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ESSENCE OF LAO TZU'S WISDOM. The Way

Tao, if articulate, is not the eternal Tao. Heaven and Earth start with no name. The
named is the mother of everything under the Sun. Thus with a detached mind you see
the secret. With an interested mind, you see appearances.
The sage acts effortlessly and teaches not by words. Deeds are performed yet not for
ostentation. If you act with out striving, nothing is beyond manageability. Tao is void and
shapeless, yet its power unlimited. So profound, it is the origin of the myriad things.
Heaven and earth is not benevolent. The more you say, the poorer you are.
Heaven and Earth endure. The reason they do so, is that they do not live for
themselves. Sage establishes himself because of his selflessness. The sage puts
himself behind and ends up in the front. He exposes himself and ends up a safe
survivor.
Ultimate kindness is like water. He never lets go of good opportunities. Since he does
not compete, he is free of errors. He honors his words. He handles affairs properly.
Retire upon achieving success, this is the way of heaven. If you are sensible and clear
eyed can you go without knowledge. Can you become like an infant? Cleansing your
mind, are you free of defects?
Tao- The unnamable- What lies beyond shapes and features? The unnamable is the
mother of all things. Once the block is carved, there are names. The Tao, lying hid, is
nameless. The uncarved block. Tao is a name which is not a name. The invariable law
of nature. The laws that govern this change of things are themselves unchangeable,
(Tao) while things are ever changeable and changing. Enlightened person focuses on
the unchangeable. The conquest of the world comes invariably from doing nothing.
The Way of Heaven has no favorites, it is invariably on the side of the good man, who
fuses together knowledge and action. 5 regulates to be virtuous are Breath, Qi (Chi),
Body, Mind and Spirit. Understand the law of reversal. A return from adulthood to the
state of the new born baby.
On the Way- Knowing how to harmonize is to be constant. Knowing how to be constant
is illumination. The highest good is like water. The beneficial is where we find
something, the useful is where we find nothing.
My mother gave birth to twins, myself and fear Lao Tzu.
It is impossible to formulate the way as a set of verbal instructions. When distinctions
cease (good/bad) he finds himself drawn in the direction which is the way. Distinctions
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bring out desires and prejudice. Arrogance is the sign that ones advancement has
reached its extreme limit. And is the first thing we should avoid.
To know the invariableness is called enlightenment. He who knows the invariables is
liberal. Being liberal, he is without prejudice. Being without prejudice, he is
comprehensive. Being comprehensive, he is vast. Being vast, he is with truth. Being
with truth, he lasts forever and will not be lost.
Human conductNot to know the invariable and to act blindly is to go to disaster. One
should know the laws of nature and conduct ones activities in accordance with them.
The first general rule of Lao Tzus human conduct.
Avoid the excessive, the extravagant, the extreme.
To know how to be content is to avoid humiliation; to know where to stop is to
avoid injury.
Only a prudent man can live safely in the world and achieve his aims. The man
who lives prudently must be meek, humble, and easily content.
Act without artificiality or arbitrariness.

The way constantly does nothing yet there is nothing it does not do. If lords and kings
are able to hold fast to it, the myriad things of themselves will be transformed. The
essential thing is not to interfere when things are already running well themselves. If I
desire nothing, of themselves the people are unhewn.
Artificiality and arbitrariness are the opposite of naturalness and spontaneity. A human
should restrict his activities to what is necessary and what is natural. In doing this one
should take simplicity as the guiding principle of life. Man who follows Te must lead as
simple a life as possible. A life beyond the distinctions of good and evil.
Human heartedness and righteousness represent a degeneration from Tao and Te.
People have lost their original Te because they have too many desires and too much
knowledge. There is no disaster greater than not knowing contentment with what one
has; no greater sin than having desire for acquisition. What are the causes of trouble in
the world? Greed and Distinctions. Ignorance (Yu) is the state of innocence and
simplicity. The sage is concerned with the belly, not with the eyes.
The friends of Tao are the Physical body, the Cosmic body and the Social body. Te is
often translated as virtue. Get involved and help in a non-intrusive way-retire when the
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work is done. Cultivate the physical and mental qualities of a sage. One function of
mysticism is that of undoing the conditions that separate us from ourselves.
Ideal personality: Following what is right is like a stream flowing toward the ocean.
Keeping ones innate virtue is the true foundation of happiness. Through practicing
great virtue, one can change ones personality and alter ones life. Persevere in doing
things only of a giving and constructive nature and your heart will become pure and free
of negativity.
Be earnest in all you do. Soften your disposition. When you make an error, correct it as
best as you can, and do not harbor guilt within. Be thorough in your good conduct. Do
not do anything that cannot be exposed to daylight. See virtue as your main goal in life,
and enjoy helping others. Never let an opportunity to help pass. To be honest, faithful,
trustworthy and sincere is to be carefree.
If you want your good deeds to be seen by others, the good is lost. Do good for the
sake of doing good, & do not expect anything in return. Take care of little things; be
diligent in caring for life. Educate others by setting the right example, not by preaching.
Never tire of the pursuit of the actualization of your inherent virtue. Develop a strong
heart with the virtues of benevolence, humanness, justice and kindness.
Care for all without partiality. Be sincere and guileless. Control passion. Do not express
negativity in thought, word and action. It is better to acknowledge your faults than tell a
lie. Humility is the root virtue. Lewdness is the worst offender. Do not deceive others.
Remember the law of attraction. Do not separate spiritual practices from your conduct in
daily life.
Without fail you will meet the results of positive and negative, thoughts and actions.
Correct your behavior. By practicing diligently the virtues of life, you will reach purity and
clarity of being. Remember your true nature is virtuous. Ability to commiserate (Shu),
feel for others, is human quality.
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