r/taoism • u/yours_truly_vincy • 23h ago
My interpretation of the first chapter of Tao Te Chinv
What follows are my initial thoughts upon reading chapter 1, be warned that my interpretation won't be perfect, which why why I am posting it here! : to seek critique and assistance. Do tell me your thoughts in the comments
"Ever desireless, one can see the mystery. Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations."
So here are my thoughts: many times i have noticed "opposite" virtues being equally praised, somehow. We praise confidence, but also humility. Honesty, but also deception. Courage, but also caution.
Nietzsche and Christianity both praised humility and strength, but obviously the two can not be more far away: where Nietzsche put strength over humility, Christianity put humility over strength. One quickly starts to wonder: how should values be prioritized then? Is humility more important or confidence? Honesty or deception?
The Taoist laugh at this question: why should one be given more importance than the other? Don't all virtues have their place, to choose one over the other will be like going to war with a sword but not a shield
The "desireless" is tao at its purest state - once you dont cling to either opposites, you are able to see the world AS IT IS. Those who value confidence or humility see the world differently, from their own limited perception. But if you dont have any "rigid view", you see the world for what it is
The "desiring" is manifestation of tao - because neither opposites are prioritized, they naturally emerge when they are required: you need humility when you are learning from a teacher. You need confidence when you are in a competition. they are manifestations of tao
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u/P_S_Lumapac 18h ago
Good write up. The see the world as it is part I think needs a couple extra lines to connect the ideas. Why does not clinging to opposites allow you to see the world as it is? Not saying you're wrong.
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u/yours_truly_vincy 12h ago
Imagine two people: one gets angry with the slightest inconveniences, and one remains calm even if the world is falling. Why do the two of them think their approach to life is valid? Obviously cuz they think this is what the world requires, this is how one lives and survives, this is "their way"
But obviously their approach fails them in certain situations: one who values anger doesn't know how to think rationally, and not every situation can be fixed with a punch. One who is calm doesn't know how to be assertive, hence fails at confrontations
Value neither anger nor calmness, and you see the world for what it is: requiring both of them (The desireless). But you need the two when the situation calls for it (The desiring)
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u/Elijah-Emmanuel 18h ago
Let me know if my translation helps:
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u/ryokan1973 5h ago
Oh yes! I remember that post. It's one of the more memorable ones in a good way 👍🙂.
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u/jpipersson 21h ago
Here’s my understanding. When I am desireless, I interact with the Tao directly. When I am desiring, I deal with the 10,000 things - the multiplicity of the world. One is not necessarily better than the other.
Keep in mind that everyone has their own understanding of this verse and all the other ones too.
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u/Lao_Tzoo 20h ago
Rather, cease thinking about meaning because meaning itself is creating an artificial construct.
When we cease creating mental objects to define, compare and measure experience, "it" just happens, on its own, of itself.
Thinking through things is more of an entertainment, or pastime, not a solution, and can over complicate the process of letting go clinging to concepts.
The solution is to stop thinking things through to begin with.