CC Licence Image by JanBrzezinski on Pixabay
know it's a river's cascade,
yet it carves valleys.
In chapter 1 the Tao Te Ching begins by telling us "rid yourself of desires", yet also to, “always allow yourself to have desires”. This complements what is said in chapter 2 “something and nothing produce each other”. Therefor desire and non-desire must also produce each other. This theme of balance runs all the way through the Tao, and is reiterated in chapter three.
The third chapter of the Tao Te Ching is somewhat a product of its time. It speaks as if to a leader about governing people, and in these passages there is wisdom, all be it focused on the realm of humankind in ancient China.
Not to honour men of worth will keep the people from contention;
not to value goods which are hard to come by will keep them from theft;
not to display what is desirable will keep them from being unsettled of mind.
Chapter 3, Tao Te Ching, D.C. Lau’s Translation
These lines speak volumes to our modern consumer driven world, where even our children are driven by the blare of advertisement to desire the latest smart phone. Essentially a smart phone is a tool; a mini-computer that takes photographs, checks emails, provides entertainment and surfs the web. Yet many people are overtaken by their phones, many walk in a world entirely created by their phone. Only informed by the news they see on their timelines, mind often focused in increasingly polarised directions, trusting a device that delivers information that has questionable factual provenance.
In this context the advice of the Tao Te Ching - "not to display what is desirable will keep them from being unsettled of mind" - becomes very relevant, and the choice for me is clear, to use my smart phone in the most harmonious way I can, as a tool. I keep it in my pocket and have only text and blockfolio active to push notifications 😂
This may all seem a little 'holier than thou' to some people, but having been habitually addicted to checking Facebook, and yes even Hive, in the past I can tell you for a fact that the dopamine response rollercoaster of smartphone addiction definitely causes an unsettled mind.
The Tao points to different ways of 'not doing' either in thought or action. Although there are times that 'not doing' might not be the best way to live a balanced life, there are equally many times when 'not doing' leads to better health and clarity of mind. Sometimes this can be as simple as choosing not to allow your phone to dictate your life through notifications.
Living a minimalist lifestyle, and mode of thought, cuts down on “honouring men of worth”, “valuing goods which are hard to come by” and “displaying what is desirable”. This has helped me “from being unsettled of mind”.
Therefore in governing the people, the sage empties their minds but fills their bellies, weakens their wills but strengthens their bones.
He always keeps them innocent of knowledge and free from desire, and ensures that the clever never dare to act.
Chapter 3, Tao Te Ching, D.C. Lau’s Translation
This third chapter of the Tao, and numerous others to follow, seem to categorise “desire” as negative.
In the modern world we cherish our “knowledge”, indulge our “desire”, and praise “clever” action. Progress and growth are almost universally considered virtues we measure our lives by, yet look at the many negative manifestations of our "clever" "action" -
Almost perpetual war of one kind or another, whether physical invasions, religious ideological conflict or economic battle.
A planet ecosystem driven to its last breath by humankind's bottomless consumption of resources and ungoverned bounds in technology that pollute through mechanisms that work against natural systems instead of utilizing them in harmony.
Arguably the drive for resources is what oils the cogs of this runaway wheel that crashes on into the future ensuring we destroy each other and the planet.
Which brings us to the final lines of chapter three of the Tao Te Ching.
Do that which consists in taking no action, and order will prevail.
Chapter 3, Tao Te Ching, D.C. Lau’s Translation
The potential "order" implicit in my example would be a world more in harmony on many fronts; socially, ecologically and mentally/spiritually.
One of the fundamental messages that echo throughout the Tao is that of taking no action, which seems like a paradox, as how can you fix anything without taking action?
In response to that question I would ask:
How can we know what the most harmonious action will be without first knowing "no action"?
Why do we need to take action when it is not absolutely necessary for survival?
What would the world be like if much more time was spent in "no action"?
Would it really be all that bad to take more time, have more patience, and only build/create/act where completely necessary in a way more harmonious with our environment?
The truth is that most people tumble through their life like a runaway snowball, just as our society as a whole does, constantly growing at a furious pace with no way of knowing what the consequences will be at the bottom of the mountain.
As I pointed out in my last post water does not DO, it simply IS, yet water makes great changes on the face of the planet.
Water flows in accordance with external forces such as the contours of the land or the effects of gravity, yet the river seems alive, and its path shapes the land around it. This is an example of how "no action" doesn't necessarily mean nothing happens!
The Tao teaches us that living in harmony with nature requires fluidity; the water in the river flows completely at the whim of gravity, yet the river carves great paths through mountains, breathes life into a million creatures and passes through myriad states of being in its evaporation.
The water affects great change and action on the world through the forms it takes by the action of nature. This harmonious interplay is what the Tao points to in its teachings.
Quote from my last post, Considering the Tao #2 - Balance through Perception
The Tao Te Ching points us to new ways of doing, or in many cases, the merits of not doing.
At the moment humankind is so wound up with the idea of boundless progress that we're cutting off our nose to spite our face... when all that is really needed is a quieter, more patient, approach.
Thanks for reading 🌿
This is the 3rd in an on-going series of poetry/spirituality posts reflecting on the chapters of the Tao Te Ching, as translated by D.C. Lau. Each post will include a Haiku and blog exploring my interpretation of the Tao.
The image used in this post is creative commons licence, linked to credit beneath the picture. If you have enjoyed this post, please check out my other work on my homepage @raj808.
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