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Translation and Commentary by Nina


	Dao De Jing Chapter 3 Don't place a lot of value on being superior; then people wouldn't have a reason to argue with each other. Don't hold as precious objects that are hard to come by; then people wouldn't have a reason to steal from one another. Don't lavish attention on things that are claimed to be desirable; then people wouldn't be chaotic. It's just natural for a wise person to cure problems by: Emptying their hearts; Satisfying their stomachs; Weakening their determination; Strengthening their bones; Constantly reminding people to accept ignorance and not crave more. Making knowledge something that doesn't have to be foolishly sought after, that doesn't require any actions, and end there. Follow that procedure and there will be nothing that doesn't cure problems. Commentary: 3 ~ How To Rule (Yourself and Others) Although this chapter has been related to the governing of people by an official, it can just as easily be related to governing oneself. What's an easy way to eliminate worries? -Don't place a lot of value on being superior; then people wouldn't have a reason to argue with each other. One thing we can all use as a basis for objective self-contemplation is finding out what things we use to evaluate how people are seen as superior in our eyes. Do we base superiority on what possessions another person has, how they're respected by others, or good qualities we admire in them? You could come up with a long list of things about another person that would make them seem superior to you. You could also look objectively at yourself in the same way - asking which things about yourself you think are superior to others. Then ask yourself if the things you feel are superior have been ingrained into your mind by others - by what you've been told are superior qualities.   The next step would be to ask yourself if you think some people who don't have those qualities are inferior. Would there be a constant battle going on inside yourself, trying to determine which people deserve to be considered superior? We've all seen how arguments arise because people disagree on what makes someone else superior. Each person tries to convince the other that their way of viewing things is the Right way and the other person is wrong. If there wasn't a need to prove one person was superior to anyone else, most arguments wouldn't occur. -Don't hold as precious objects that are hard to come by; then people wouldn't have a reason to steal from one another. As long as some possessions are considered to be of a higher value than other possessions, then robbers and thieves will arise. Don't envy another person's possessions, and don't hold what you have to be more valuable than what another person has. Is it better in some way to own a diamond than an agate? If one thing is considered more precious than another, someone will always have an urge to steal the diamond. -Don't lavish attention on things that are claimed to be desirable; then people wouldn't be chaotic. As long as the emotions are being overwhelmed with images of things that are claimed to be able to fulfill cravings, people will be confused and act chaotically. It's pretty hard nowadays to avoid being bombarded with those types of images, but one way to deal with it is to appreciate the beauty of something without needing to possess it. Chaos occurs when a person sees something desirable, then makes themselves miserable in an attempt to get it. -It's just natural for a wise person to cure problems by: -Emptying their hearts; -Satisfying their stomachs; -Weakening their determination; -Strengthening their bones; -Constantly reminding people to accept ignorance and not crave more. -Making knowledge something that doesn't have to be foolishly sought after, that doesn't require any actions, and end there. A more natural way of living a full life is to release thoughts and emotions while concentrating more on just what's needed to sustain life. Instead of being determined to evaluate yourself by your success, spend time in strengthening your body. If you can accept your own ignorance, then there's no need to prance about as though you might really know something. What would be your motivation to show others that you know more than they do? Laozi seems to be suggesting that all the outer adornments won't help you to live a longer and healthier life. When you have the understanding and acceptance that you're fine just the way you are, then there's no need to put yourself in harm's way by trying to accomplish tasks that aren't suited to you. If you try to be superior in everything you do, then of course you'd worry about whether you could actually accomplish what you set out for yourself. We each have our own strong points, but we don't have to be the best at everything. Striving can become a futile endeavor, and there's solace in finding the contentment that stops at the appropriate time. -Follow that procedure and there will be nothing that doesn't cure problems. Historical Notes: Ancient China, prior to and during the time of Laozi, was a feudal system. There was one main governing body controlled by a King who set up a hierarchial system of officials beneath him. The King actually owned all the land in his kingdom, but the Duke, Marquis, Earl, Viscount and Baron were in control of various amounts of land within that kingdom. The higher the rank of the official, the more land he controlled. It wasn't uncommon for a lower ranking official to kill someone in a higher position in order to usurp his domain. As the King lost more and more control over his officials, they fought with each other to gain more land from each other - thereby gain more power and material possessions. Laozi saw the futility in these quests for dominance. Dao Is Open Site Map \| BY: Nina \| Guodian Laozi \| DDJ Concordance \| Comparisons \| From the DIO Forum \| BY: Bao Pu \| By: Joshua \| Who was Laozi \| \| Return Home \| Laozi's Dao De Jing \| Your Dao De Jing \| Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu) \| Links \| Meditation \| Dao (Tao) is Open Forum \| Book List \| Other Stuff \|