Words of Wisdom

Introduction
No, my words are not words of wisdom. I know this for sure because I am a married man; and I have a teenage daughter at home!

I just want to share with you what I know about my favorite ancient Chinese sage. No, it is not Confucius (551-479 BC). Confucius is the best known Chinese sage. His philosophy was adopted by the emperors of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-200 AD). Confucian scholars serving the numerous imperial courts that followed the Han Dynasty, more or less ruled China for the next two thousand years. Yes, the Chinese perspective on time is very different from ours.

It is not surprising that the emperors adopted Confucianism as the governing value system to rule China. Confucianism as adopted by the royal courts emphasizes duty and order. For example, sons are to obey their fathers and all obey their emperors; and everyone is to perform their prescribed duties at any cost. Is it any surprise that emperors and those in power love this system?

Although I do not question the valuable contributions of Confucianism to the Chinese civilization even to this very day, its duality through the long history of China should not be overlooked either. That is a different issue and I will leave that to the historians.

Lao Zi (or Lao Tzu) is my favorite Chinese sage. His writings are collected in Dao De Jing, or Tao Te Ching, also commonly known as the Book of Dao. There are only about 5000 Chinese characters in the collection.

Not much concrete is known about him. His life was a sharp contrast to that of Confucius. Confucius sought influence and recognition; and traveled from state to state in search of appointments as an advisor to the kings. Lao Zi did not want to be recognized. When Lao Zi became known and people started coming to him for advice and counsel, he literally packed up and went away.

Supposedly, according to historians, as Lao Zi was about ready to leave from one of his stops on his way out, a scholar called out in desperation, “Write me a book, as you are going to become a recluse." So, we are fortunate to have the Dao De Jing.

The general consensus among Chinese scholars is that Lao Zi was an older contemporary of Confucius; and the two had met. The latter went to see Lao Zi for his advice; and was told to abandon his air of pride, desire, and arrogance. We are also pretty certain that Lao Zi served as the head of the national library during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty around 500 BC.

Dao De Jing is extremely difficult to comprehend even to the Chinese. In my opinion it is impossible to translate Dao into English properly. Lao Zi himself wrote something to the effect that human language is inadequate for expressing human thoughts. So, unless you are a serious scholar, I would suggest that you do not approach Dao as a subject matter; but read it, enjoy it, meditate on it, and gain some enlightenment along the way.

I can’t tell you what Dao is. You will know it when you experience it. It is a journey, not a destination. Without much further ado, let us go to the Master for some words of wisdom. As you read these words just remember they were written over 2,500 years ago. Maybe one day, we will all be wiser.

Selections from Dao De Jing
This is the very first line in the Book of Dao:
The Dao that can be told is not Dao.

Chapter 9
Fill your bowl to the brim
And it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife
And it will break.

Keep hoarding money and security
And you cannot keep them.
Pursue fame and glory
And you are setting up your own fall.

Complete your work, then step back.
That is the way of Dao.

Chapter 17
The best rulers are scarcely known by their subjects;
The next best are loved and praised;
The next are feared;
The next despised:
They have no faith in their people,
And their people become unfaithful to them.

When the best rulers achieve their purpose
Their subjects claim the achievement as their own.

Chapter 31
Armies are tools of violence;
They cause men to hate and fear.
The sage will not join them.
His purpose is creation;
Their purpose is destruction.

Weapons are tools of violence,
Not of the sage;
He uses them only when there is no choice,
And then calmly, and with tact,
For he finds no beauty in them.

Whoever finds beauty in weapons
Delights in the slaughter of men;
And who delights in slaughter
Cannot content himself with peace.

So slaughters must be mourned
And conquests celebrated with memorial services for all the dead.

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I will change the selections from time to time. Please feel free to copy any selections that you like; and check back later for different selections. I have picked up bits of crumbs from the tables of many scholars who have devoted their lives to the study of Dao. I wish to acknowledge their contributions to my knowledge. May they walk in that true and eternal Dao.