This is one of my favorite passages in the Tao Te Ching. It speaks to me of humility, contentment with what is, and authenticity.
“In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don’t try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present.”
—Stephen Mitchell, Tao Te Ching, Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 1988
Unpacking it, line by line—
Living close to the ground represents humility: living simply, without excess, with stability, in harmony with nature.
Keeping thinking simple is a little harder to interpret. To me, it means not getting lost in complicated, convoluted thought patterns, but thinking and expressing myself in a straightforward, common-sense way.
In conflict? I notice that conflict is assumed to be normal and expected, rather than abnormal and something to avoid. In it, I’m asked to be generous, give the other person the benefit of the doubt, assume the best of my opponent, and treat them with respect.
In governing? Let’s change that to leadership in any form or situation. In leadership, don’t try to control. I notice that it doesn’t say, “don’t control,” but “don’t try to control.” Control is an impossible illusion we/I constantly try to achieve. So, trust people to be reasonable and honorable; give guidance and support, but believe they will come up with a workable solution they can buy into freely.
In work, do what you enjoy, not what makes the most money, brings the most fame, or gives the most power, and certainly not something that oppresses or harms others and the earth. Do what you enjoy, what makes you happy, and it will be easy to sustain.
Be present to those you love. Your presence is the best gift you can give anyone and anything. Pay attention, look and listen deeply.
All of this is such simple but profound advice: embody humility, simplicity, generosity, trust, happiness, and presence.
Lao Tzu sums it up with “content to be simply yourself…everybody will respect you.” Here again is a koan or puzzle in which one thing, counter-intuitively, contains or achieves another. In this case, contentment and simple authenticity gain universal respect.
While contentment grows as I age, authenticity isn’t so simple, at least not for me. How about you? Does verse eight have some clues to achieving it?
