t this taking humility for the root? Attain honor without being honored. Don’t shine like jade, or chime like bells.”
“When a wise person hears Tao, he practices it diligently. When an average person hears Tao, he practices it sometimes, and just as often ignores it. When an inferior person hears Tao, he roars with laughter.”
“The greatest tree springs from a tiny shoot. The tallest tower is built from a pile of dirt. A journey of a thousand miles begins at your feet.”
“Without going out the door, you can know the world. Without looking out the window, you can see heaven. The farther you travel, the less you know. Thus the wise person knows without travelling, understands without seeing, accomplishes without acting.”
“Filling to fullness is not as good as stopping at the right moment. Oversharpening a blade causes its edge to be lost. Line your home with treasures and you won’t be able to defend it.”
“Venture with love and you win the battle. Defend with love and you are invulnerable. Heaven’s secret is motherly love.”
“Which is more precious, fame or health? Which is more valuable, health or wealth? Which is more harmful, winning or losing? The more excessive your love, the greater your suffering. The larger your hoard, the heavier your losses. Knowing what is enough is freedom. Knowing when to stop is safety. Practice these, and you’ll endure.”
“If you compete with no one, no one can compete with you.”
“When the world practices Tao, horses fertilize the fields. when the world ignores Tao, horses are bred for war. There is no greater calamity than desire, no greater curse than greed. Know that enough is enough, and you’ll always have enough.”
“The greatest virtue is to follow Tao, and only Tao. You might say, “But Tao is illusive! Evasive! Mysterious! Dark! How can one follow that?” By following this: Out of silent subtle mystery emerge images. These images coalesce into forms. Within each form is contained the seed and essence of life. Thus do all things emerge and expand out of darkness and emptiness.”
“Know the universe as yourself, and you can live absolutely anywhere in comfort. Love the world as yourself, and you’ll be able to care for it properly.”
“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.”
Till next week,
Peace