Taoist Philosophy - Chapter 76

[Marblehead]

The Tao Of Heaven

 

The Tao of Heaven is like the flexing of a bow.
The high, it presses down;
The low, it raises up.
From those with a surplus it takes away;
To those without enough it adds on.
Therefore the Tao of Heaven
Is to reduce the excess
And increase the insufficient.

Not so with man’s way;
Man takes away from those that have not enough
And gives it as tribute to those that have too much.
The way of man
Is to reduce the insufficient
And offer more to the excessive.

Now,
Who is able to have a surplus
And use it to offer to Heaven?
Clearly, it’s only the one who possesses the Tao.
Therefore the Sage takes actions
But does not possess them;
Accomplishes his tasks
But does not dwell on them.
Like this is his desire
Not to make a display of his worthiness.


The Man Of Tao

The man in whom Tao acts without impediment harms no other being by his actions yet he does not know himself to be “kind”; to be “gentle”. The man in whom Tao acts without impediment does not bother with his own interests but does not despise others who do. He does not struggle to make money but does not make a virtue of poverty. He goes his way without relying on others but does not pride himself on walking alone. While he does not follow the crowd he won’t complain of those who do. Rank and reward make no appeal to him; disgrace and shame do not deter him. He is not always looking for right and wrong; always deciding “Yes” or “No”. The ancients said, therefore,

“The man of Tao remains unknown.
Perfect Virtue produces nothing.
‘No-Self’ is ‘True-Self’,
and the greatest man is ‘Nobody.’”

To have enough is good luck, to have more than enough is harmful. This is true of all things but especially of money.

Edited March 6, 2013 by Marblehead

[That Guy]

I am almost a man of the tao I guess, but I differ mainly in 2 things.

 

I like to compete, but only in harmless games, I don't see harm in that.

 

I want to have some excess, not just for me to be able to sit back and relax comfortably, but so I can help the people close to me if or when they need it. Also perhaps to pay back those who have helped me in the past.

[Marblehead]

I am almost a man of the tao I guess, but I differ mainly in 2 things.

 

I like to compete, but only in harmless games, I don't see harm in that.

 

I want to have some excess, not just for me to be able to sit back and relax comfortably, but so I can help the people close to me if or when they need it. Also perhaps to pay back those who have helped me in the past.

 

I don't see any problem with either of the two points you mentioned. (As long as you are not trying to become an immortal Sage. Hehehe.)

[That Guy]

I don't see any problem with either of the two points you mentioned. (As long as you are not trying to become an immortal Sage. Hehehe.)

That will only happen if it happens by chance.