Verse Three

Putting a value on status will cause people to compete. Hoarding treasure will turn them into thieves. Showing off possessions will disturb their daily lives.

• All these are examples of selfishness, an expression of individuality.
• These are examples of a world of individuals, all yang and no yin.
• These are done when one loses sight of unity
• Power and greed

Application: I see this expressed the most on television commercials, people showing off their status symbols and stocking up with "savings." I try my best not to get caught in this faux value. When it comes to possessions, I take the most pride in my music collection. I believe it does not disturb people's daily lives except when I listen to it loudly. I probably put the most value on the status of my career, and I can really feel the heat of the competition right now. I wish I could avoid competing with my peers for a better status of employment.

Thus the Sage rules by stilling minds and opening hearts, by filling bellies and strengthening bones. He shows people how to be simple and live without desires, to be content and not look for other ways. With people so pure, who could trick them? What clever ideas could lead them astray?

• The meditative state of "wu wei:" actionless action.
• This occurs when one perceives the unity instead of the individual.
• "Clever ideas" of the individual world cannot apply to the unified world

Application: This is very close to Buddhism with the belief that desire leads to suffering. At this point in my life, I am living simply with no home and no job but that creates a huge desire for those things. My mind will not be still nor my heart open if I desire them so much. I'm easily tricked and easily lead astray to whatever can get me a job. I've failed miserably here.

When action is pure and selfless everything settles into its own perfect place.

• Nature takes its course in human events.
• The individual serves unity, an expression of all.
• Why does this individuality come to us so naturally?
• We are meant to experience both without ignoring each of them.

Application: The only action I am involved in is job hunting. It is pure but not selfless. I have to perceive that the right job will come to me rather than the other way around. Once I have confidence in the way of things, then I can ease back and I will settle into my own perfect place. Worrying is pointless. I should just do what I have to do and do no more.

Verse Two

Everyone recognizes beauty only because of ugliness.
Everyone recognizes virtue only because of sin.

• Personal truth is shallow in that qualities are only recognized in contrast.
• If everyone is beautiful, the no one is, and the label of beauty is useless
• Labels of quality need comparisons
• All individual colors come from the same light
• If everyone is virtuous, the no one is, there is no virtue
• Perfection is not attainable as an individual

Application: It's very difficult to live through life without describing its qualities. What I have to remember is that all description is not permanent. Out of respect, I dislike to label people. But respect itself is a quality that wouldn't exist without disrespect. Labeling helps us distinguish ourselves and helps us form judgments. We cannot live without judging people to some extent. Think of survival, who would you turn to if you needed to be pulled out from under a fiery blaze--a strong fit man most likely.

Life and death are born together. Difficult and easy, long and short, high and low--all these things exist together. Sound and silence blend as one. Before and after arrive as one.

• Permanence of one quality is not obtainable.
• Change is universal. This is a contradictory statement.
• Qualities exist through personal perception, but do not as "seen" by all.

Application: I've always believed this because, before Taoism, I believed that everything is possible. And I had the fascination of the infinite and infinitesimal being one in the same. The microcosm is the macrocosm. This idea has been pushed in a lot of science fiction these days, but I don't know if a lot of SF fans grasp it philosophically or spiritually. If we all believed this, then there would be no fear of death, or fear at all.

The Sage acts without action and teaches without talking. All things flourish around him and he does not refuse any one of them. He gives but not to receive. He works but not for reward. He completes but not for results. He does nothing for himself in this passing world, so nothing he does ever passes.

• This is the love for unity. The Sage prefers to love all than himself, as he is a part of all.
• Giving to all includes oneself, so by giving one loses nothing.
• Actions are reciprocal.
• This is very hard to achieve in a world full of individuality.
• Individualism is the narrowest perception of the world. Seek all within yourself. Don't do all for yourself.

Application: All great religious founders have done this selfless giving and loving. They realized that the giving and loving flows through and cannot be stopped and gathered up. I find it very difficult to do this because it means completely trusting the world. I am too afraid of being taken advantage of. If I give and give, there is going to be someone out there who will thanklessly take and take. But that's my problem--the need for thanks. As an individual, I would feel like the world's doormat. If I perceived the world as the religious founders have, I would not have that feeling. It's a great risk. And the fear of taking that risk prevents me from advancing any further spiritually.