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Translation and Commentary by Nina


	Dao De Jing Chapter 31 Someone who carries weapons is relying on the most unfavorable tools, and perhaps harbors a hatred for other things in this world. Therefore, someone who's connected with Dao wouldn't consider being comfortable with that. A person of character rests more comfortably with valuing being considered inferior. Someone who'd resort to brandishing weapons finds more value in a sense of needing to defend his honor. Therefore, someone who uses weapons offensively is in direct opposition with the way a person of character would look at the usage of weapons. Therefore, it's said that someone who uses weapons offensively is relying on the most unfavorable tools. If one has no choice but to use them, it should be done dispassionately. One who's forced to act as a superior wouldn't see that as beautiful position to be in. If they did see it as beautiful, then they're certainly someone who finds pleasure in killing another person. You know, finding happiness in killing can never fulfill one's ambitions in this world. Therefore, it's more auspicious to see an inferior position as being superior. Those who see retaining their honor as being superior will be the ones who'll end up having to make funeral arrangements. It's only natural for one who must follow orders to take an inferior position. One who's the highest commander must defend his honor. Then he has to constantly be giving eulogies at funerals. Therefore, killing another person would lead to being in a state of grief. By defeating others he'd always be at a funeral for someone. Commentary: 31 ~ Do you enjoy cutting someone else down? -Someone who carries weapons is relying on the most unfavorable tools, and perhaps harbors a hatred for other things in this world. -Therefore, someone who's connected with Dao wouldn't consider being comfortable with that. The weapons people use isn't necessarily limited to knives and guns. Words and actions can be used in a way to cause devastation to others as well. If a person feels the need to hurt others, it's probably because they have a deep-seated hatred for other people. There are probably many reasons why someone would feel that way, but a person who's felt a connection through Dao with all the other living things in this world would never even consider the possibility of intentionally hurting someone else. There would be no need at all for offensive weapons. -A person of character rests more comfortably with valuing being considered inferior. -Someone who'd resort to brandishing weapons finds more value in a sense of needing to defend his honor. -Therefore, someone who uses weapons offensively is in direct opposition with the way a person of character would look at the usage of weapons. Some people are always feeling a need to defend the attitude that they're superior to others. They're always ready to get into a fight to prove just how superior they are. A person who feels more confident within themselves doesn't have a need to prove anything. They can just as easily take the back seat when necessary. By observing those who prefer lashing out with weapons, it's apparent that they actually have a very limited sense of their own self-worth. -Therefore, it's said that someone who uses weapons offensively is relying on the most unfavorable tools. -If one has no choice but to use them, it should be done dispassionately. -One who's forced to act as a superior wouldn't see that as beautiful position to be in. -If they did see it as beautiful, then they're certainly someone who finds pleasure in killing another person. -You know, finding happiness in killing can never fulfill one's ambitions in this world. If a person is intent on using offensive weapons, then they've denied themselves the opportunity to get deeper within themselves and discover a much more beneficial way to help themselves and others. There are times when we all might have to use weapons to defend ourself if our lives are threatened, but that's a natural instinct for survival and shouldn't be a reaction to emotions. Anyone who has to act in that way can feel within their hearts that it's not something honorable or praiseworthy. If you find pleasure in being offensive, then you must enjoy hurting others. If you enjoy hurting others, you'll never find happiness. -Therefore, it's more auspicious to see an inferior position as being superior. -Those who see retaining their honor as being superior will be the ones who'll end up having to make funeral arrangements. -It's only natural for one who must follow orders to take an inferior position. -One who's the highest commander must defend his honor. -Then he has to constantly be giving eulogies at funerals. -Therefore, killing another person would lead to being in a state of grief. -By defeating others he'd always be at a funeral for someone. We've all been in situations when we've lashed out in anger and hurt someone. We've also experienced times when we've been the victim of someone else's anger. Maybe the reaction of anger and offensiveness is based on our feelings that we've been demoted in some way - a feeling of inadequacy or insecurity. The person lashing out is trying to defend something within him in an effort to show how powerful he really is. If we can feel secure enough within ourselves that no one can take that away from us, why would there be a need to defend anything? When we look at the devastation that's within the heart of an attacker, whether it be ourselves or someone else, it becomes obvious that's not the way to experiencing happiness in this life. Even a momentary feeling of being powerful enough to take down someone else is always followed by a funeral. 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