Tao Te Ching

As is my custom I have selected passages of wisdom from ancient sources (In this case primarily the Tao Te Ching) to serve as my own scriptures. The process of creating what follows serves to focus my attention on what I think I understand and what seems important to me. The result has many limitations not the least of which is my failure to understand the translations and representations of this ancient wisdom that I have studied. The Tao Te Ching is shrouded in mystery. But mystery is not what I am seeking. I am seeking clarity. So what I have chosen to capture below is devoid of much of the mystery present in the Tao Te Ching and perhaps also devoid of some important teachings. Let me suggest that you make your own attempt at understanding the Tao Te Ching. My source material is listed at the end of this page and I encourage you to go to the source. I read three different translations of the Tao Te Ching, each of which have different interpretations of the original ancient texts. Perhaps this is not surprising given that Taoism encourages us to turn within and come to grips with the Tao based on our own observations and thoughts. I have also spent much time previously studying Deng Ming-Dao’s brilliant book, Everyday Tao, and his teachings have certainly shaded what I have included. The paragraphs below are my condensations of what I have found in the Tao Te Ching. In some cases I have directly quoted passages from one of the translations and have so indicated with quotation marks and a footnote. I have called my notes Tao in a Nutshell. Ponder and enjoy.

Tao in a Nutshell

Tao is the Way.

Tao is the mother of the universe,
perfect, formless, serene, empty. 
The universe follows Tao. 
Nature follows the universe. 

Mankind follows Nature. 
We see Tao through Nature.
All beings are part of Nature.
Learn the Way through Nature.

Flow with the Way.
Don’t fight against the Way.
Do by not doing. (wu wei wu)
Do not force, do not rush.
Let the world come to you.

Be like water
Water nurtures everything. 
Water is soft, flexible and resilient,
yet it can wear down the hardest rock. 

The straight, hard, and stiff tree
will be cut or snap in the wind.
The bent, soft, and yielding tree
will live through to old age.

Be humble.
Don’t chase after fame.
When you rely on others for fulfillment
You will never be fulfilled

Don’t chase after fortune.
Don’t value possessions.
You already have enough
and you are already rich.

‘In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don’t try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present.’ [1]

Don’t compare or compete with others.
Don’t care about other’s approval.
See the world to know your place
but find the truth within.

Be at peace.
Empty your mind.
Let your thoughts come to you.
Only keep what is important and nourishing.

Stay still till the mud settles
and the water clears.
Let things come to you.
Patience is the way to a happy life.

A mind that assigns names and labels
is closed to reality.
A mind that is open
is able to see all possibilities.

Beautiful defines ugly.
Good defines bad.
Right defines wrong.
But the truth is not a dichotomy!

Express yourself completely
then be quiet.
Do your work,
then let it go.

You are totally within Tao
and all of Tao is within you.
You are full of Tao
But empty of self.

Once you know you are empty of self
then you can see the world as yourself.
Love the world as yourself
then you can care for all things.

Success and Failure are not real.
They are simply different names.
Treat them both the same.
Seek equanimity.

In life, stay open to many paths.
Look within for direction.
Let intuition choose your path.
Accept what Tao brings to you.

If you embrace the world as it is,
Tao will never leave you.
You cannot change the world
without making it worse.

The Master does not have a mind of his own
The Master works with the minds of the people.
The people express the Tao as it is.
Good or bad all the same.

When the rich get richer
and the poor get poorer
and money is spent on weapons not cures,
this is not the Way of Tao.

The Master is without desire.
The Master never expects results
The Master is never disappointed
So the Master’s spirit is never damaged.

Be one with the dust of the Way.
Not controlled by love or rejection.
Not controlled by profit or loss.
Not controlled by praise or humiliation.

A moderate man has 
freedom from his own ideas.
He is tolerant, supple, firm
and makes use of anything.

If you know too much,
Then you will learn little more.
Have an open mind
then find your own way.

‘Act without doing…..
Confront the difficult 
while it is still easy;
accomplish the great task
by a series of small acts.’ [1]

Failure is an opportunity.
Correct your own mistakes.
Fulfill your own obligations.
Demand nothing of others.

‘The Master takes action
by letting things take their course…..
He cares about nothing but the Tao.
Thus he can care for all things.’ [1]

In both action and thought
be simple, patient, and modest;
practice moderation, mercy and compassion.
These are your greatest treasures.

The best skilled, the best general,
the best boss and the best leader
all practice the power of non-competition.
Men’s wills are bent and thus unite.

Making war backfires.
For every force
there is a counterforce.
Violence always rebounds on itself.

Enter conflict as a last resort.   
Defend against attacks.

Know that winning has its consequences.
Always prefer peace.

Have a position and know it.
Don't be caught unaware.
Have the resources to act.
Know your strengths and limitations.

Avoid bad times and bad places.

Defend without hesitation if necessary.

Yield to preserve.

Wu wei wu.

All things change.
Death is inevitable.
Let death come naturally.
Do not become the executioner

[1] Stephen Mitchel, tao te ching, A New English Version, 1988, HarperCollins
[2] Ursula K. Le Guin, Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, A Book about the Way and the Power of the Way, 1997, Shambhala
[3] Lao-Tse, Tao Te Ching , 2023, Amazon
[4] Deng Ming-Dao, Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony, 1996,