The Tao Te Ching

Review

The Tao Te Ching is a collection of 81 chapters of Chinese classical text that describe the essence of Taoism. Loosely translated as "the way", Taoism is a mix of philosophy and religion that has deep roots in Chinese culture.

At the heart of the "Tao Te Ching" is the attempt to describe the indescribable Tao. The chapters are like "fingers pointing at the moon; if you watch the finger, you can’t see the moon."

The Tao is not hard. It is not hidden. It is not a secret. You find by letting go. You master by yielding. You act by not doing.

The theme of letting go is common across most chapters. Of desires. Of labels. Of delusion. In this regard, the Tao Te Ching share an overlap with buddhist text that preach a similar path towards enlightenment.

Reading the chapters, you feel there is an understanding that starts to form, like a floater in your eye, just at the edge of your awareness but gone when you focus.

Takeaways

once you name something, you give it form and create its opposite - the eternal is always flowing
let go but hold on to the center
the highest power is that of self mastery
the tao is empty and this is why it is inexhaustible
live in reality and let go of illusion
compassion for the parts because of understanding of the whole
when you realize there is nothing lacking, you will have everything
the great way is easy, yet people prefer the side path
simplicity (keep to source), patience (see reality), and compassion (reconcile)
the best enter into a spirit of play
the tao cannot be thought into existence and does not need to be - they are easy to understand and easy to put into practice
all things change and you will die - let go of control
be supple and yielding
see the world as it is - like a mirror, it shows everything and does not retain the image after it has passed
you don't change after enlightenment, but you are free from delusion
the master doesn't know, he just is
trust natural responses

Created 2024-03-10T04:13:11.672000, updated 2024-04-12T04:15:42.802000 · History · Edit

The Tao Te Ching

Review

Takeaways

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