Lao Zi

A disciple asked Lao Zi:

"What's this doctrine that encompasses all things?"

Lao Zi answered:

" That's impossible to say. It's impossible to give it a name... Because if you call it A, then it's not B: if you say it's white, then it's not black. To comprehend Tao, one must not approach it through language, words, or any definition. On must comprehend it with one's heart and soul, otherwise one would go astray."

In the beginning there was no objects or images in the universe. This state of life can be called 'Nothingness". Nothingness is the essence of Tao and the origin of the universe.

When Tao acquires the power of production, all thing in the universe begin to come in existence spontaneously. This state of affairs can be called "being" which is the result of Tao.

"Non being" and "being". One is the essence of Tao and the other, its productive aspect. Both have their origin in Tao, only they are named differently.

When things develop, you must not interrupt; when things grow, you must not claim possession of them; when things turn out successfully, you must not allege that it is solely due to your ability. When successful, do not claim credit.

Because the sage abides by selflessness, his good work endures.

If one emphasizes too much the reputation of a sage, people will strive to be one. By not upgrading the status of sages, people will not have the desire to compete.

By not giving importance to wealth, people will not become avaricious.

So the wise man in government will purify the people's minds, provide them with food and livelihood, reduce their ambition and strengthen their physical and spiritual health.

The universe is impartial and without self. It treats all things equally. It treats things like sacrificial straw dogs, showing neither like nor dislike for them.

One who is not calculative about gains and losses when handling matters will reap benefits.

One 's needs are limited but one's desires know no bounds.

Over-indulgence in enjoyment of colours will impair one's vision eventually.

Over-indulgence in enjoyment of sounds will eventually impair one's sense of hearing.

Over-indulgence in enjoyment of food will eventually impair one's sense of taste.

Over-indulgence in activities such as hunting will eventually impair one's mind and mental health.

Over-indulgence in the procurement of wealth causes one to suffer insecurity and tarnished morality.

Thus one anchored in Tao lives a simple life. He seeks only to fill the stomach, not to gratify the tastes. He prefers a life of plainness and solitude to that of luxury and pomposity.

People of the world take reputation and gains too seriously so much so that both praise and insult will cause them to become agitated.

Living a frightened existence because of the fear of disasters. Why?

In the eyes of people, high station is considered noble; it makes them feel a cut above others. Therefore there is fear that losing it will bring distress.

Insults are considered lowly. One feels ashamed when being insulted. So people are afraid of being insulted and humiliated.

We have big troubles because we are always thinking in terms of self-interest.

If you have no ego, will you suffer calamities?

Thus if a person is selfless, the world may be entrusted to his care.

All things will return to their source. This source is called "stillness";

it is also called "constant". To understand the "constant" is called "insight". Not to understand the "constant", acting rashly, is to court disaster.

Those who understand the "Eternal Tao" can perform many different things. They can be frank, upright, unprejudiced and can comply with nature and can thus act in accordance with Tao.

When a country is peaceful, government officials perform their duties properly, according to their stations. The term "loyalty" does not exist.

When the country is in turmoil, government officials cannot perform their duties properly. In this situation, the term "loyal officials" comes into being.

No disaster in the world is greater than discontentment. No sin in the world is greater than greed.

Therefore only contentment can give you permanent satisfaction. If everyone knows what contentment is, the world would be a peaceful place.

If you can look within and have self-awareness, end desires and give up self-interest, you will understand the ways of the world even if you have not stepped out of your house.

If you are able to curb misbehavior, there's nothing that you cannot do.

The wise man is aware that the nature of Tao is insubstantial and mysterious, so he acts diligently without talking too much.

The more you forbid, the poorer the populace will become.

The greater the power of the government, the more turmoil there will be in the nation. The more the ruler's strategies, the more often evil deeds will occur.

The harsher the laws , the fiercer is the banditry.

So the sage says "I abide by non-action and the people do things on their own initiative; I esteem quietude and the people follow the proper path spontaneously; I don't interfere and the people prosper by themselves: I have no desires and the people naturally return to the good and simple life."

A person who really knows is aware that Tao of the universe is right in his mind and he does not seek it elsewhere.

A sage has no desire to possess and does not accumulate possessions. The more he gives, the greater his abundance.

Heaven is unselfish; it benefits all things and causes no harm to them.