#52 3 Principles for Conscious Living

Tao Te Ching, Chapter 52: Deep dive into the Taoist philosophy of living: the importance of simplicity, self-mastery, and crisis thinking.

May 26, 2024

Welcome back to The Wisdom of Lao Tzu.

This week, we're delving into Chapter 52 of the Tao Te Ching, where Lao Tzu shares a few critical life principles in this short chapter.

We can discover his insights on cultivating discernment/enlightenment, a contrarian view of strength, and the foundations of building a good life.

We can also see how Chuang Tzu used his incredible imaginative power to write allegories that distill timeless wisdom from human experience.

Let’s get to it.

**52**

天下有始，以爲天下母。

既得其母，以知其子；

既知其子，復守其母，沒身不殆。

塞其兌，閉其門，終身不勤。

開其兌，濟其事，終身不救。

見小曰明，守柔曰強。

用其光，復歸其明，無遺身殃；是為襲常。

Border-crossing: English translations

#1 Lin Yutang’s version

There was a beginning of the universe

Which may be regarded as the Mother of Universe.

From the Mother, we may know her sons.

After knowing the sons, keep to the Mother.

Thus one’s whole life may be preserved from harm.

Stop its apertures,

Close its doors,

And one’s whole life is without toil.

Open its apertures,

Be busy about its affairs,

And one’s whole life is beyond redemption.

He who can see the small is clear-sighted;

He who stays by gentility is strong.

Use the light,

And return to clear-sightedness—

Thus cause not yourself later distress.

—This is to rest in the Absolute.

#2 Edmund Ryden’s version

The world was conceived, by she who is the mother of the world.

If you can attain the mother then you will know her child;

If you know her child then you can go back and cling to its mother.

Then for your whole life you will have no disaster.

Bolt your ears; plug your mouth:

All life long you shall not fall ill.

Open your mouth; plunge into your affairs:

All life long you shall not be well.

To see what is small is called ‘insight’;

To keep to what is weak is called ‘strength’.

Use what light there is to return, go back to insight;

You will not abandon yourself to disaster:

This is called ‘Putting into Practice what is ever thus’.1

#3 D. C. Lau’s version

The world had a beginning

And this beginning could be the mother of the world.

When you know the mother

Go on to know the child.

After you have known the child

Go back to holding fast to the mother.

And to the end of your days you will not meet with danger.

Block the openings.

Shut the doors,

And all your life you will not run dry.

Unblock the openings.

Add to your troubles,

And to the end of your days you will be beyond salvation.

To see the small is called discernment;

To hold fast to the submissive is called strength.

Use the light

But give up the discernment.

Bring not misfortune upon yourself.

This is known as following the constant.2

Deeper dive

In life’s journey, sometimes it is challenging to have a clear vision of the ideal life.

In this context, having an anti-vision that includes all the undesirable aspects of life can spur us into meaningful actions.

We can develop mindfulness on the three elements:

an unconscious mode of living driven by the outside
the importance of cultivating awareness and discernment
and a contrarian view of strength

Though centuries old, Lao Tzu’s teachings remain relevant in today's fast-paced and often chaotic world.

The Perils of External Allures and Distractions

Lao Tzu warns against constantly pursuing external and non-essential elements of life.

He uses the metaphor of an "aperture" or a "hole," similar to Pandora’s box, which, once opened, leads to endless desires, disturbances, and psychological restlessness.

As Wang Bi (226-249 AD) commented, “The aperture is where activities and desires are born. The door is where activities and desires pass through.”3

The problem with mindlessly chasing external allurements is multifaceted.

Much of our behavior is subtly influenced by external factors.

We make daily choices based on what others have been doing and follow after them. We never question whether those pursuits are proper for our natural talent or life’s calling.

Without much awareness, we tend to subject ourselves to the pressure of conformity and external expectations.

With years passing, we may one day realize that we have squandered our most creative and productive time. Or we may still live in an unconscious mode of life.

If we do not wake up and be brave to seize the moment to make a fundamental shift, we risk leading ourselves to a life based on someone else’s script.

Cultivating Awareness and Discernment

Lao Tzu emphasizes the importance of being an observer of our thoughts and actions in life’s various entanglements, saying, “To see the small is called discernment.”

He Shanggong's (approximately 200 BC - ?) commentary illustrates this point: “The sprouting of disasters and chaos are not visible in the beginning. To see their evolution alone is a sign of wisdom.”4

We tend to overlook problems when they are still insignificant.

And problems usually do not manifest themselves overnight. They often start as minor issues that, if left unchecked, grow into significant challenges.

The real issue is that we may be unable to contain or solve those problems when they manifest themselves.

For instance, if we do not take care of our body and mental health while indulging in unhealthy actions and habits, we will create more significant problems later.

Thus, by developing the ability to notice and address minor issues early, we can prevent larger problems from taking root.

Similarly, if we become slack or careless about what we believe and think, we risk being deceived by manufactured realities and specious ideological propaganda (which are like masterful business commercials without being conscientious that propel people into mindless obedience and conformity).

It follows that if we pursue actions to shape our reality based on specious beliefs, we are actually relinquishing control over our fate.

The Contrarian Perspective on Strength

Lao Tzu's perception of strength is counterintuitive. He stresses the strength of gentleness over outward hardness, a perspective rooted in the context of individuals living in a chaotic society undergoing changes.

In Lao Tzu’s time (the Spring and Autumn Period), self-preservation was a priority for those with knowledge and skills.

Political opportunists who overthrew regimes often sought advice and support from scholars to legitimize their new rule.

For the average person, ensuring the safety of their families and livelihood amidst wars and predatory political power was paramount.

Chuang Tzu uses imaginative stories to illustrate the value of “uselessness" for self-preservation in dark and unstable times. He suggests that one can avoid becoming a target in turbulent periods by appearing unimportant or insignificant.

Here is the story:

There was an accomplished carpenter named Shih. One day, he was traveling with his disciple. They saw an oak tree, which was revered as the altar of the land. The oak tree was tremendous in size and attracted many people to come close to see it.5

However, Carpenter Shih was not interested in looking at it and went on his way. His disciple was curious to know why the tree did not impress his master.

Then, Carpenter Shih told his disciple that the tree was useless because no carpenter could use it for practical purposes, such as making a coffin, furniture, a door, or a boat.

On the same night, the oak tree appeared to Carpenter Shih in his dream, saying,

What exactly are you comparing me with? With ornamental fruit trees? Trees such as the hawthorn, pear trees, orange trees, citrus tress, gourds and other such fruit trees? Their fruits are knocked down when they are ripe and the trees suffer. The big branches are damaged and the small ones are broken off.
Because they are useful, they suffer, and they are unable to live out the years Heaven has given them. They have only their usefulness to blame for this destruction wrought by the people. It is the same with all things.
I have spent a long time studying to be useless, though, on a couple of occasions, I was nearly destroyed. However, now I have perfected the art of uselessness, and this is very useful to me! If I had been useful, could I have grown so vast?
Furthermore, you and I are both things. How can one thing make such statements about another? How can you, a useless man about to die, know anything about a useless tree?

Spiritual Taoism

This chapter offers some profound insights into the essence of living:

the importance of simplicity
the strategy of crisis thinking
and the pursuit of inner fulfillment and self-mastery

The Essence of Living

According to Lao Tzu, the Taoist attitude toward life is encapsulated in the principle of simplicity.

This simplicity is not merely an aesthetic choice but a fundamental approach to life involving:

1) Hold to the inner compass

Simplifying life by shedding extraneous desires and attachments allows one to become the master of one’s spiritual realm.

This means not being enchanted or shackled by external values, desires, allurements, validation, or recognition.

Essentially, it empowers one to decide how to respond to external influences and interact with others in society.

The more we chase external validations, the more we allow ourselves to be defined by society.

If we assume who we are is primarily determined by the labels, praise, and fame we obtain from the outside, we may deceive ourselves.

What happens if we are deprived of all those things? Can we still preserve our inner peace and stay who we are in our natural ways?

a compass and a map — Do you see your natural course in life?

In this sense, authentic self-fulfillment is essential to remembering who we are and never losing our inner compass in life’s journey.

2) Master your fate

True mastery lies in understanding that most things and involvements in this life are temporary phenomena.

This realization fosters a focus on self-determination and authentic living.

“Get busy living, or get busy dying.” Being the master of your fate is about to what extent you can control how you live your life. In other words, live by self-design or accept a role assigned by society.

Those who have endured much in life can often cut through the noise and discern what they truly want.

Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu, having seen and experienced the complexities of their age, suggest embracing nonchalant simplicity.

If we think about it, life can be simple:

A castle (both physical and spiritual) symbolizes placing one’s heart in a stable place
Well-being in all dimensions of life
Having the means to preserve and protect these fundamental elements

3) Crisis Thinking

Lao Tzu offered another piece of advice to assist our journeys of fulfillment and self-mastery: crisis awareness.

In Taoism, residing in an inferior or lowly position is not seen as a sign of weakness but as a strategic choice. The teachings suggest:

1) Non-Contention

One avoids unnecessary troubles and entanglements by choosing not to contend for attention or status.

This approach allows for sustainable living, where one can pursue one’s path without the distractions and unexpected dangers that come with competing for societal accolades.

Moreover, non-contending fits within a holistic framework to navigate life.

It recognizes a long-term and comprehensive thinking pattern that saves us from being fixated on short-term and immediate gains (More on Lao Tzu’s idea of non-contending here.)

2) Inward transcendence

Lao Tzu advises, “Use the light, and return to clear-sightedness—thus cause not yourself later distress.”

This means recognizing one's value through self-discovery and self-experimentation without seeking excessive or obtrusive validation.

Focusing on internal growth and avoiding the pitfalls of external competition can lead to a more harmonious and fulfilled life.

From Chuang Tzu’s perspective, the path to inner fulfillment involves dedicated practice and craftsmanship to achieve inward transcendence.

Even when one attains superb mastery of a craft, it is vital to approach each task with extreme caution and prudence.

This focus and dedication ensure continuous growth and prevent the ego from drawing unnecessary attention and potential crises.

The famous story below from Chuang Tzu sums up the idea of Taoist self-mastery and inward transcendence.

A great cook named Ding got the attention of the country’s ruler, Lord Wenhui, because of his remarkable mastery in cutting up an ox.6

In one conversation, Cook Ding shared with his Lord Wenhui the following words,

“What I care about is the Way, which goes beyond skill. When I first began cutting up oxen, all I could see was the ox itself. After three years I no longer saw the whole ox.
And now—now I go at it by spirit and don’t look with my eyes. Perception and understanding have come to a stop, and spirit moves where it wants. I go along with the natural makeup, strike in the big hollows, guide the knife through the big openings, and follow things as they are. So I never touch the smallest ligament or tendon, much less a main joint.
I’ve had this knife of mine for nineteen years and I’ve cut up thousands of oxen with it, and yet the blade is as good as though it had just come from the grindstone. There are spaces between the joints, and the blade of the knife has really no thickness. If you insert what has no thickness into such spaces, then there’s plenty of room—more than enough for the blade to play about in.
However, whenever I come to a complicated place, I size up the difficulties, tell myself to watch out and be careful, keep my eyes on what I’m doing, work very slowly, and move the knife with the greatest subtlety until— flop! the whole thing comes apart like a clod of earth crumbling to the ground. I stand there holding the knife and look all around me, completely satisfied and reluctant to move on, and then I wipe off the knife and put it away.

Thanks for reading!

Wishing you peace and wisdom,

Yuxuan

P.S. In my Conversations with Chuang Tzu article series, I explore his spiritual world with a comprehensive approach: the allegories, philosophical insights, personal reflections, and life principles. I trust that Chuang Tzu is a timeless source of inspiration and solace and a much-needed spiritual heritage for the modern soul in a troubled world and circumstances. If you want a fuller and enhanced reading experience, you can consider an upgrade.

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