Tao te ching

by lao tzu
Objectives:
• Understand Taoism by analyzing verses of the Tao Te
Ching for style and content.
• Defined paradox and identify examples in the text.
• Understand Taoism by analyzing verses of the Tao Te
Ching for style and content
• Help broaden the perspectives in assessing situation
when someone is in trouble, confused and losing the
self-confidence.
 Background Of The History
Taoism is an ancient tradition of philosophy and religious belief
that is deeply rooted in Chinese customs and worldview.

A fundamental Daoist text written by 6th century Chinese sage lao-

tzu (lao tzu or laozi meaning old master)

Taoism is about the Tao. This is usually translated as “the way.” But
it's hard to say exactly what this means. The Tao is the ultimate
creative principle of the universe. All things are unified and
connected in the Tao.
The Dao/Tao

 The way of (nature), the natural order and flow of the universe, the source of all

beings, infinite and eternally present.

 The dao cannot be defined, but it can only be experienced.

 “the dao that can be told is not the eternal dao”

 Conventional and unconventional knowledge.

 Our mind is the greatest obstacles to experiencing Dao.

Wu wei

• “Non-doing”, “non-action”, “non-interference”, or effortless action.

• Going with the flow of things
“The highest virtue is to act without a sense of self,
The highest kindness is to give without a condition
The highest justice is to see without a preference”

• The state without desire that enables one to experience the Dao

• God produces the world by making whereas the Dao produces it by not-
making (Wu Wei).
Who wrote the Tao Te Ching?
• Lao tzu, widely considered to be the father of Taoism.

• [He] was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer. He is the reputed

author of the Tao Te Ching, the founder of philosophical Taoism, and a
deity in religious Taoism and traditional Chinese religions.

• Like Homer of the Odyssey or Jesus of the bible -- lao tzu is a mythical
character and that the Tao Te Ching was likely a compilation of many
authors from the time of the 6th century BC.
• Despite his mythology, there are some theories about the fabled Lao
Tzu’s life. It’s posited that Lao Tzu was a friend and peer of the
famous Chinese philosopher Confucius. You might know Confucius
for such sage quotes such as “life is really simple, but we insist on
making it complicated," or “choose a job you love, and you will
never have to work a day in your life." Many stories claim that
Confucius sought out Lao Tzu’s advice from a young age and was
deeply impressed with the older man’s wisdom.
• In Chinese, “tao” means “path,” “te” means “virtue,” “ching”
means “ancient text.” So this book is an ancient Chinese text
that lays out the path to virtue (in the eyes of the likely
mythical Lao Tzu).

• It reads something like the bible from an ideas perspective,

but with a definite zen/anti-establishment lean. Despite being
contrarian for its time, it leaves the reader with a calm,
soothed feeling, not agitation.
• The entire book is about achieving what Lao Tzu calls “the great
integrity,” a global society in which we’re governed by strong morals
oriented toward humanity, rather than capitalism.

• Lao Tzu makes the case that, over time, society has been trained to
believe that injustices and cruelties are simply part of our nature, which
rationalizes why we must compete so fiercely for resources. Instead, he
argues that human nature is fundamentally good, and that goodness
begets goodness.
• Thematically, the Tao Te Ching trends positive. The prose is rich
with words like cooperation, altruism, nature, self-
actualization, humanity, transcendence, the universe,
tranquility, and oneness.
 The Tao Te Ching on relativity

 The Tao doesn’t take sides; it gives birth to both good and evil.

 What difference between yes and no? What difference between success and failure?
Must you value what others value, avoid what others avoid?

 Throw away morality and justice, and people will do the right thing. Throw away
industry and profit, and there won’t be any thieves.

 Journal on do you think people are innately good or will naturally do the right
thing? OR journal on the second bullet (answer questions).
 The Tao Te Ching on Government

 When the Master governs, the people are hardly aware that he exists. Next best is
a leader who is loved. Next, one who is feared. The worst is one who is despised.

 If you don’t trust people, you make them untrustworthy.

 Whoever relies on the Tao in governing men doesn’t try to force issues or defeat
enemies by force of arms. For every force there is a counter force. Violence,
even well intentioned, always rebounds upon itself.

 Copy down the bolded area above and just write “agree” or “disagree”
 The Tao Te Ching on Ritual
When the Tao (Way) is lost, there is goodness. When goodness is lost,
there is morality. When morality is lost, there is ritual. Ritual is the husk
of true faith, the beginning of chaos.

Though Taoists do celebrate holidays and have festivals and rituals (like
burning ghost money)

Explain the significance of the above quote “When Tao is lost there is
goodness...” What is being said about ritual? Can you give any
examples where ritual is the husk of true faith and the beginning of
chaos?
Note:
Read the Tao Te Ching if you like

• Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

• Why Buddhism is True
• Rumi’s poetry
 What are the purpose of Tao Te Ching?

Tao te ching translates very roughly as "the way of integrity". In its 81

verses it delivers a treatise on how to live in the world with goodness
and integrity: an important kind of wisdom in a world where many
people believe such a thing to be impossible.
Tao te ching was primarily writing to the rulers and the emperors of
that time, he wants all the countries and subsidiary countries in china
can coexist together peacefully, hoping that there will be no more wars.
 UNDERSTAND TAOISM BY ANALYZING
VERSES OF THE TAO TE CHING FOR STYLE
AND CONTENT
• There are ~80 short verses in the book, perfect for beginning or ending
your day with a sprinkle of mindfulness. The verses read like short
poems and have been translated into simple, understandable prose.

• The version includes commentary after each verse, helping make the
ancient wisdom a bit more accessible. However, as a writer/reader, one
couldn’t help but read some of the commentator’s interpretations as
somewhat vague and idealistic. Some of the verses don’t have enough
hidden meaning to surface anything more.
Example:
“Craving the desirable loses contentment. The natural person desires
without craving and acts without excess. By not doing, everything is
done.”

 When our talents are not appreciated, we endlessly seek affirmation.

I encourage you to examine your cravings. Understand that cravings
do not need to control you, because it’s not natural to be ruled by
them. Be curious about your cravings and ask why you desire the
things you do so strongly. Can you look for balance?
PARADOX
Paradox in Literature
What is a Paradox?
• The word “Paradox” derives from the word
“Paradoxons”, meaning contrary to expectation.
• In literature, a paradox is a literary device that
contradict itself that contains a plausible Kernel of
truth.
• A literary paradox is a contradiction that resolves
to reveal a deeper meaning behind a contradiction.
Some common examples of
Paradox:
1.Less is more
2.Do the thing you think you cannot do
3.The beginning of the end
4.If you ddon’t risk anything, you risk everything
5.The pen is mightier than the sword
6.The more you give, the more you get
 TAO TE CHING
By Lao Tzu
Paradoxes

The highest virtue I not virtues. Therefore it haas virtue.

The lowest virtue holds on to virtue. Therefore it has no
virtue.
(Tao Te Cing chapter 38)
Paradoxes

The purest white seems stained

(Tao Te Cing chapter 41)

The grandest virtue seems deficient

(Tao Te Cing chapter 41)
Paradoxes

The sturdiest virtue seems fragile

(Tao Te Cing chapter 41)

The most fundamental seems fickle

(Tao Te Cing chapter 41)
Paradoxes

The perfect square lacks corners

(Tao Te Cing chapter 41)

The highest tone is hard to hear

(Tao Te Cing chapter 41)
Paradoxes

The great image lacks shape

(Tao Te Cing chapter 41)

Sometimes gain comes from losing, and sometimes loss

comes from gaining
(Tao Te Cing chapter 42)
Paradoxes

What has no substance can penetrate what hasno

opening
(Tao Te Cing chapter 43)

The most comlete seems lacking. Yet in use it is not

exhausted
(Tao Te Cing chapter 45)
Paradoxes

The most abundant seems empty. Yet in use it is not

drained.
(Tao Te Cing chapter 45)

The most straight seems curved

(Tao Te Cing chapter 45)

Paradoxes

The most able seems clumsy

(Tao Te Cing chapter 45)

The most eloquent seems to shutter

(Tao Te Cing chapter 45)
Paradoxes

Taste the tasteless

(Tao Te Cing chapter 63)

Make the small big and the few many

(Tao Te Cing chapter 63)
Identify approach to LIFE AND
THE universe offered by Taoism
The circle of Tao

• We have all had the experience, at one time or another, of

being deeply connected with something larger than
ourselves. This often happens in nature. Watching a sunset
or hiking in the mountains or woods, you feel a oneness
with your surroundings.
The way

• Taoism is organized around several key principles and, like

any philosophical outlook, presents a way of seeing and
understanding reality. The word tao itself translates as “the
way”, or “path”. This meaning includes both “the way” in
which we perceive the world around us (how do we make
assessments? What are our values?) And also “the way” in
which we interact with life (how do we behave? What are our
actions?).
An expanded awareness

• One major challenge to this experience of unity and

wholeness is our own human consciousness which can be
regarded as a double-edged sword. On the one hand we are
able to separate, distinguish, and evaluate. While this allows
us to understand our world, make decisions, and take action, it
can also restrict us to only seeing everything as separate from
ourselves, blocking the experience that we are part of a larger
whole.
Mystery – the art of not-knowing

• The opening lines of the Tao te Ching state, “the Tao that can
be told is not the true Tao. The name that can be named is not
the true name.” Names, while useful, can be limiting. We
must go beyond names and see the Tao in all things. In the
same opening chapter lao tzu writes that to fully experience
Tao one must enter its mystery, a mystery shrouded in
darkness, “darkness within darkness.”
The Tao of daily living

• Taoist teachings are intended to be utilized as a guide to daily living.

Their greatest value lies in their ability to direct us toward our own
process of self-exploration, growth, and transformation which connects
us deeply to ourselves and to the world around us. The writings of lao tzu
and Chuang tzu provide us with excellent counsel on how to achieve this
state of union with the Tao. It may be here that Taoism exhibits its
greatest appeal for not only does it represent a way of connectedness,
harmony, and balance, its “way” is one of naturalness and simplicity!
 THE THREE VIRTUES OF TAOISM
1. Compassion, kindness, love
(Chinese: 慈 ; pinyin: cí; literally "compassion, tenderness, love, mercy,
kindness, gentleness and implies the term ‘mother’, ‘mother’s/ parental love’)
2. Moderation, simplicity, frugality
(Chinese: 儉 ; pinyin: jiǎn; literally "frugality, moderation, economy, restraint,
be sparing")
When applied to the moral life it stands for the simplicity of desire.
3. Humility, modesty
The third treasure is a six-character phrase instead of a single word: Chinese 不
敢為天下先 , Bugan wei tianxia xian, "not dare to be first/ahead in the world",
referring to the Taoist way to avoid premature death.
Thank you for listening!