Category Archives: Tao Te Ching

For a project that was called “Tao Te Ching Tuesdays,” I wrote a series of essays commenting on one chapter of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) each week for 81 weeks.  This page has links to each of those essays. TAO TE CHING CHAPTER INDEX 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11Continue reading “TAO TE CHING CHAPTER INDEX”

Chapter 81 – Beautiful Words True words are not beautiful; Beautiful words are not true. A good man does not argue; He who argues is not a good man. A wise man has no extensive knowledge; He who has extensive knowledge is not a wise man. The sage does not accumulate for himself. The moreContinue reading “CHAPTER 81 – BEAUTIFUL WORDS”

Chapter 80 – Knotted Cords With a small State, sparsely populated, supposing that I had weapons for a thousand men, I would not use them. I would rather teach my subjects to think seriously of death, and not to emigrate to a distance. Then, though they might have ships and chariots, nobody would mount them; thoughContinue reading “CHAPTER 80 – KNOTTED CORDS”

Chapter 79 – Obligations  When a great hatred is reconciled, naturally some hatred will remain. How can this be made good?  . Therefore the sage keeps the obligations of his contract and exacts not from others. Those who have virtue attend to their obligations; those who have no virtue attend to their claims.  . Heaven’sContinue reading “CHAPTER 79 – OBLIGATIONS”

Chapter 78 – More Water In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it. This is because there is nothing that can take its place.  That the weak overcomes the strong, And the submissive overcomes the hard, Everyone inContinue reading “CHAPTER 78 – MORE WATER”

Chapter 77 – The Mean Heaven’s Way is indeed like the bending of a bow. When (the string) is high, bring it down. When it is low, raise it up. When it is excessive, reduce it. When it is insufficient, supplement it.  The Way of Heaven reduces whatever is excessive and supplements whatever in insufficient.Continue reading “CHAPTER 77 – THE MEAN”

Chapter 76 – You Are Old, Father William When people are born they are gentle and soft. At death they are hard and stiff. When plants are alive they are soft and delicate. When they die, they wither and dry up. Therefore the hard and stiff are followers of death. The gentle and soft areContinue reading “CHAPTER 76 – YOU ARE OLD, FATHER WILLIAM”

Last year, I posted a list of the songs that were played at my daughter’s baby shower (you can click here to see it).  An average of about 20 people per day have visited that page since then.  Apparently there is a need to remind folks of some of the good songs you or IContinue reading “SONG OF THE WEEK – “THESE DAYS””

Chapter 75 – Life Should Be for Living  People starve If taxes eat their grain, And the faults of starving people Are the fault of their rulers. That is why people rebel. Men who have to fight for their living And are not afraid to die for it Are higher men than those who, stationedContinue reading “CHAPTER 75 – LIFE SHOULD BE FOR LIVING”

Chapter 74 – Questioning Capital Punishment   When the people are not afraid of death, wherefore frighten them with death? Were the people always afraid of death, and were I able to arrest and put to death those who innovate, then who would dare? There is a regular executioner whose charge it is to kill.Continue reading “CHAPTER 74 – QUESTIONING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT”