SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Author: Ana

  • Dao De Jing – Chapter 81

    This is the final chapter of the Dao De Jing, where Laozi summarizes the essence of his teachings.

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  • Dao De Jing – Chapter 80

    Chapter 80 of the Dao De Jing is often misinterpreted. Many people interpret it literally, assuming Laozi advocated for breaking up large states and reverting to primitive tribal societies.

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  • Dao De Jing – Chapter 79

    The 79th chapter of the Dao De Jing explores the wisdom of resolving conflicts through harmony, compassion, and alignment with the natural order (Dao).

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  • Dao De Jing – Chapter 78

    Laozi uses water as a metaphor for the Dao for their shared characteristics. Water has no fixed shape, conforming to its container. This mirrors the Dao’s formless nature.

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  • Dao De Jing – Chapter 77

    This chapter uses the metaphor of ‌”drawing a bow”‌ to reveal the dynamic equilibrium of natural law, critique humanity’s exploitative logic of ‌”reducing deficiency to replenish excess,”‌ and propose the sage’s wisdom and principle.

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  • Dao De Jing – Chapter 76

    This chapter is a good embodiment of Lao Tzu’s dialectical wisdom of “softness overcoming hardness”. Laozi uses natural phenomena and life principles to reveal the eternal value of “softness” as the essence of vitality, while critiquing the destructive nature of “rigidity” against natural order.

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  • Dao De Jing – Chapter 75

    This chapter exposes the consequences of rulers’ exploitation and reckless governance through three causal chains—”the people’s hunger,” “the people’s ungovernability,” and “the people’s disregard for death”—while proposing “governance through wu wei (non-action)” or “governance in aligning with the Dao” as the solution.

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  • Dao De Jing – Chapter 74

    Laozi points out that the phenomenon of “the people fearing death no more” fundamentally stems from the ruler’s failure of governance in aligning with the Dao. When extreme deterioration of living conditions—such as famine, tyranny, or war—renders death a normalized reality, its deterrent power collapses. At this point, harsh punishments and draconian laws not only fail to maintain stability but exacerbate social tensions.

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  • Dao De Jing – Chapter 73

    The preferences of Heaven are beyond human understanding. Even sages struggle to discern them, let alone ordinary people! The Dao operates through inscrutable natural laws, transcending human logic. Sages approach such mysteries with humility rather than forced interpretation.

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