Tao Te Ching
Lao Tzu

Summary

A timeless classic written thousands of years ago, this book has all of the OG lessons. Definitely one I will re-visit multiple times in my life because I know I'll learn something new every time I read it.

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Notes

Rid yourself of pride and desire, put aside your fancy manner and lustful ways. They will bring you nothing but harm

The Taoist glows with inner light, but seems actually dull and foolish

The greater Tao cannot be told, it is your inner light

The mystery of mysteries is the Taoist fuses being (outer desires and senses) with non-being (intangible marvel of the inner world)

The taoist dwells in non-action. The myriad things arise and none are rejected

Every that is also a this and every this is also a that. Right creates wrong and wrong creates right

Once false knowledge and desire are gone, once the worthy are no longer honoured and rare goods are no longer prized, then there is no contending, no theft but instead order, a full belly and firm bones

Many words harm the person. If the mouth keeps opening, if the tongue keeps wagging, misfortune will surely follow

The taoist puts others first and self last, is sparing towards self and generous to others

Letting go is better than filling the brim. Non-being and emptiness make things useful

The Taoist shines, but never displays, is radiant but never proud, accomplishes but never boasts, endures but never brags

The Taoist knows the usefulness of the useless, the utility of the futility

Instead of striving to achieve a goal, we should take things as they come, we should let them unfold. If we succeed, well and good. If we fail, that is good too.

All excess is harmful, but the Taoist is humble and discrete

Let go, float on the great flux of things

Achieve a goal and let go

To understand others is wisdom, to know self is illumination

Do not be an embodiment of fame. Do not be an undertaker of projects. Embody to the fullest that which has no end and under where there is no trail

Higher power that does not assert its power is true power, lesser power assets itself and loses its true character

The Tao is non-action

To know when to halt, to be disentangled from gain, to be unperturbed by the senses, is to avoid, peril, is to befriend fortune

The greatest calamity is discontent, the greatest harm is desire to acquire and achieve.. True contentment, sure knowledge of sufficiency, these endure

Once who knows values deeds, not words

Fortune and calamity are a part of each other. Calamity is latent within fortune

A great nation seems to gather others and nourish them

Embark on difficulties while they are still easy

A journey of a thousand leagues starts with a single step

Three treasures to cherish are compassion, frugality and self-effacement

To know self is to have faith in self, not others. To cherish self is to have no regrets about self, not to be proud towards others, not to exalt self

Achieve and then retreat

Nothing prevails against water which is soft and gentle

Trustworthy words are not beautiful. Beautiful words are not to be trusted.

The good do not dispute, those who dispute are not good

The more money they give to others, the more they have. The more they share, the more is theirs

The Taoist accomplishes but never contends

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