The Tao Te Ching is one of the foundational texts of Taoism, written between the 4th and 6th centuries. This summary is based on the Stephen Mitchell translation, which modernizes much of the text.
While we have done our best to research the text and offer an accurate representation of the Tao Te Ching, areas of this summary are based upon interpretation. The piece is written as poetry and, as such, even Taoist scholars have different perspectives on what the language represents.
This summary is structured thematically, with each section pulling information from various sections of the text to best explain the ideas introduced in the work. We’ll discuss:
Older than any deity, the Tao is the natural order of the universe. It’s the guiding energy that lives within us and connects us to everything around us. Also known as the “Great Mother,” it paradoxically creates nothing while offering infinite energy to all beings, nurturing and caring for them.
As an omnipresent entity, the Tao is eternal and infinite. It was never born or created, and, therefore, it can never die or be destroyed. The Tao has no biases, being unconditionally available to all beings who want to live according to its teachings.
Because it's beyond the comprehension of human beings, the workings of the Tao can’t be described or understood, only experienced. The more that you try to understand the workings of the Tao, the less you’ll be able to engage with it.
A master of Taoist practices only concerns themselves with the Tao. By focusing solely on the objective truths of the universe, they avoid falling victim to their own prejudices. Conversely, the average person often engages with more shallow levels of faith, often using shows of faith to bolster their own biased view of the world.
A master is powerful because they don’t seek power. By not searching for more power, they are able to use the strength that the universe has given them effectively. Conversely, the average person is never powerful because they’re always seeking power, blinding them to the strength the universe has already given them.
A master never leaves anything incomplete because they never do anything without the universe’s prompting. In being selective with their actions in this way, they never take on more than they can accomplish. Conversely, the average person frequently leaves things incomplete because they take on more than they can accomplish.
To live according to the Tao, strive to achieve balance through objectivity. The Tao is the birthplace of all things and doesn’t discriminate between “good” and “evil.” In the same way, you must embrace all people and things, disregarding any sense of personal perspective and removing the concepts of “good” and “evil” from your mind.
When we label or define our surroundings, we create conflict, attributing particular qualities based on our personal biases. This manipulates our view of reality. For example, if you define modesty as “good,” then you’ll inherently paint anything you view as indecent as “evil.”
Instead of attributing qualities to the world around you, embrace things as they take their natural course. Don’t linger on the past or the future. Exist in the present, engaging with whatever the universe has brought you.
For instance, if the sun is shining, enjoy that moment of warmth. However, if it suddenly begins to rain, instead of mourning the loss of sunlight, embrace the refreshing droplets. Don’t label one as “good” and one as “bad.” Instead, enjoy the present moment.
To remain objective, you must be skeptical of “knowledge.” Knowledge is gained by learning new things. It can create a warped perspective as it’s often gained through biased sources, making it harder to remain objective and receptive to the calls of the Tao.
To prevent your knowledge from tainting your objectivity:
If you stay centered within the Tao’s objective wisdom instead of relying on your own biased perspective, the chaos of life won’t cause you to spiral. Whether in anguish or in bliss, don’t let your emotions influence your perspective. Instead, rely on the Tao for guidance.
If you engage with the objectivity of the Tao in your daily life, you’ll be able to engage with it in crisis. Instead of overwhelming yourself with the big picture, take things day-by-day, completing small tasks as they arise. This daily practice in objectivity will allow you to remain unbiased in the most extreme of circumstances.
If you find yourself in conflict with someone else, respect your foe and don’t underestimate their abilities. If you underestimate your enemies, you’ll make careless mistakes and reckless decisions. Holding your opponent in high esteem will let you know when to take action and when to be patient as your bias won’t create a false sense of security or confidence.
When engaged in conflict, remember the following:
This helps you remain an unbiased vessel that’s willing to connect with all people, even those others have deemed “bad.”
While we make things using tangible material, it's often the intangible space within these entities that we use in our daily lives. For example, while a house is made from wood or brick, it’s the empty space on the inside that people utilize for living.
To create usable emptiness in your life, embrace non-action (also known as wu wei, or 无为), or the willingness to remove personal desire and act only when the time is right. This makes you a vessel for the universe to utilize for a greater purpose that you may not understand.
To embrace non-action, you must let go of ambition as it blinds you to your surroundings and causes you to act out of personal desire. Compare ambition to a loud noise. If all you can hear is that one loud noise, you’ll miss all of the small, more intricate noises surrounding you. Similarly, if you only focus on your ambition, you’ll miss the more intimate moments that are occurring right in front of you.
Don’t buy into your desires. Remove yourself from earthly ambitions, avoiding selfish or manipulative behavior in the process. This will separate you from those who are too wrapped up in their own perspective to be guided by the world around them.
To embrace non-action, you must also let go of the need for material excess and external validation. If you strive to meet society’s barometers for “success,” it’s easy to become consumed by your desire for status, causing you to make decisions that satiate this desire instead of waiting for the guidance of the Tao.
Society’s barometers for success often relate to wealth and power, both tempting forces. These forces lead to classist and violent societies, both of which run counter to the Tao. For example, if society values wealth, the desire to become wealthy can become greater than the desire to live harmoniously with your surroundings.
Furthermore, the concept of “chasing status” relies on the idea that you need “more” to be happy. The desire for more can destroy you, as obtaining it often requires that you ostracize the people around you. For example, if you chase after money, you may spend less time with your loved ones or friends in an effort to climb the corporate ladder.
Instead of trying to make the world bend to your desires, let go of the concept of “success” and remain internally focused. To eliminate your need for material excess and external validation:
Earthly pleasures and “success” may provide distraction through enjoyment, but the Tao, though seemingly mundane, provides true fulfillment.
A final element of embracing non-action is being patient and allowing the Tao to guide your behavior. You can’t seek out the “right time” to act as this will inherently put your personal desires into your decisions.
Instead, you must wait for the moment to come to you, thus allowing you to interact with the world based on how it actually is instead of how you want it to be. If you’re searching for fulfillment in earthly desires, you’ll never be truly patient and observant because you’ll try to force things to happen before the universe is ready.
For example, if you want a promotion at work, you may try to take action to “prove yourself” to your boss. This action comes from a personal desire for external validation. While chasing this promotion, you’d likely become so focused on your task that you’d miss the opportunities that would’ve naturally arisen had you been patient enough to wait for the universe’s guidance.
Though you will spend most of your time waiting for the Tao’s guidance, when you do feel moved by the Tao, allow yourself to feel its impact completely. You may not fully understand why you’re feeling what you’re feeling, but this shouldn’t prevent you from fully embracing your emotions. For example, if you feel the sudden urge to cry, allow yourself to cry. If you feel the sudden urge to laugh, allow yourself to laugh.
This helps you accept what the universe gives you, even in moments of loss or sorrow. For example, if a loved one passes away, you may feel extreme sorrow. In that moment, allow yourself to grieve. However, once the emotion begins to fade, don’t allow yourself to hold on to it. Let it go and re-engage with the workings of the Tao.
To achieve harmony, understand your place in the world and work to fulfill the function the universe requires of you—nothing more, nothing less. Contrary to popular belief, you can’t improve the world. It's sacred, and, if you try to change it, you’ll lose touch with it. Instead, focus on what the universe requires of you, and you’ll find peace within your existence.
When the world is in harmony with the Tao, life can flourish. However, when humanity works against the Tao, the world becomes corrupted.
(Shortform example: If humanity was willing to live within the guidance of the Tao, only taking what we needed to survive, we could co-exist with the animals of the world. However, because of mankind’s need to industrialize, many species have either gone extinct due to pollution or have become a part of the ever-growing meat industry, thus corrupting the natural order of the Tao.)
Instead of succumbing to corrupting forces, approach the world with compassion and empathy. Listen to the guidance of the Tao, finding your place within the world instead of trying to rule over it.
In order to promote harmonious living on a larger scale, leaders must embrace the teachings of the Tao. If a leader doesn’t live according to the Tao, their disconnection from the universe will likely be shared by those who follow them.
To be a harmonious leader, don’t try to control the people you lead. Ultimately, leadership requires trust. Trust generates more honesty and respect amongst the people you lead. If you don’t trust your people, you create the potential for conflict as you tell your people that they aren’t trustworthy or respected.
When issues arise, you must trust that your people will do the right thing. You may be tempted to take control of the situation through regulation and restriction. However, though it sounds counterintuitive, the more that you try to restrict the people under your leadership, the less control you actually have. This is because strict regulation implies that you don’t have faith in your people, setting the stage for further internal conflict.
Guiding Others to the Tao
If you lead through the Tao, others will be drawn to you and will ask for guidance, especially other leaders. When someone comes to you for advice or help, don’t offer your money or wisdom. Instead, offer to teach them the ways of the Tao, as it is forgiving and allows for growth. You can help them gain earthly power through your wisdom, but you’ll help them find a universal power within the Tao.
Leadership should rely more on action than words. In fact, the greatest leaders are able to generate large-group cooperation without ever having to say a word.
(Shortform example: A politician who assists in the creation of community kitchens to combat hunger will likely be more respected than the politician who makes speeches about hunger but never takes action to fix it. Furthermore, while the community will be able to directly support a community kitchen, they can’t take cooperative action based upon empty words.)
Note: taking action does not equate to using force or violence. Even when people challenge you or resist your guidance, avoid using violence at all costs. Violence will only make you seem unstable or desperate. Instead, adapt to the flow of the world around you, embracing that many of the workings of the universe are outside of your control.
Lead through moderation, not extreme ideals. Moderation stems from objectivity. By removing personal bias, you can make temperate, wise decisions based on the guidance of the Tao. Conversely, if your choices are driven by ambition or personal desire, you’re more prone to make extreme or one-sided decisions driven by emotion.
To maintain moderation, never use “goodness” as a platform for your leadership. As you learned earlier, if you introduce the concept of “good,” you also create the concept of “evil.” If you try to convince your people of the “goodness” of one side, you’re inherently placing your personal biases onto your actions and setting the stage for an opposing force to arise. Lead through observation and adaptability instead of ideals, and “evil” will disappear.
The Tao Te Ching is one of the foundational texts of Taoism, written between the 4th and 6th centuries. This summary is based on the Stephen Mitchell translation, which modernizes much of the text.
While we have done our best to research the text and offer an accurate representation of the Tao Te Ching, areas of this summary are based upon interpretation. The piece is written as poetry and, as such, even Taoist scholars have different perspectives on what the language represents.
This summary is structured thematically, with each section pulling information from various sections of the text to best explain the ideas introduced in the work.
This summary breaks down the text as follows:
Older than any deity, the Tao is the natural order of the universe. It’s the guiding energy that lives within us and connects us to everything around us. Also known as the “Great Mother,” it paradoxically creates nothing while offering infinite energy to all beings, nurturing and caring for them.
As an omnipresent entity, the Tao is eternal and infinite. It was never born or created, and, therefore, it can never die or be destroyed. The Tao has no biases, being unconditionally available to all beings who want to live according to its teachings.
The Tao exists as part of a universal hierarchy:
Though the Tao is immensely powerful, it’s unaware and uninterested in its own strength, remaining humble and objective. It is constantly at ease and at peace, never allowing its desires to impact its actions.
In this section:
Because it's beyond the comprehension of human beings, the workings of the Tao can’t be described or understood, only experienced. The more that you try to understand the workings of the Tao, the less you’ll be able to engage with it. In fact, the Tao may even seem paradoxical. For example, the Tao is empty because it holds onto nothing, yet it is infinite as it expands through the universe.
Before you begin your journey with the Tao, embrace your inability to comprehend its nature. Instead, look for the manifestations of the Tao, using them as a reminder of the Great Mother’s power. For example, if you feel a sense of peace while looking at a gorgeous sunset, recognize that the sensation of enjoying the sunset is a manifestation of the workings of the Tao.
The Tao (and the universe) works in inexplicable ways, and, while you’ll never completely understand it, you can engage with the energy it creates. There are three major aspects to engaging with the Tao:
You’ll learn more about engaging with the Tao in sections one and two.
Enlightened people embrace the teachings of the Tao, while foolish people laugh it off as nonsense. The workings of the Tao aren’t readily apparent to most people, and those who aren’t willing to embrace the Tao would rather dismiss its existence.
The traits developed by listening to the guidance of the universe often seem mundane, preventing many from recognizing the significance of the Tao. Stay firm in the face of ridicule or criticism. Your inner peace isn’t linked to other people’s opinions.
A master of Taoist practices embodies the “Supreme Virtue.” The Supreme Virtue requires:
By embodying the Supreme Virtue, masters engage with the deepest of the four levels of faith:
1) The deepest level of faith is the Tao. If you engage with this level, your actions are dictated by the Tao. You aren’t concerned with your personal perspective or biases, making decisions based upon the flow and call of the universe only. For example, if you see a homeless man fall in the street in front of you, you may feel called by the moment to go and help him up, ignoring your personal biases about homeless people.
2) If one isn’t in touch with the Tao, the next level is goodness, or the desire to make the world a better place. If you engage with this level, your actions are dictated by your wish to change the “natural order” of things, causing you to ignore the energy of the Tao as you’re too involved with your own desires. For example, if a homeless man falls in front of you, you may consider if your energy is best spent helping this man or doing another form of charity, potentially causing you to miss the moment and ignore the person in need.
3) If one isn’t in touch with goodness, the next level is morality, or the need to determine what is “right” and what is “wrong.” If you engage with this level, your actions are dictated by your personal perspective on “good” and “evil,” causing you to ignore the Tao as you’re too involved with your perspective. For example, if a homeless man falls in front of you, you may consider the man’s background and character before helping them, potentially causing you to determine that they’re “bad” or not deserving of your assistance.
4) If one isn’t in touch with morality, the next level is ritual, or surface-level shows of faith. If you engage with this level, your actions are empty as they’re nothing more than repeating actions that have been dictated to you by others. These could range from “traditions” to meaningless “prayers.” For example, if a homeless man falls in front of you, you may walk right past them because helping them isn’t your “responsibility” as long as you engage with your typical rituals such as prayer or meditation.
A master of Taoist practices only concerns themselves with the Tao. By focusing solely on the objective truths of the universe, they avoid falling victim to their own prejudices. Conversely, the average person often engages with the more shallow levels of faith, often using their shows of faith to bolster their own biased view of the world.
(Shortform example: A religious person may believe that they are a part of God’s chosen “group,” and that, by engaging in prayer and other religious traditions, they’ve earned the favor of a higher being. They may use their participation in these shows of faith to reinforce their personal belief that they are superior to those who aren’t a part of God’s chosen “group.”)
A master is powerful because they don’t seek power. By not searching for more power, they are able to use the strength that the universe has given them effectively. Conversely, the average person is never powerful because they’re always seeking power, blinding them to the strength the universe has already given them.
A master never leaves anything incomplete because they never do anything without the universe’s prompting. In being selective with their actions in this way, they never take on more than they can accomplish. Conversely, the average person frequently leaves things incomplete because they take on more than they can accomplish.
To live according to the Tao, strive to achieve balance through objectivity. The Tao is the birthplace of all things and doesn’t discriminate between “good” and “evil.” Likewise, you must embrace all people and things, disregarding any sense of personal perspective and removing the concepts of “good” and “evil” from your mind.
When we label or define our surroundings, we create conflict, attributing particular qualities based on our personal biases. This manipulates our view of reality in the process. For example, if you define modesty as “good,” then you’ll inherently paint anything you view as indecent as “evil.”
Instead of attributing qualities to the world around you, embrace things as they take their natural course. Don’t linger on the past or the future. Exist in the present, engaging with whatever the universe has brought you.
For instance, if the sun is shining, enjoy that moment of warmth. However, if it suddenly begins to rain, instead of mourning the loss of sunlight, embrace the refreshing droplets. Don’t label one as “good” and one as “bad.” Instead, enjoy the present moment.
Note: With objectivity comes uncertainty, as you can’t hold onto the convictions of the past or the desires for your future. To be closer to the Tao, embrace this uncertainty and trust that the Tao will guide you to where you need to be.
Let the universe inform your perspective. The greatest minds allow their uncertainty to inspire and guide them. They don’t force their perspective onto the world. Don’t confirm your biases by contorting the workings of the universe to conform to your view of the world.
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Yin and Yang
To achieve harmony with the Tao, you must balance yin, or 阴 (darkness, assertiveness) with yang, or 阳 (lightness, humility). If you tend to use one more than the other, you risk throwing yourself out of balance, disconnecting yourself from the Tao in the process.
Most people can’t recognize true positive emotions because what they’re feeling doesn’t fit society’s preconceived notion of what that emotion should look like. Rather than embracing the positive emotions that they’re objectively feeling, they contort their view of positivity to fit society’s standards.
(Shortform example: Many people associate success with money and fame. Therefore, if someone feels as though they’re successful in their life but doesn’t show any of the “normal” signs of success, they may second guess their feelings of joy or contentment because they don’t fit society’s criteria for success.)
The rejection of positivity is often a result of fear. Fear is an illusion that leads to destruction and anxiety. It works counter to the Tao as it tries to assert its control over the world instead of living harmoniously with it.
Don’t let your sense of happiness be defined by social norms and don’t succumb to fear created by societal propaganda. Stay objective and observant, seeing your emotions for what they are instead of how others want you to see them. Though others may demand that you must “do more” to be happy, your inner peace is dictated by your relationship with the Tao, not earthly standards.
To remain objective, you must be skeptical of “knowledge.” Knowledge is gained by learning new things. While knowledge can be helpful when trying to understand other perspectives, it can create a warped view of the world as it’s often gained through biased sources, making it harder to remain objective and receptive to the calls of the Tao.
Truth lies beyond perception. Don’t allow your “knowledge” to get in the way of embracing the Tao. Often, your perspective on what certain things should look or feel like is tainted or incorrect.
To prevent your knowledge from tainting your objectivity:
Once you’ve dedicated yourself to objectivity, you can engage with the balance that the universe creates. The Tao creates perfect balance by taking from those who have too much and giving to those who have too little. To live within the Tao, give to those in need without expectation, and never keep too much for yourself. This allows for the emergence of the “Supreme Good.”
Similar to water, the Supreme Good provides nourishment to all living beings without bias or intention. It goes where the universe sends it, even if it seems undesirable. To begin living by the principles of the Supreme Good:
If you live according to the principles of the Supreme Good, people will respect you without you demanding their attention, just as they respect the water that sustains them.
If you stay centered within the Tao’s objective wisdom instead of relying on your own biased perspective, the chaos of life won’t cause you to spiral. Whether in anguish or in bliss, don’t let your emotions influence your perspective. Instead, rely on the Tao for guidance.
If you engage with the objectivity of the Tao in your daily life, you’ll be able to engage with it in crisis. Instead of overwhelming yourself with the big picture, take things day-by-day, completing small tasks as they arise. This daily practice in objectivity will allow you to remain unbiased in the most extreme of circumstances.
If you find yourself in conflict with someone else, respect your foe and don’t underestimate their abilities. If you underestimate your enemies, you’ll make careless mistakes and reckless decisions. Holding your opponent in high esteem will let you know when to take action and when to be patient.
When engaged in conflict, remember the following:
This helps you remain an unbiased vessel that’s willing to connect with all people, even those others have deemed “bad.”
When you fail, don’t place the blame on others or demand someone else solve your problems. Take responsibility for your actions, complete the tasks you set out to do, and fix any mistakes that you make.
Objectivity is one of the most important aspects of living according to the Tao. If you allow your personal biases to influence your decision-making, you won’t be able to truly engage with the world around you.
Describe a time that you allowed your personal bias to influence your decisions in a negative way.
Knowing what you know now, how did the reality of the situation differ from your perspective on the situation?
With these differences in mind, if you had the opportunity to relive this situation, how would you have approached it differently?
While we make things using tangible material, it's often the intangible space within these entities that we use in our daily lives. For example, while a house is made from wood or brick, it’s the empty space on the inside that people utilize for living.
To create usable emptiness in your life, embrace non-action (also known as wu wei, or 无为), or the willingness to remove personal desire and act only when the time is right. This makes you a vessel for the universe to utilize for a greater purpose that you may not understand. Instead of trying to control the world around you, release yourself from the burden of ambition and allow the universe to guide your actions.
When you fully engage with the Tao, you become like a newborn child. The world is new and exciting, and your perspective doesn’t taint your experience. When all is new, you have no expectations and can never be disappointed. This will let you find peace with anything that arises, even death itself.
When you empty your mind of all earthly desires and let your heart be at peace, you can engage with the serenity offered by the Tao. However, if you refuse to allow the Tao to be your guiding force, you’ll find yourself lost and distraught. If you refuse to move with the universe, and instead try to control the world around you, the universe will break you.
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To embrace non-action, you must let go of ambition as it blinds you to your surroundings and causes you to act out of personal desire. Compare ambition to a loud noise. If all you can hear is that one loud noise, you’ll miss all of the small, more intricate noises surrounding you. Similarly, if you only focus on your ambition, you’ll miss the more intimate moments that are occurring right in front of you.
The Tao is available to every being in the universe because it attaches no ambition or desire to the energy it generates. Therefore, it has no ulterior motive behind the offering of its power and wisdom. Likewise, when you detach yourself from personal desire, you can selflessly offer your energy to the beings and things around you without limitation. This allows you to live harmoniously with your surroundings, feeling fulfillment while staying rooted in the Tao.
Remove yourself from earthly ambitions, avoiding selfish or manipulative behavior in the process. This will separate you from those who are too wrapped up in their own perspective to be guided by the world around them.
To embrace non-action, you must also let go of the need for material excess and external validation. If you strive to meet society’s barometers for “success,” it’s easy to become consumed by your desire for status, causing you to make decisions that satiate this desire instead of waiting for the guidance of the Tao.
Society’s barometers for success often relate to wealth and power, both tempting forces. These forces lead to classist and violent societies, both of which run counter to the Tao. For example, if society values wealth, the desire to become wealthy can become greater than the desire to live harmoniously with your surroundings.
Furthermore, the concept of “chasing status” relies on the idea that you need “more” to be happy. The desire for more can destroy you, as fulfilling it often requires that you ostracize the people around you. For example, if you chase after money, you may spend less time with your loved ones or friends in an effort to climb the corporate ladder.
Similarly, the need for external validation will eventually lead to destruction by preventing you from living authentically. For example, if you’re constantly chasing the approval of others, every action you take will be in service to that earthly goal.
If you’re actively chasing status, you’re probably getting in your own way, making your goals even more unattainable. For example, if you’re desperately trying to prove yourself to your co-workers, your desperation is likely seeping into your interactions, making your co-workers respect your work even less.
Instead of trying to make the world bend to your desires, let go of the concept of “success” and remain internally focused. To eliminate your need for material excess and external validation:
Earthly pleasures and “success” may provide distraction through enjoyment, but the Tao, though seemingly mundane, provides true fulfillment. If you want everything to be given to you, you must first give up everything. Your earthly possessions and personal perspectives will keep you from accepting the gifts given to you by the universe.
A final element of embracing non-action is being patient and allowing the Tao to guide your behavior. You can’t seek out the “right time” to act as this will inherently put your personal desires into your decisions.
Instead, you must wait for the moment to come to you, allowing you to interact with the world based on how it actually is instead of how you want it to be. If you’re searching for fulfillment in earthly desires, you’ll never be truly patient and observant because you’ll try to force things to happen before the universe is ready.
For example, if you want a promotion at work, you may try to take action to “prove yourself” to your boss. This action comes from a personal desire for external validation. While chasing this promotion, you’d likely become so focused on your task that you’d miss the opportunities that would’ve naturally arisen had you been patient enough to wait for the universe’s guidance.
Though you will spend most of your time waiting for the Tao’s guidance, when you do feel moved by the Tao, allow yourself to feel its impact completely. You may not fully understand why you’re feeling what you’re feeling, but this shouldn’t prevent you from fully embracing your emotions. For example, if you feel the sudden urge to cry, allow yourself to cry. If you feel the sudden urge to laugh, allow yourself to laugh.
This helps you accept what the universe gives you, even in moments of loss or sorrow. For example, if a loved one passes away, you may feel extreme sorrow. In that moment, allow yourself to grieve. However, once the emotion begins to fade, don’t allow yourself to hold on to it. Let it go and re-engage with the workings of the Tao.
In moments of crisis or stress, don’t abandon the Tao. The Tao can guide you through even the most difficult of circumstances. For example, if you want to live a fulfilling life, you must first embrace that there will be moments where you feel unfulfilled. In those moments, don’t try to change the situation by force. Instead, continue your dedication to accepting what the universe gives you. This is the only way to maintain inner peace and objective observation.
Because the Tao forces you to focus on the present, you’ll be able to address problems as they arise. Nothing happens out of nowhere. By staying grounded in the present moment, you’ll be able to find solutions to issues before they become uncontrollable.
Keeping this in mind, never rush to action out of desperation. Trying to force a solution will only make your problems worse. Use patience in your decision-making process. If you make hasty decisions in an effort to suppress or ignore negative emotions, your choices won’t likely align with the workings of the universe.
Furthermore, don’t try to control the future. There are two realities in life: Things change and death is inevitable. Both of these are outside of your control. If you live your life focused on the future, you can’t exist in the present.
Enacting Change
Non-action forces you to see the world for what it is, rather than what you want it to be. This may lead to uncomfortable revelations that lead you to want to change aspects of your life to better align with the workings of the universe. If you want to change something, you must first allow it to exist. This prevents you from trying to ineffectively suppress emotions or character traits.
For example, if you want to stop drinking, trying to suppress the urges to do so will likely lead to frustration or resentment, causing you to relapse. Though it sounds paradoxical, you need to acknowledge the urge to drink in order to handle the urge to drink.
To effectively engage with the Tao, you must wait for the universe to guide you. If you rush to action, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Instead, embrace non-action, or the willingness to remove personal desire, and act only when the time is right.
Describe a time when you rushed to action, and the end result was less than ideal.
Knowing what you know now, how would non-action have changed your perspective on the situation? How would you have approached it differently?
To achieve harmony, understand your place in the world and work to fulfill the function the universe requires of you—nothing more, nothing less. Contrary to popular belief, you can’t improve the world. It's sacred, and if you try to change it, you’ll lose touch with it. Instead, focus on what the universe requires of you, and you’ll find peace within your existence.
There’s a time for everything, including negative emotions and experiences. If you’re one with the Tao, nothing will faze you, not even death. Through the lens of the Tao, death is an unavoidable part of life. Instead of fearing death, embrace it as part of the cycle of the universe. This will allow you to live your life without apprehension.
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When the world is in harmony with the Tao, life can flourish. However, when humanity works against the Tao, the world becomes corrupted.
(Shortform example: If humanity was willing to live within the guidance of the Tao, only taking what we needed to survive, we could co-exist with the animals of the world. However, because of mankind’s need to industrialize, many species have either gone extinct due to pollution or have become a part of the ever-growing meat industry, thus corrupting the natural order of the Tao.)
Instead of succumbing to corrupting forces, approach the world with compassion and empathy. Listen to the guidance of the Tao, finding your place within the world instead of trying to rule over it.
Peace should always be your top priority. Approach the world around you gently. Meet people where they are instead of trying to force them to bend or break. Aggression only pushes people away.
Violence should only be used in the most extreme of circumstances. If you must resort to violence, it should pain you to do so. Even if you’re victorious, you should be upset by the fact that you had to use aggression.
In order to promote harmonious living on a larger scale, leaders must embrace the teachings of the Tao. If a leader doesn’t live according to the Tao, their disconnection from the universe will likely be shared by those who follow them.
To be a harmonious leader, don’t try to control the people you lead. Ultimately, leadership requires trust. Trust generates more honesty and respect amongst the people you lead. If you don’t trust your people, you create the potential for conflict as you tell your people that they aren’t trustworthy or respected.
When issues arise, you must trust that your people will do the right thing. You may be tempted to take control of the situation through regulation and restriction. However, though it sounds counterintuitive, the more that you try to restrict the people under your leadership, the less control you actually have. This is because strict regulation implies that you don’t have faith in your people, setting the stage for further internal conflict.
The strength of a leader can be determined by their relationship to the people they lead:
Guiding Others to the Tao
If you lead through the Tao, others will be drawn to you and will ask for guidance, especially other leaders. When someone comes to you for advice or help, don’t offer your money or wisdom. Instead, offer to teach them the ways of the Tao, as it is forgiving and allows for growth. You can help them gain earthly power through your wisdom, but you’ll help them find a universal power within the Tao.
Leadership should rely more on action than words. In fact, the greatest leaders are able to generate large-group cooperation without ever having to say a word.
(Shortform example: A politician who assists in the creation of community kitchens to combat hunger will likely be more respected than the politician who makes speeches about hunger but never takes action to fix it. Furthermore, while the community will be able to directly support a community kitchen, they can’t take cooperative action based upon empty words.)
Note: taking action does not equate to using force or violence. Even when people challenge you or resist your guidance, avoid using violence at all costs. Violence will only make you seem unstable or desperate. Instead, adapt to the flow of the world around you, embracing that many of the workings of the universe are outside of your control.
Lead through moderation, not extreme ideals. Moderation stems from objectivity. By removing personal bias, you can make temperate, wise decisions based on the guidance of the Tao. Conversely, if your choices are driven by ambition or personal desire, you’re more prone to make extreme or one-sided decisions driven by emotion.
To maintain moderation, never use “goodness” as a platform for your leadership. As you learned earlier, if you introduce the concept of “good,” you also create the concept of “evil.” If you try to convince your people of the “goodness” of one side, you’re inherently placing your personal biases onto your actions and setting the stage for an opposing force to arise. Lead through observation and adaptability instead of ideals, and “evil” will disappear.
As you continue to grow as a leader, keep the following in mind:
You must trust the people you lead. If you don’t, you’re setting yourself up for conflict and insurrection.
Describe a time that you micro-managed or over-regulated the people you were in charge of, and it led to discourse or frustration.
Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to show your team that you trusted them? How would you have approached the situation differently?