Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Sixty Four “Peace is easily maintained;Trouble is easily overcome before it starts.The brittle is easily shattered;The small is easily scattered. Deal with it before it happens.Set things in order before there is confusion. A tree as great as a man’s embrace springs from a small shoot;A terrace nine stories high begins with a pile of earth;A journey of a thousand miles starts under one’s feet. He who acts defeats his own purpose;He who grasps loses. The sage does not act, and so is not defeated.He does not grasp and therefore does not lose. People … Continue reading Peace Is Easily Maintained

Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Sixty Three “Practice non-action. Work without doing. Taste the tasteless. Magnify the small, increase the few. Reward bitterness with care.  See simplicity in the complicated. Achieve greatness in little things.  In the universe the difficult things are done as if they are easy. In the universe great acts are made up of small deeds. The sage does not attempt anything very big, And thus achieved greatness.  Easy promises make for little trust. Taking things lightly results in great difficulty. Because the sage always confronts difficulties, He never experiences them.” This part explains the merit and method of mindfulness and paying attention. Be still, let … Continue reading Practice Non Action

Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Sixty Two “Tao is the source of the ten thousand things.It is the treasure of the good man, and the refuge of the bad.Sweet words can buy honor;Good deeds can gain respect.If a man is bad, do not abandon him.Therefore on the day the emperor is crowned,Or the three officers of state installed,Do not send a gift of jade and a team of four horses,But remain still and offer the Tao.Why does everyone like the Tao so much at first?Isn’t it because you find what you seek and are forgiven when you sin?Therefore … Continue reading Sweet Words Can Buy Honour

Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Sixty One  “A great country is like low land. It is the meeting ground of the universe, The mother of the universe.  The female overcomes the male with stillness, Lying low in stillness.  Therefore if a great country gives way to a smaller country, It will conquer the smaller country. And if a small country submits to a great country, It can conquer the great country. Therefore those who would conquer must yield, And those who conquer do so because they yield.  A great nation needs more people; A small country needs to serve. Each gets what it wants. It is fitting for a … Continue reading The Mother Of The Universe

Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Sixty  “Ruling the country is like cooking a small fish. Approach the universe with Tao, And evil is not powerful, But its power will not be used to harm others. Not only will it do no harm to others, But the sage himself will also be protected. They do not hurt each other, And the Virtue in each one refreshes both.” Ruling the country is like cooking a small fish, if we poke it too much we’ll ruin it. If we approach it from nature, it negates the power of evil. Acting naturally and ruling with a light hand … Continue reading They Do Not Hurt Each another

Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Fifty Nine “In caring for others and serving heaven,There is nothing like using restraint.Restraint begins with giving up one’s own ideas.This depends on Virtue gathered in the past.If there is a good store of Virtue, then nothing is impossible.If nothing is impossible, then there are no limits.If a man knows no limits, then he is fit to be a ruler.The mother principle of ruling holds good for a long time.This is called having deep roots and a firm foundation,The Tao of long life and eternal vision.” Restraint and virtue require consistent work, study … Continue reading Caring For Others

Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Fifty Eight  “When the country is ruled with a light hand The people are simple. When the country is ruled with severity, The people are cunning.  Happiness is rooted in misery. Misery lurks beneath happiness. Who knows what the future holds? There is no honesty. Honesty becomes dishonest. Goodness becomes witchcraft. Man’s bewitchment lasts for a long time.  Therefore the sage is sharp but not cutting, Pointed but not piercing, Straightforward but not unrestrained, Brilliant but not blinding.” As I said in previous chapters, the more rules and laws we make only makes it worse and confusing. It’s important to govern with a light touch … Continue reading The People Are Simple

Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Fifty Seven “Rule a nation with justice. Wage war with surprise moves. Become master of the universe without striving. How do I know that this is so? Because of this!  The more laws and restrictions there are, The poorer people become. The sharper men’s weapons, The more trouble in the land. The more ingenious and clever men are, The more strange things happen. The more rules and regulations, The more thieves and robbers.  Therefore the sage says: I take no action and people are reformed. I enjoy peace and people become honest. I do nothing and people become rich. I have no desires and people return to the … Continue reading Master Of The Universe

Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Fifty Six  “Those who know do not talk. Those who talk do not know.  Keep your mouth closed. Guard your senses. Temper your sharpness. Simplify your problems. Mask your brightness. Be at one with the dust of the Earth. This is primal union.  He who has achieved this state Is unconcerned with friends and enemies, With good and harm, with honor and disgrace. This therefore is the highest state of man.” If we have internalised the Tao, there’s no point trying to explain to others unless we’re asked, the best thing to do is to continue working on ourselves. The best way to … Continue reading Those Who Know Do Not Talk