A Biography of the Venerable Lao Tzu:

*The Youth of orphanhood:

Lao Tzu (The Old Master), his birth name was Li Er (李耳), and he lived during the Warring States period.
He was born in the year 571 BCE in the state of Chen (陳國). Later, the state of Chen was conquered by
the state of Chu(楚國) and became a district of Chu.

Li Er was the son of a general from the state of Song (宋國). Towards the end of the Eastern Zhou
dynasty, the power of the Chu state began to decline, and regional lords rose up, fighting for land and
power, leading to constant warfare. In the year 571 BCE, the state of Chu sent troops to invade Song.
The general of the Song army received orders to resist the enemy. In a battle with the Chu army, he
perished, while Li Er was still in his mother's womb. When news of his son's death reached him, Lao
Tzu's paternal grandfather, who was known as Li Tai Gong (李太公), fled to the state of Chen and sought
refuge with a relative. Soon after Lao Tzu's was born and cried out into the world, his mother, Lady Li,
passed away due to childbirth complications. Lao Tzu was thus born an orphan, without both parents.
He grew up under the care and guidance of his paternal grandfather and his extended family. As he grew
older, he displayed intelligence and wisdom beyond his years. He often ask his grandfather questions
about the heaven, earth, the stars, human existence, and more. However, Li Tai Gong, in order to
protect his family and grandson, decided not to allow him to attend any schools or interact with the
outside world because thinking he may cause himself in trouble.

*Receive teachings from Three sages:

-In the same place Li Er (Lao Tzu) was born and live, there was a scholar named Shang Rong (商容) who
specialized in teaching the noble childrens. One day, while passing by his residence, Shang Rong
overheard and realized that kid's intelligence and believed that with proper guidance, he could become
a Sage. Shang Rong sought out Lao Tzu home and successfully convinced Li Taigong (李太公) to allow
Lao Tzu to study under him. Through diligent study and the teachings of Shang Rong, after three years,
Lao Tzu gained profound knowledge about the heavens, the earth, and human existence. Shang Rong
advised, "Now I no longer have enough knowledge to teach you, and the time for teacher and student to
part ways has come. I hope you find another teacher to continue your studies."

-Determined to explore the origins of the heavens, the earth, and all things, he ventured alone to Mount
An Shan (隱山) and studied under another Master called Ben Yuan (本元) (mean "Primordial Root").
Here, he learned many things that Shang Rong (商容) had not taught him before. He also gained
profound insights into the great Dao, which was both mysterious and incredibly simple. This was the
turning point that led him to later establish the teachings of Dao and Its Virtues. During that time, the
states were in constant warfare, invading and conquering each other. The state of Chen was suffer from
Kingdom of Chu and Song attacks. Before returning home, Master Ben Yuan (本元先生) advised him,
"The operation of the celestial Way originates from nature. To live in accordance with it, one must
abandon desires, return to one's original nature, and follow the natural flow with a pure mind.
Everything in life is predetermined, and difficulties have their reasons. Your mind should be pure and
tranquil, free from desires, engage in virtuous actions and help others, Just as that my images will alway
be close to you"

Now the state of Chen, amidst this chaos, constantly faced threats of invasion from the states of Chu
and Song. Hearing of Lao Tzu (Li Er) extensive knowledge and wisdom, the king of Chen invited him to
the court to seek advice on state affairs. The king mentioned that although Chen was a small state, it
had always adhered to ritual and propriety, never initiating aggression toward other states. However,
the states of Chu and Song continued to invade Chen's borders, causing immense suffering and misery
for the people of Chen. If this continued, Chen would inevitably meet its downfall. Lao Tzu calmly replied
that the main reason for Chen's downfall was exactly its adherence to rituals. The people of Chen were
bound by these rituals, which confined them to rigid customs and prevented them from addressing the
root of governance. The method of governance should always be in harmony with nature, non-coercive,
and non-oppressive. If the people can live in peace and stability without coercion or oppression, they
will not forget the virtues of their ruler. If any nation dares to invade, the people will stand up to protect
their nation, their ruler, and themselves out of gratitude and loyalty, Chen King hear this, he’s very
satisfied and want to invite Lao Tzu to join politic but Lao Tzu reject and say his studies still hasn’t done
yet.

After returning to his hometown, Lao Tzu continued to devote himself to studying what Master Ben
Yuan (本元) had imparted to him. Upon hearing news that there was a Sage who attain the Dao named
Zi Zhen (紫真) in Mount Tai Yi (太乙) of the state of Chu, he made up his mind to seek him out as a
master to further his studies. When he met Zi Zhen, he expressed his desire to learn about governing the
world, as the world was currently in turmoil and conflict. Impressed by his dignified appearance,
extraordinary aura, and moved by his spirit of traveling a great distance to seek knowledge, ZiZhen
accepted him as his disciple. One day, Zi Zhen had to leave on a long journey and entrusted a set of
books and six questions to Lao Tzu to find the answers. He emphasized that these six questions
contained vast and profound meanings, encompassing everything in the heavens and the earth, and all
origins. The truth of governing the world that Lao Tzu's was seeking could be found within them. If he
could grasp the spirit behind these six questions, he would be able to answer all matters in the world,
enlighten all beings, and his journey to the world would not be in vain. The six questions were as
follows:

"First, governing the mind: By attain purity and tranquility, free from desires.

Second, governing the body: Cultivate inner depth, perfected flexibility.

Third, governing the world: Embrace naturalness, doing non-action (wu-wei)

Fourth, governing the family: Harmonize and unite to One.

Fifth, governing the Spirit: Hold the One and return to the Primordial

Sixth, governing all things: All things live by attain the One."

Upon returning, Master Zi Zhen (紫真) asked if Lao Tzu had understood the way of governing the world.
Lao Tzu successfully understand the third question:
"To speak of governing the world is to speak of the Way of heaven. Heaven and humanity are originally
one, mutually harmonious and interconnected. One must strive to understand the way of heaven, to
perceive the hearts of people, for understanding their hearts is to understand the way of heaven. The
way of heaven is without intention or desire, without personal agenda, naturally balanced, reducing
excess and fill deficiency. Those who govern the world should eliminate ambition, refrain from undue
interference, cultivate their inner vitality, harmonize and unite all levels of society. They should not
differentiate between the noble or vile, winning the mind of the people, not falling for wordly
competition, and bringing peace to the world. The unity of the people, with shared respect for the moral
principles, is essential. By governing in this way, the land will be stable, for thousand years still grow
strongly."

One day, Lao Tzu suddenly felt his heart in turmoil, unable to restrain himself, and not understanding
the reason behind it. He turned to his teacher for guidance. His teacher replied, "The reason for the
disturbance in your heart is the fear of the mind. When people are born into this world, they are caught
between heaven and earth, subject to birth, old age, sickness, death, unite, part ways. This is the source
of all pain and suffering. When the spirit is not fearful, the mind remains undisturbed. You must
remember that in the future, regardless of what happens, whether joyous or sorrowful, you must
handle it with composure. Settle your mind and establish unity with the divine. If you can attain a state
where neither joy nor sorrow affects you, you will be able to deal with the ever-changing circumstances
in the world."

Li Er informed Master Zi Zhen that he had only understood three out of the six questions given to him.
He had grasped the meaning behind the first, fourth, and sixth questions, but the other three still
confuse him. The three aspects he had yet to fully comprehend were self-governance, governance of the
Spirit, and governance of the world. Zi Zhen say:

"To govern oneself, one must cultivate inner depth, perfected flexibility. The essence of a human being
is like a newborn with weak bones and soft tendons. Only when the mind is calm and stable can one live
a long and fulfilled life. To govern the divine, one must return to the original unity. There is a saying,
'Merge into oneness, harmonize human and divine, then one can return to the primordial state, with
bright spiritual wisdom.' As for the art of governing the world, it lies in understanding the power of the
word 'One.' The operation of heaven and earth and the birth of all things depend on this principle. The
fundamental principle in this world is unity, represented by the word 'One.' Without it, the essence is
lost. If heaven loses the concept of 'One,' the world will become chaotic and all things will perish. If the
earth loses the concept of 'One,' mountains will crumble, rivers will flood, and all things will lose
stability. If humans lose the concept of 'One,' their bodies will disintegrate, leaving only empty shells,
ignorant and foolish, living a life worse than death. If rulers lose the concept of 'One,' people will harm
each other for their survival, nations will wage wars, and chaos will ensue. If the concept of 'One' is lost,
all things will cease to be born and grow, yin and yang will be disconnected, and the self will be
annihilated."
Upon hearing these teachings from Master Zi Zhen, Laozi realized that whether it was governing oneself,
governing the family, or governing the world, they all had to adhere to the fundamental principle of
unity, represented by the concept of 'One.' This concept was the root of all things in the world and it
was synonymous with the Dao. Before parting ways with his master to descend the mountain, Master Zi
Zhen expressed his earnest hope that Lao Tzu would continue to deepen his understanding of the great
Dao and spread its teachings to all beings. He believed that if Lao Tzu could accomplish this, the world
would forever benefit from his virtues.

* Reluctant librarian and two times resign from court, the legendary tale of Dao De Jing:

During the later period when the state of Chu (楚國) conquered the state of Chen (陳國), King Jing of
Chu (周景王) heard of the renowned scholar Lao Tzu's wide-ranging knowledge and invited him to the
royal court to participate in the affairs of the state. Although Lao Tzu did not desire to hold an official
position, he reluctantly set out to meet King Jing of Chu to comply with the king's command.

Upon meeting Lao Tzu, King Jing of Chu (周景王) inquired about matters of governance. Lao Tzu
eloquently responded, greatly pleasing King Jing of Chu, who invited him to serve in the court. However,
Laozi declined the offer, stating that he only sought to pursue the study and dissemination of the
teachings of the Great Dao and had no desire for an official position. Recognizing Lao Tzu's intentions,
King Jing of Chu appointed him as the Archivist of the Royal Library (a high-ranking position equivalent
to the Director of the National Library) in present times, allowing Lao Tzu to study and expand his
teachings while also serving as a teacher to the royal descendants.

Later on, King Jing of Chu (周景王) fell ill repeatedly, causing delays in state affairs. Within the palace,
his sons competed for the throne, leading to turmoil and disorder in the Chu court. Various factions
sought to take advantage of Lao Tzu's wisdom and reputation, attempting to draw him into their
political camp. Seeing the chaotic situation in the Court, Lao Tzu resigned from his position, returning to
his homeland.

After the passing of King Jing of Chu (周景王), a power struggle erupted among the princes for the
throne. Eventually, King Jing of Chu (周敬王) (another person with similar name) ascended to the
throne. Esteeming the importance of scholars, King Jing of Chu extended an invitation to Lao Tzu once
again to serve in an official capacity. Lao Tzu agreed and resumed his governmental duties in the Chu
state. However, after some time, witnessing the continued decline and stagnation of Chu, Lao Tzu
decided to leave again and headed westward. He arrived at Hangu Pass (函谷关), where he
encountered a local official named Yin Hsi (尹喜), who is know the wisdom of predicting future through
watching stars, he know a Venerable sage will come to that place and prepare ink and papers to meet
him. Yin Hsi respectfully requested Lao Tzu to share some of his knowledge before he completely
withdrew from public life. Lao Tzu stayed there and wrote down the book, consisting of over 5,000
characters, which has become the legendary text that we know today as the Dao De Jing.