SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Tag: Laozi

  • 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).

    (more…)

  • 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.

    (more…)

  • 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.

    (more…)

  • 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.

    (more…)

  • 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.

    (more…)

  • 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.

    (more…)

  • Dao De Jing – Chapter 72

    When people persist in ignorance and fearlessness, great calamity approaches. Practice moderation in daily living; Preserve the life-sustaining environment. Thus we avoid bitter consequences and cosmic retribution.

    (more…)

  • Dao De Jing – Chapter 71

    The Sage, while inwardly enlightened, outwardly embodies simplicity and humility, appearing more “ignorant” than others. Conversely, many who lack true knowledge pretentiously posture as erudite scholars, deluding themselves into believing they surpass others in wisdom.

    (more…)

  • Dao De Jing – Chapter 67

    The Dao, due to its all-encompassing and formless nature, cannot be grasped through the perception of concrete forms. We learn to cultivate the Dao by emulating the sages. The sages’ treasures for realizing the Dao are ‌compassion‌, ‌frugality‌, and ‌humility‌ (‘daring not to put oneself ahead of the world’).

    (more…)