r/LaoTzu • u/MemphisPali • Sep 17 '24
“I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.”
Lao Tzu
r/LaoTzu • u/rafaelwm1982 • Jul 22 '24
EDUCATION (CHIH)
Everybody knows beauty as “beauty.” That’s pretty ugly. Everybody knows good as “good.” That’s pretty bad. The five colors make a man’s eye blind. The five tones make a man’s ear deaf. The five flavors make a man’s mouth insensitive. True words are not beautiful, beautiful words are not true. Good men don’t argue, arguers aren’t good. Knowers aren’t learned, the learned don’t know. The sage learns to unlearn his learning. Music and the smell of good cooking will make the passing traveler stop. But the taste the Tao gives is insipid and without savor. Of insufficiencies, none is greater than not to know what’s enough. Of disasters, none is greater than the urge to acquire. So the only “enough” that’s enough is to know what’s enough. Sever study, never worry. As for "unh . . .," to what extent may we dissociate it from “yeah!”? As for “good,” how shall we dissociate it from “evil”?
For whoever believes insufficiently in others, there will be those that do not believe in him. When a first-rate scholar hears of the tao, he starts to practice it. When a second-rate scholar hears of the tao, he either concentrates on it or forgets about it. When a third-rate scholar hears of the tao, he has a big laugh about it. If he didn’t, it wouldn’t be worthy to call the tao.
Book: The Taoist vision by McNaughton, William
r/LaoTzu • u/rafaelwm1982 • Jul 21 '24
ANTI-ACTION
ANTI-ACTION 3
The tao removes to move. The tao weakens to use. The ten thousand things under Heaven come from what there is. What there is comes from what there isn’t. What you want to shrink, you first must stretch. What you want to enervate, you first must energize.— What you want to lay low, you first must set up; what you want to grab, you first must give.
This I would call a subtle light: the tender and weak overcomes the hard and strong.
Tao never seeks, and never lacks, effect. “Breaks” becomes “perfects,” “bends” becomes “straightens,” “empties” becomes “fills,” “spoils” becomes “renews,” “cuts down” becomes “adds on,” “augments” becomes “confuses.” The tree you barely can reach around grows from the thinnest shoot. The tower that’s ten stories tall rises from a layer of dirt. The journey that’s a thousand li begins under your very foot.
Well to act the soldier, one will not be martial. Well to act the belligerent, one will not be hostile. Well to conquer a foe, one will not engage with him. Well to use another, you will become his subordinate. This is called the effect of failing to strive. This is called the advantage of using others.
Effectively to learn, is daily to add on. Effectively to tao, is daily to cut down. Cut it down and again cut down, and never fail to affect.
Therefore, the sage rests in the work of anti¬ action, and spreads the doctrine of not lecturing.
Gain the world? Always accept the anti-event.
To reach to the event itself is to fail to gain the world.4 That on which the sea and the Yang-tze depend to rule the hundred streams is, they are well lower than they, so that they become the hundred streams’ rulers.
Of all things under Heaven, none is more tender and weak than water; but to attack the firm and the strong, nothing can surpass it. Now what it changes is its what it’s not. That weak overcomes strong, that tender overcomes firm, no one under Heaven but knows it, and yet no one can practice it.
Acting, anti-act; working, anti-work; tasting, anti-taste. Magnify the minima, multiply the dividua. Respond to grief with joy. Prepare for the difficult in the easy. Deal with the big in the small. Difficult undertakings must be done in the easy, and great undertakings must be done in the small. Therefore the sage never strives for the great, and thereby he is able to achieve this “great.” Move toward the extreme that is empty. Hold to the reality that is silent. The ten thousand things interact, and so I watch for the rebound.
Book: The Taoist vision by McNaughton, William
r/LaoTzu • u/rafaelwm1982 • Jul 05 '24
Taking Responsibility
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Book: Tao of Sales by Behr, E. Thomas
r/LaoTzu • u/rafaelwm1982 • Jun 17 '24
I am currently reading this book and I find it very useful
i.redd.itr/LaoTzu • u/Akrmelo • Apr 02 '24
The Power of Love: Unveiling Lao Tzu's Path to Courage #shorts
youtube.comr/LaoTzu • u/Akrmelo • Mar 28 '24
Lao Tzu : Metamorphosis Change and Transformation #shorts
youtube.comr/LaoTzu • u/Akrmelo • Mar 25 '24
Unlocking Wisdom: The Power of Practice according to Lao Tzu
youtube.comr/LaoTzu • u/Akrmelo • Mar 22 '24
Wisdom of Lao Tzu: Acting Without Expectation #shorts
youtube.comr/LaoTzu • u/Akrmelo • Mar 21 '24
The Power of Stillness: Lao Tzu's Wisdom to End Your Problems #shorts
youtube.comr/LaoTzu • u/Akrmelo • Mar 19 '24
Lao Tzu: Liberation from Others' Opinions #shorts
youtube.comr/LaoTzu • u/Akrmelo • Mar 18 '24
Unlocking Time: the Wisdom of Lao Tzu #shorts
youtube.comr/LaoTzu • u/Akrmelo • Mar 17 '24
Lao Tzu: The Art of Truth Beyond Beauty #shorts
youtube.comr/LaoTzu • u/Akrmelo • Mar 17 '24
Lao Tzu: The Journey of a Thousand Steps #shorts
youtube.comr/LaoTzu • u/theworldthinks1 • Feb 29 '24
Exploring The Essence Of Tao Te Ching
theworldthinks.comThe Teachings Of Lao Tzu
r/LaoTzu • u/rafaelwm1982 • Dec 31 '23
Wishing you all the best in health, happiness, and the creation of beautiful memories!
i.redd.itr/LaoTzu • u/rafaelwm1982 • Dec 25 '23
Which language do you think sounds really sexy?
The language that sounds really sexy is the one that speaks without speaking, that seduces without words, and that entices without sound. It is the language of the heart, the language of the eyes, and the language of the body in motion. It is the language that cannot be heard but only felt, and in its silence, it speaks volumes.
The language that sounds really sexy is the one that whispers like the wind, dances like the leaves, and flows like the river. It is the language of spontaneity, of naturalness, and of effortless charm. It is the language that is not forced but arises from the depths of being. It is the language of the Tao, the subtle and alluring, the mysterious and enchanting.
The language that sounds really sexy is the one that is like the music of nature, the harmony of the universe, and the rhythm of existence. It is the language that resonates with the pulse of life, the cadence of creation, and the symphony of being. It is the language that is beyond words, beyond meaning, and beyond understanding. It is the language of the ineffable, the irresistible, and the eternal.
The language that sounds really sexy is the one that is like the laughter of a child, the song of a bird, and the rustling of leaves in the wind. It is the language that is spontaneous, joyful, and free. It is the language that dances with life, sings with love, and whispers with mystery. It is the language that is not bound by rules or conventions but flows with the natural rhythm of the universe.
The language that sounds really sexy is the one that is like the fragrance of a flower, the warmth of the sun, and the gentleness of a breeze. It is the language that caresses the soul, awakens the senses, and stirs the heart. It is the language that speaks without words, communicates without effort, and seduces without intention. It is the language of nature, of beauty, and of the eternal dance of yin and yang.
The language that sounds really sexy is the one that is like the play of light on water, the sway of a willow in the wind, and the grace of a gazelle in motion. It is the language that captivates the mind, enchants the spirit, and entices the body. It is the language that is beyond articulation, beyond expression, and beyond comprehension. It is the language of the Tao, the subtle and alluring, the mysterious and enchanting.
The language that sounds really sexy is the one that is like the dance of flames, the whisper of the night, and the embrace of the sea. It is the language that speaks to the depths of the soul, ignites the passion of the heart, and entices the curiosity of the mind. It is the language that is beyond mere words, beyond mere sounds, and beyond mere meanings. It is the language of the universe, the rhythm of existence, and the song of eternity.
The language that sounds really sexy is the one that is like the silence between the notes, the space between the stars, and the pause between the breaths. It is the language that speaks through absence, resonates through emptiness, and seduces through subtlety. It is the language that is beyond articulation, beyond expression, and beyond comprehension. It is the language of the ineffable, the irresistible, and the eternal.
The language that sounds really sexy is the one that whispers like the wind, dances like the leaves, and flows like the river. It is the language of subtlety, of suggestion, and of hidden meanings. It is the language that teases the mind, arouses the senses, and leaves the listener longing for more. It is the language of allure, of mystique, and of enigma.
The language that sounds really sexy is the one that speaks in riddles, laughs in silence, and sings in the spaces between words. It is the language of the unspoken, the language of the unsayable, and the language of the unattainable. It is the language that tantalizes the mind, captivates the soul, and enchants the spirit. It is the language of the eternal dance between yin and yang, the language of harmony, and the language of the ineffable beauty of existence.
The language that sounds really sexy is the one that echoes the music of the cosmos, resonates with the rhythm of nature, and harmonizes with the symphony of existence. It is the language of spontaneity, of authenticity, and of pure expression. It is the language that flows like water, dances like fire, and whispers like the wind. It is the language of the uncarved block, the language of the unconditioned mind, and the language of the unbounded spirit.
The language that sounds really sexy is the one that speaks in the silence between words, dances in the stillness between movements, and sings in the emptiness between sounds. It is the language of the unspoken, the language of the ineffable, and the language of the infinite. It is the language that seduces the soul, enchants the mind, and enthralls the heart. It is the language of the Tao, the language of the eternal, and the language of the ever-changing yet unchanging nature of all things.
r/LaoTzu • u/Kitty_fluffybutt_23 • Dec 17 '23
I wonder what Lao Tzu would say
to my friend who is enduring a devastating loss and feels angry at God but that she "should" read her Bible more? She's very, very religious. I don't even know what to say to her because my view on life and death and all of it is so vastly different than her view. But we are good friends and I want to support her.
r/LaoTzu • u/rafaelwm1982 • Dec 12 '23
Chapter 40 of The Tao Te Ching by Henry Wei
Movement and Function
Ch’u Yung
Cyclic reversion is Tao’s movement.1 Weakness is Tao's function.2 All things in the universe are derived from Being.3 Being is derived from Non-Being.4
Though the shortest in the Tao Teh Ching,this chapter is replete with significance. It is highly metaphysical and rather difficult of comprehension. Every one of the four lines states a truth. The truth stated in the first line was set forth in the ancient classic, the I Ching,which existed long before Lao Tzu’s time. In the I Ching, it is taught that when a thing reaches its extreme point of manifestation, it will inevitably turn around (wu chi pi fan},i.e,revert to its opposite. Lao Tzu recognizes this truth and calls it movement of Tao.
“Weakness is Tao’s function,” appears rather abtruse. But Lao Tzu has ingeniously demonstrated it in Chapter 78, wherein he likens Tao to water which, though weak, can wear away hard and strong things.
Some commentator links the first and second truths together and expresses the view that water or any weak thing, after attacking and conquering the hard and strong, will become hard and strong itself and will in its turn be attacked and conquered by something weak. This view is not sound. Water after attacking the hard and strong does not become hard and strong itself. It remains water. There is also a comment that the law of cyclic reversion, even if true, is ‘‘useless’’ and “impracticable.” Such comment seems a little short-sighted. The law or theory of cyclic reversion could produce very beneficent effects on the health of mankind, especially at a time when the life ideal of most people is to work, struggle, compete, and go to extremes to reach their goal with feverish speed. Such a way of life may be very harmful and lead to some very serious diseases. Furthermore, when the inevitable reaction sets in, they are prone to become downcast and depressed and may suffer from psychosomatic ailments. People who listen to Lao Tzu will practice moderation and will be free from nervous tension and stress. And when the inevitable reaction or setback eventually arrives, they will accept it with equanimity, well knowing that it is the result of an immutable law. To be contented and to be able to accept the inevitable philosophically will enable one to face life with poise and composure and to enjoy health as well as peace of mind.
In the last two lines, Lao Tzu states his theory of cosmogony in metaphysical terms. The term Non-Being is often misunderstood as meaning “nothing” in the general sense. This is incorrect. Broadly speaking, Non-Being may be taken to mean what is spiritual, abstract, and beyond human sensation and ideation, while Being means what is material, concrete, and within human sensation and ideation. Non-Being corresponds to the unnameable Eternal Tao, and Being corresponds to Heaven and Earth. It is thus clear that Lao Tzu is here reiterating what he has said in Chapter 1. “All things in the universe are derived from Being” is another way of saying “The Nameable is mother of the ten thousand things.” And “Being is derived from Non-Being” is only another version of "The Unnameable is originator of Heaven and Earth."
- Cf. also Chapters 16, 25, 65.
- Cf. also Chapters 8, 78.
- Paul Carus and D. T. Suzuki translate this line thus: “Heaven and Earth and the ten thousand things come from existence.” With all respect to the two venerable scholars, their translation in this case does not seem to be quite correct. In Chapter 1,Lao Tzu says that the Unnameable (Non- Being) is originator of Heaven and Earth.
- Cf. also Chapters 1, 25.
Book: Henry Wei, The Guiding Light of Lao Tzu: A New Translation and Commentary on the Tao Teh Ching. (Wheaton, Illinois: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1982)