The central theme of Taoism is: Save lives, to maintain harmony. The question is: how to do it? People like to do something for the sake of doing something (instead of doing nothing), although they are not sure which is the right thing to do. Lao Zi taught us not to fight fire with wood or fire; use water instead, or remove the fuel for a better result. Be flexible, like water, and stop insisting on one-size-fit-all. Many people have good intentions, and they thought of doing good deeds but in the end caused more problems and worsen the situation.
Lao Zi was a teacher of Confucius. It was during the Warring States period of around 500 BC. The scholars at that time were understandably concerned about the chaotic wars between different States and tried to find ways to bring peace to the Middle Kingdom. Therefore, the objective of Taoism and Confucianism is the same. The difference is in the approach to bring peace and save lives. Confucius advocated for more government; Lao Zi advocated for less government. However, both advocacies were just philosophical or guiding principles without specific details on the steps or means of implementation. It was like the skeleton structure of a body; future generations added flesh to it, resulting in some beautiful and some ugly parts. While we should give credits to the exceptional works of Lao Zi and Confucius (for coming out with the fine skeleton structure), we must never blame the ugly parts on them because these weren’t their faults.
The lack of details were intentional. 道可道也 非恒道也 名可名也 非恒名也 At different time and space, different conditions call for different ways of doing things. Although we name it as Taoism, it is just a temporary name for ease of calling and discussion; we must never assume Tao is like this and not like that. The real Tao can never be described with words; otherwise, it will cease to be extraordinary. The biggest problem today is people try to classify a political system as Democracy or Totalitarianism, or an economic system as Capitalism or Socialism, as if one is this system if it is not that system. This is so ridiculous. 孟子曰：“杨子取为我，拔一毛而利天下，不为也。墨子兼爱，摩顶放踵利天下，为之。子莫执中，执中为近之，执中无权，犹执一也。所恶执一者，为其贼道也，举一而废百也。” When one insists on 100% compliance to an ideology, without considering the different situations on the ground, he will only cause chaos because hundred of things will go wrong simply for one goal to be achieved. Holding the middle ground between two extremes is not necessarily correct. Whenever there is clinging to rules and rituals, it has led to an extreme; like the third corner of a triangle instead of two ends of a straight line. We must always be flexible.
有无之相生也 难易之相成也 长短之相形也 高下之相盈也 音声之相和也，先后之相随 恒也 Different things in the Nature are naturally unequal but coexist harmoniously. Inequality is not necessarily a problem; unless it is malevolent manmade polarizations into opposite extremes which destabilize the social system. We must not insist on human-imposed equality; instead, diversity must be allowed in terms of political systems, economic systems, education systems, cultures, religions, languages, wealth levels, etc. We must accept the fact that they are just different instead of judging one is better than the other.
是以圣人居无为之事 行不言之教 万物作而弗始也 为而弗恃也 成功而弗居也 夫唯弗居 是以弗去 A good leader will work towards minimum intervention, reduce government and doing less as time goes, until the day when he need not speak a word anymore since the people have become self-reliant and self-regulate themselves without any helps or coercions from the government. That is the real success; one that the leader cannot claim credit because all the credits go to the people. Similarly, he will not take any blame. Politicians today don’t want to take blames but always the first to take credits. Continually need more and more government only means the problem is getting worse; like firefighting which continually need more and more firefighters.
天长 地久天地之所以能长且久者 以其不自生也 故能长生 The sky and earth have existed for so long. Why they are so long lasting is because they don’t selfishly live their own life but share with everything in the natural world. The symbiosis gave them the longevity.
是以圣人后其身而身先 外其身而身存 不以其无私邪 故能成其私 Great leader puts behind his head about where he will stand to gain something. He will then be supported and given the top leadership role. He shall not worry about his safety and he will be protected and survive. Because he is not selfish, his self-interest is fulfilled by being able to live in a peaceful country, and granted with the benefit to be at the top.
上善若水 水善利万物而不争 居众人之所恶 故几于道矣 The best quality has the characteristic of the water. Water provides benefits to all things but never compete with them for anything, and it absorbs everything that others discard. This characteristic is close to Tao.
居善地 心善渊 予善仁 言善信 正善治 事善能 动善时 夫唯不争 故无尤 A leader may learn from the water. He shall be wise in taking his position (as the servant of the people), keep his heart accommodative, generous in giving, truthful with his words, uphold righteous in his ruling to prosecute crimes, work effectively, and do the right thing at the right timing. Because he does not compete with the people, therefore no one would hate him.
圣人恒无心 以百姓之心为心 Great leader has no personal wish. The wish of the people is what he wish to realize.
民之饥也 以其上食税之多也 是以饥 百姓之不治也 以其上之有以为也 是以不治 民之轻死也 以其求生之厚也 是以轻死 夫唯无以生为者 是贤贵生 The people are hungry because the king demands heavy tax; therefore they face hunger. The society is not peaceful because the king is ambitious to implement various programs (like conquering the neighbors); therefore the society is not orderly. Many people fear death because they are too ambitious to live longer; therefore they are fearful to face the prospect of death. One who doesn’t focus too much on longevity is wise in living a meaningful life.
RESILIENT KID 