The Tao Te Ching

The Tao Te Ching is a collection of 81 short, poignant chapters full of advice on living in harmony with “the Tao,” translated as “the Way,” an ancient Chinese interpretation of the spiritual force underpinning all life, first written around 400 BC but relevant to this day.

The Master surrenders himself to the moment. He knows the difference between what’s in his control and what’s not in his control. He knows that death is the final outcome, so he does not fear it. Instead, he surrenders to it and prepares himself for it because he knows it may arrive at any time. He doesn’t hold on to anything because he knows nothing will last forever.

The master does what he can do best today and goes to sleep holding nothing back. He knows that he may not wake up tomorrow. And if he does, he rejoices and owns the only thing he can truly own: the present moment. As a moment passes by, he lets it go and comes back to the new moment life has offered him. What matters most to him is how easily he can give himself up to whatever the moment brings while letting go of whatever he’s too tight to.

The old wisdom applies today as much as it was true in the past or it will be in the future. The more you resist to what is, the more you suffer. The illusions in your mind make it hard for you to surrender. True wisdom is being ready to give up anything you may be holding on and accepting the present as it is.

When the master makes a mistake, he realizes it. Having realized it, he admits it. Having admitted it, he corrects it. He doesn’t get offended by the ones who point out his faults. Instead, he treats them as his generous teachers. He catches himself when he’s not giving his best, and then he fixes it. He treats every faulty realization as an opportunity to increase self-awareness and become better, not an excuse to feel down. The master thinks of his enemies as shadows he himself cast. He observes how he judges others. If he gets triggered by someone’s behavior, he recognizes it as a trait he hasn’t embodied fully himself. If he had embodied it, he may observe it, but he won’t get annoyed by it. So he reminds himself of his own faults and corrects them when he sees it in others. Accepting your own fault is one of the toughest things to do because it hurts your ego. But remember, what hurts your ego may be good for your soul. Whether it is through self-observation or through observing…