Tao te ching_ annotated & explained - Derek Lin [39]
1 I have translated the characters chi cheng as “override.” This best represents the original meaning. The image evoked by these characters is a horseman riding a powerful, galloping steed. The rider cannot compare to the horse in terms of physical strength, but there is no question who is controlling whom. This is the perfect image for “the soft overcomes the hard.” (back to text)
2 Water seeps into and dissolves rocks; electricity flows through a block of metal. Thus, the intangible Tao can permeate all things, even if they appear to be solid, without any cracks or openings. (back to text)
3 We can extrapolate from this to understand life. The Tao acts in a wu wei (unattached action) manner and effortlessly achieves the miracle of life. We find inspiration in this and see the possibility to act without attachments and achieve great works without friction or resistance. (back to text)
4 We can teach most effectively through personal examples rather than preachy words. This is a function of the wu wei principle as well. (back to text)
5 “Rarely matched” in this line has two interpretations. The first is that the power of the Tao is unmatched. The second is that the teachings of the Tao, as outlined in this chapter, are rarely matched by human intellect—or they are not well understood by most people. (back to text)
44 Annotations
1 If you feel the true self is more important than either fame or material possessions, is this feeling reflected in your daily actions? Do you pursue material things at the expense of spiritual cultivation, despite your conviction that the latter is more important? (back to text)
2 For many people, this question has an obvious answer: decrease is always painful; increase is not so bad. Is this an accurate perception of reality? Is it a useful way to live life? Is it, in other words, in accordance with the Tao? (back to text)
3 We have all seen how excessive love of material things compels one to spend. In our society, this spending is often done on credit, before we really have the financial resources to afford it. We have become a nation of debtors; every day we dig ourselves ever deeper. (back to text)
4 We have seen the negative consequences of having too much. Our lives are filled with things that are not useful enough to keep, and yet not useless enough to discard. The clutter takes up space and denies us peace of mind. We worry about possible loss, theft, or damage. We cannot relax. Even before we actually lose anything, we have already lost a lot. (back to text)
5 Therefore, the way of the Tao is contentment and being able to let go. Knowing when to stop is an important step—it prevents further accumulation of clutter. Being able to let go is the next step. There is a powerful feeling of liberation when we master this aspect of Tao cultivation.
Gain or loss, which is more painful? Once we experience the joy of simplifying and streamlining, we will understand that gain can bring unwanted complexity while loss can bring freedom. This understanding puts the question in a completely different light! (back to text)
45 Annotations
1 “Great perfection” here can be read as a synonym for the Tao. “Flaw” in this context means a lack of completeness. This flaw that we may perceive in the Tao is due to our limited human perspective, as explained below. (back to text)
2 Consider what happens when we observe people who have attained great mastery (perfection) in some aspect of life. It may have taken them years of hard work to refine their skills, but when we see them perform, they make everything look so easy. This is true whether they are Olympic gymnasts, world-class ballerinas, champion figure skaters, or others who work at the greatest level of human potential.
They achieve their effortless smoothness by completely integrating the techniques into their being. When we watch them, we see only the natural beauty of their self-expression; we do not see the rigidity of their rigorous training. Thus, at first glance, their great perfection may seem lacking—the techniques are nowhere