集 Series
Commentary on the Dao De Jing
- 01Commentary on the Tao Te Ching (Part 1): The Tao That Can Be Told Is Not the Eternal Tao
- 02Commentary on the Tao Te Ching (Part 2): When the World Knows Beauty as Beauty
- 03Tao Te Ching Commentary (Part 3): Not Exalting the Worthy Prevents People from Competing
- 04Commentary on the Tao Te Ching (Part 4): The Tao is Empty Yet Its Use Is Inexhaustible
- 05Commentary on the Tao Te Ching (Part 5): Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; they treat all things as straw dogs. The Sage is not benevolent; he treats the common people as straw dogs.Original Text: Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; they treat all things as straw dogs. The Sage is not benevolent; he treats the common people as straw dogs. Between Heaven and Earth, is it not like a bellows? Empty yet inexhaustible, the more it is worked, the more it produces. Much listening and frequent exhaustion are not as good as keeping to the center. Explanation: Heaven and Earth do not possess the concept of 'benevolence' (Ren) because they treat all things equally, regarding them like straw dogs (objects used in sacrifices). Similarly, the Sage does not possess 'benevolence' because he treats the common people equally, regarding them like straw dogs. Between Heaven and Earth, it is like a huge bellows; although it empties after expelling air, it does not become exhausted. Continuously treading on it causes it to continuously exhale. More
- 06Commentary on the Tao Te Ching (6): The Valley Spirit never dies; this is called the Mysterious Female. The gate of the Mysterious Female is called the root of heaven and earth. Continuous and enduring, it seems to exist; using it, it never fails.
- 07Commentary on the Tao Te Ching (7): Heaven and Earth are Everlasting. The reason Heaven and Earth can be long-lasting and enduring is that they do not live for themselves, thus they can live long. Therefore, the Sage places himself last and ends up first, and puts himself outside and ends up preserved. Is it not because of his selflessness? Thus he can achieve his own interests.
- 08Commentary on the Tao Te Ching (8): The Highest Good is Like Water Governing; Water Benefits All Things Without Contending, Dwelling in What People Despise, Thus Approaching the Tao.Original: The highest good is like water governing. Water benefits all things without contending, dwelling in what people despise, thus approaching the Tao. In dwelling, be good at the place; in the heart, be good at the depth; in associating, be good at benevolence; in speech, be good at trust; in governance, be good at order; in action, be good at capability; in movement, be good at timing. Because it does not contend, there is no blame. Explanation: The best behavior is to be good at governing water. Water is good at benefiting all things without contending with them; this is precisely what most people are not good at, so it approaches the Tao. When farming, one must be good at choosing land; when thinking, one should be as deep as a deep pool; when interacting and cooperating with others, one must emphasize benevolence; in daily speech, one must be trustworthy; in governance, one must be good at managing; in doing things, one should always achieve results; and when encountering opportunities, one must be good at seizing timing, avoid contention, so there is nothing to blame.
- 09Dao De Jing Commentary (IX): Holding and Filling Is Not as Good as Stopping; Sharpening to a Point Cannot Long Endure; Gold and Jade Filling the Hall Cannot Be Guarded; Riches and Honor with Arrogance Bring Trouble upon Oneself. When Achievement Is Made, Withdraw the Body—This Is the Way of Heaven.Holding and filling is not as good as stopping; sharpening to a point cannot long endure. Gold and jade filling the hall cannot be guarded; riches and honor with arrogance bring trouble upon oneself. When achievement is made, withdraw the body—this is the way of Heaven. Explanation: holding water full to the brim is not as good as holding just enough to avoid spilling; gathering sharp things together, they will always show. Gold and jade piled up in a room cannot be kept. Once people become rich and honored they easily grow arrogant and so bring disaster upon themselves. Therefore only when achievement is made and one withdraws does it accord with the Way of Heaven.
- 10Commentary on the Dao De Jing (X): Can One Load the Soul and Embrace the One Without Separating?Loading the soul and embracing the one—can one not separate? Concentrating qi to attain softness—can one be like an infant? Cleansing away the dark mirror—can one be without blemish? Loving the people and governing the state—can one be without action? The heavenly gate opens and closes—can one be like the female? Bright understanding reaches in all four directions—can one be without knowledge? To beget them, to nurture them—begetting without possessing, acting without relying on them, presiding without being a master—this is called profound virtue.