If you want to become full, let yourself be empty
Wisdom from Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching 22 If you want to become full, let yourself be empty
Take the first step, however small the step is
“A tree beyond your embrace grows from one tiny seed. A tower nine-storey high begins with a lump of earth. A journey of thousand miles starts with a single step.” Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching 64 Taking first step is hard. It involves risks, learning of new things and getting to know new people. Making sure…
Being pliable is less easy to break
Lao Tzu says, “At birth one is soft and yielding, At death he is hard and stiff. Green plants at birth are soft and pliable, At death they are brittle and dry. Therefore, hard and rigid are associated with death. Soft and tender affirm greater life.” Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching 76 Stop being stiff…
Highest virtue is not virtuous – Is Lao Tzu Contradicting Himself?
“Highest virtue is not virtuous and that is why it is virtuous,” says Lao Tzu. Statements like this make many people think that Lao Tzu is contradicting himself. Why is the ‘highest virtue’ virtuous when it is not virtuous. The logical conclusion should be the other way around. Before I proceed, you may want to…
Where does Lao Tzu want you to ‘return’ to?
Lao Tzu constantly reminds us to return. “Empty your mind of all thoughts. Let your heart be at peace. Watch the turmoil of beings, but contemplate their return.” – Lao Tzu Tao Te Ching Chapter 16 This is a difficult but all-important question. Here I’m offering my view for your reference. While it is hard to…
Softness of water is sweet, but do not take its sweetness for granted
Lao Tzu uses a few images to describe Tao, and one of the most popular is water. Like Tao — water is soft yet powerful. It is tender. Turn on the tap and the water splits its ways over your hands rather than hitting you hands head on. It does not discriminate. Whether you are rich…
Heading nowhere can be fun
See Tao the Mystery of the Universe Unfold What about an escape with a friend without any destination in mind? Go anyway with any friend. Don’t plan, just go! If you are an organised person, the idea itself can be abhorring. Where shall I begin, who shall I be? what will happen, will I end up…
To be your best, don’t try hard!
Work hard? Not always the answer If you want to be successful in life, work hard! What else can that be? This is what we’ve been told since young. By our parents, teachers and bosses and whoever that are seriously concerned about our future. So when we hear Lao Tzu says in Tao Te Ching “Tao never strives, yet nothing…
Having Desires is Not Wrong – Tao of Abundance
Is Lao Tzu against having desires? One may think so when reading passages in Tao Te Ching like ‘There is no greater sin than desire, no greater curse than discontent’ But there could be a grave misunderstanding. Tao is about the universe, and each human being a small universe has basic needs to fulfil. An…
Now is the only sphere of life that you can live
Now is the only sphere of life that you can live. Not the past, nor the future. Just imagine that you don’t breathe now, but attempt to survive on the air you breathe in the past, or the air you are about to inhale in the future. You cannot live that way, because you can…
End of content
End of content