The Tao means "The Way" and it is beyond words, those who know do not say, and those that say do not know.

Photo by Bonnie Gehling

An ancient legend says that Lao Tsu, the man who wrote the Tao Te Ching, in the 6th century BC, rode off into the desert, as he was sick at heart at the ways of men. While leaving a gatekeeper in Northwest China asked that he write down his teachings for the children of the future.

The Tao means "The Way" and it is beyond words, those who know do not say, and those that say do not know.

The Tao is the way of the universe, it creates order in life, and is the driving power in all nature. It can be called the mother of the world.

The Tao is the way a person should live their life so that they are in harmony with the universe. The Tao Te Ching means "the way of power" and we can get this by cultivating "stillness" of mind so that we can open to the Tao and its power.

When we are empty the power of the universe will fill us and we will radiate peace and love. We need not do anything.

To get stillness of mind we must go inward to clean our bodies and minds till we return to our original purity, peace and stillness. Stillness is the way of nature which is unchanging.

A life in tune with the universe is "wu wei" which means to be active and relaxed at the same time, a creative quietude. It involves quieting the mind and opening the heart so we can do without doing. It is allowing the Tao to flow in and out of us without tension, resistance, force, strain or effort. Like water it will flow into our empty spaces, seek out our lowest places and adapt to the surroundings. Water gives life to ten thousand things and does not strive. When we stop thrashing and flailing against the water, which is like the Tao, it will gently carry and support us forward. Water, like the Tao, holds the power to turn hard, sharp and brittle stones into pebbles. It can also melt rocks and carry away the proud hills.

Wu wei is clear like still water and is supple yet strong. When we have this quality we can work without working, act without strain, persuade without argument, violence or pressure. For a violent person will die a violent death.

A leader is best when people barely know they exist, they talk little and work hard. Force is followed by loss of strength. Humility and meekness are the way, for the "ax falls on the tallest tree." The way of the soldier who uses resistance does not work, for all people are of the same body.

Weapons are instruments of fear; they are not the wise person’s tools. They are used only when a person has no choice. A brave and passionate person will kill or be killed. A brave and calm person will always preserve life.

If you rejoice in victory, you rejoice in killing. If you delight in killing, you cannot fulfill yourself. War is like a funeral.

The more laws and restrictions there are the poorer people become. The sharper people’s weapons the more trouble in the land. When the country is ruled with a light hand the people are simple. When the country is ruled with severity the people are cunning.

Everything complements and balances the other, male-female, good-evil, active-passive, light-dark. They are all part of the circle, the opposites of a revolving wheel.

Knowing others is wisdom; knowing yourself is enlightenment;

Mastering others requires force; mastering the self needs strength.

One gains by losing and loses by gaining.

Accept being unimportant. Do not be concerned with loss or gain.

Life moves not in a straight line, but bends back upon itself until it comes full circle.

A good person is not aware of their goodness. The wise work without recognition. They serve with humility and lead from behind so the people will not feel dominated. Because the wise do not compete they do not meet competition. The wise person is shy and humble, they are good to all people—the faithful and the unfaithful, they are like a newborn child.

When we do not praise the gifted, there is no quarreling. When we collect no treasures there is no stealing.

Do not fill your cup to the brim, store gold and jade for protection, claim wealth and titles for they can be lost.

Be open to all things, give birth, create and nourish but do not possess. Work but take no credit, lead but do not dominate. Trust so you can be trusted. A person who does not trust enough will not be trusted.

We can know the whole world without going outside. We can know heaven without looking through a window. The further we go the less we know.

Yield and overcome; bend and be straight. Empty and be full; wear out and be new. Have little and gain; have much and be confused.

Seeking to learn is to acquire, seeking the Tao is to become empty. In the pursuit of learning, everyday something is acquired. In the pursuit of Tao, everyday something is dropped. Give up learning and put an end to your troubles. When we have no learning we have no cleverness, we drift like the waves of the sea. We need nothing for the great mother earth nourishes us. Though our body dies, the Tao will never pass away.

The Tao says take only what we need, for to have little is to gain. To be rich is have enough. For one gains by losing and losses by gaining.

When we are attached to things it causes suffering. When we save we suffer loss, when we are contented we are never disappointed.

Freedom from desire is wise, for the Tao has more than enough and gives it to the world.

The wise need little, see great in the small, much in the few, and simplicity in the complicated. The way of the Tao is to achieve greatness in little things.

When we mask our brightness and become one with the dust of the earth, then we are unconcerned with friends and enemies, with good and harm, honor and disgrace for we are one with the Tao.

The way is not to wear gorgeous clothes, carry sharp swords or instruments of fear, drink and eat too much or have more possessions than we can use for then we become as robbers and barons. For the way is like an empty vessel, it is to be used but never filled.

In dwelling be close to the land. In meditation, go deep in the heart. In dealing with others, be gentle and kind. In speech, be true . In ruling be just. In business, be competent. In action, watch the timing. No fight: No blame.

The world is ruled by letting things take their course, not by interfering.

Surrender yourself humbly: then you can be trusted to care for all things. Love the world as your own self: then you can truly care for all things.

The universe is sacred, we cannot improve it. If we change it, we ruin it.

If we hold it, we loose it. Man follows the earth, the earth follows heaven, heaven follows what is natural.