Tao te ching_ annotated & explained - Derek Lin [46]
3 This means the gods keep to their proper places and do not disrupt people’s lives out of misguided benevolence. When we apply this concept to everyday cultivation, it means the wisdom of the Tao prevents us from taking foolish actions out of good intentions—actions that, although well-meaning, still end up making things more complicated and more difficult. (back to text)
4 “Harming” in this context means meddling in people’s lives. When we act in congruence with the Tao, we are able to relax, let things be, and simply enjoy the process. (back to text)
5 “Returning” in this context means going back to the source, the Tao. (back to text)
61 Annotations
1 In this chapter, Lao Tzu points out that the virtue of humility applies not only to individuals and personal interactions but also to diplomacy and international relations. In fact, the microcosm of the personal reflects the macrocosm of the national, so principles that work on one level operate equally well on the other. (back to text)
2 In the context of everyday living, the “large country” would be someone who has more power, while the “small country” would be someone with less. Because everything is relative, we are often called upon to play either role. For instance, a mid-level manager can be a “small country” to senior executives and at the same time be the “large country” to the rank and file. (back to text)
3 “Lower position” means humility. The large country is more powerful and has a lot more resources than small countries do, but if it does not understand or practice the virtue of humility, it will quickly devolve from a well-respected world leader into a despised empire. History shows clearly that empires come and go, and when an empire falls, the smaller countries that used to cower at its feet will suddenly rise up against it. (back to text)
4 When we apply this idea to the individual level, we see the wisdom of treating people well on one’s way up, because it is indeed true that one will see all of them again on one’s way down. (back to text)
62 Annotations
1 These lines point out that the Tao provides for everyone, regardless of individual merits. Those who do not understand the Tao may not regard it as anything to value, but the Tao does not abandon them. It still provides for all the necessities people need to stay alive. Water, air, the sun ... everything comes from the protective embrace of the Tao. (back to text)
2 The most important ceremony in ancient China was the crowning of the Emperor and the installation of the three ministers. To emphasize its significance, the ceremony included offerings of jade and horses. The jade used was the largest and most valuable available; the horses were a team of four, each steed the fastest and finest in all of China. (back to text)
3 The simple pleasure of sitting down with an open mind to get into the Tao surpasses any material riches. When we resonate deeply with a spiritual truth, when a teaching suddenly sheds light on a dilemma and liberates us from perplexing ignorance, that is when we realize the priceless nature of the Tao. (back to text)
4 When the ancients searched for the answer to the ultimate question of life, they found it in the Tao. As for those who did not know enough to search, the Tao did not find fault with them. It gave them all the time they needed to work through their issues. With infinite patience, the Tao knew that one day, they, too, would embark on a spiritual quest of their own. (back to text)
5 We are very fortunate to have so many options and so many opportunities to get to know the Tao. It is up to us to cherish it as the greatest treasure of all. (back to text)
63 Annotations
1 As Tao cultivators, we take proactive actions without attachments or expectations of specific outcomes. We manage processes and affairs without trying to manipulate them. We get a sense (a taste) of the situation without becoming