Tao Te Ching 31 (First Part)

Tao Te Ching 31 (First Part of the second paragraph)

Weapons are tools of fear;

A decent man will avoid them

Except in the direst necessity

And, if compelled, will use them

Only with the utmost restraint.

Today I will interpret the first part of the second paragraph of the Tao Te Ching 31. Weapons are tools of fear; a decent man will avoid them except in the direst necessity and, if compelled, will use them only with utmost restraint. This statement is true because man only use weapons when having fear of something or having fear of someone because when one has no fear of someone or something, he will not use weapon to protect him or to use it to stop what fears him, because he know to himself that he did not step on someone or hurt someone. A decent man only use weapon when really needed. For example, when man is just protecting himself from someone who envies him, in the present time, we call it self defense. A decent man only uses it as a self defense and does not use it to harm someone because he just likes to kill who he wants. And if compelled, will use them only with utmost restraint. Decent man only knows when and what is the proper time to use a weapon and does not use it whenever he wants it and a decent man only used a weapon with the utmost control.

Tao Te Ching 31 (First Part)

Tao Te Ching 31 (First Part)

Weapons are the tools of violence;

All decent men detest them.

Today I will interpret the Tao Te Ching 31 (First Part). Weapons are the tools of violence; all decent men detest them. It is true that weapons are the tools of violence because weapons create harm and are used in doing bad things especially killings. In wars or battles, weapons are being used and its effects are so devastating that it can paralyze a country. All decent men detest them, decent men detest weapon if not really needed because weapons only create conflicts and conflicts must be arrange through good talks or peace talks.

Tao Te Ching 68 (First Paragraph)

Tao Te Ching 68 (First Paragraph)

The best athlete,

wants his opponents best.

The best general,

enters the mind of his enemy.

The best businessman,

serves the communal good.

The best leader,

follows the will of the people.

Today I will interpret the Tao Te Ching 68 (First Paragraph). The best athlete wants his opponents best. This is true because every athlete wants to compete with the best to show what they really practiced for and for them to see their limits. They want their opponents best because having a very good opponent means having a worthy competition and it means that their hard work is paid off.

The best general enters the mind of his enemy. It is true that the best general enters the mind of the enemy. Generals anticipate what the enemy will show. They study each of their enemy, for them to know the weakness and strengths of each of their enemy. They also enter the mind to see what the enemy wants and for them to do some action.

The best businessman serves the communal good. It is true that the best businessman serves the communal good. It’s the best businessman task to offer the good and the best product for his patron to use and it is his task to sell the people what’s the best product for both of them to benefit.

The best leader follows the will of the people. It is true that the best leader follows the will of the people. It is the best leader who lead hi/her people to the right path and it is the best leader who follows the will of the people if he thinks it would benefit all and not only him or his colleague. It is the best leader who follows the will of the people because it is the leaders task to make what the people wants because what the people wants will make many benefit from it.

Tao Te Ching 39 (Second Paragraph)

Tao Te Ching 39 (Second Paragraph)

When man interferes with the Tao,

the sky becomes filthy,

the earth becomes depleted,

the equilibrium crumbles,

creatures become extinct.

Today I will interpret the Tao Te Ching 39 (Second Paragraph). When man interferes with the Tao, the sky becomes filthy. This statement is true because when there is only Tao, flow of harmony is balance and there is nothing ruining the sky but because of man, the sky becomes filthy because of their different innovations, like the chemical that the planes emit and the smoke coming from the factories.

When man interferes with the Tao, the earth becomes depleted. This statement is true because the earth is solid and whole when only the Tao is flowing in the earth but when the man interferes, the earth becomes depleted because of man’s different activities, like mining, drilling and some activities that involve getting or destroying the earth.

When man interferes with the Tao, the equilibrium crumbles. This statement is true because when only Tao flourish in this earth, all things are growing on their own on a natural way and everything is balance for everyone but when man interferes, food became scarce and things gets unbalanced.

When man interferes with the Tao, creatures become extinct. This statement is true because when only Tao flourish in earth, creatures live peacefully and balanced but when man interferes, killing of animals had begun for different purposes and there is no respect for the animals because man only thinks for themselves.

Tao Te Ching 39 (First Paragraph)

Tao Te Ching 39 (First Paragraph)

In harmony with the Tao,

the sky is clear and spacious,

the earth is solid and full,

all creatures flourished together,

content with the way they are,

endlessly repeating themselves,

endlessly renewed.

Today I will interpret the Tao Te Ching 39 (First Paragraph). In harmony with the Tao, the sky is clear and spacious. It means that without the interference of something, the sky is clear because only Tao flows in it and it is spacious because nothing or no one is using it. The earth is solid and full. It means that the earth is not ruined or not destroyed because only Tao flows on it, and no other thing destroys it. All creatures flourished together. It means that when there is Tao, every creature enjoys and does not harm each other because there is nothing bad hat influenced them. Content with the way they are. It means that everyone is contented because there is no distinction between things. Endlessly repeating themselves and endlessly renewed. It simple means that the things act on its natural way because there is nothing controlling them or interfering.

Midterm Synthesis Paper Four(4)

What is philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy by Lao Tzu in the way he lays out the steps for the development of the sage?

Letting things on its way is the philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy by Lao Tzu in the way he lays out the steps for the development of the sage.

I can say that letting things on its way is the philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy by Lao Tzu in the way he lays out the steps for the development of the sage because in development of the sage, there are two parts, unlearning and non-action. In Unlearning, the more you know the more you know the little you know. When knowing things, you should not hurry yourself because when you hurry yourself, the more you will not know things. Knowing comes naturally, it doesn’t come when you are conscious about it, you will not able to sustain it. For example, when studying, when you force yourself to study, it is when you will know little things but when you let yourself relax and not think about it, it is the time when things will flow to your mind and realize things.  It is when you force things, it doesn’t happen.

In non-action, you should not over do things because when you over do things, it will have bad result. Knowing when to stop is critical. Knowing when to stop is really critical because when you know when to stop, you already know that the result of the things that you are doing is moderate and balance. In non-action, you will achieve your goal when not over doing things and just wait for the proper time and just let things on its own. When starting a thing without doing, it is when you realize that you have accomplished what you have done. For example, when growing a tree, when you will not notice it every day and just letting it grow by itself, you will be surprised someday that the seed you have planted, grows so tall and healthy. While when you notice it every day, water it every day, you will be surprised that it died and did not grow. In non-action, you will not notice that you accomplish a thing, without doing a thing. Sometimes, not doing a thing is the best thing to be done, because when you do things in a hurry, it is when it will have bad result or no result at all. Therefore letting things on its way is the philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy by Lao Tzu in the way he lays out the steps for the development of the sage.

Tao Te Ching 3 (First Paragraph)

Tao Te Ching 3 (First Paragraph)

If you over-esteem great men,

People become powerless.

If you over value possessions,

People begin to steal.

Today I would like to interpret the lower part of the Tao Te Ching 3 (First Paragraph). “If you over value possessions, people begin to steal” this statement is true and very noticeable in our community or in the present time. When possessions are not valuable or you don’t show great value to it, people will not notice it and will not attempt to get it from you, because they can see that the things you possess don’t have that great value and therefore it is useless for them. But if you over value your possessions, people will begin to steal it from you. People will notice that you show great value to it, and when you show great value to a thing, it means that it is so important and valuable; therefore the people will think of it as really expensive and begin to steal it from you.

Midterm Synthesis Paper Three(3)

What is philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy by Lao Tzu in the way he characterizes the sage?

Namelessness is philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy by Lao Tzu in the way he characterizes the sage.

We can see in the Tao Te Ching 72 the character or namelessness, especially in the line “Therefore the sage knows himself but makes no show, has self-respect but is not arrogant.” In this part the character of namelessness is really visible or noticeable. It is said in this part that the sage knows himself but makes no show, it means that the sage knows many things but he make no show because he don’t want to have fame or he really don’t want to be known because the sage is humble and don’t want to be notice or recognize. ‘He has self-respect but is not arrogant’, this part also shows that the sage is also humble and not arrogant. He knew himself well and knew good things about himself but he doesn’t brag about it and boast about it because as I have said, the sage don’t want to be noticed or don’t want to be recognized.

It is also seen or noticed in the Tao Te Ching 2, especially in the part that is said that ‘Therefore the sage goes about doing nothing, teaching no-talking. Creating, yet possessing. Working, yet not taking credit.’ In this part we can see that the sage don’t do a thing to be credited for something because the sage don’t want to be credited or don’t want fame. When one teach, it means that he/she sees himself as something because he/she thinks that he has the capacity to teach and it made him/her bragging about himself that he know something or know many things.

We can notice that the sage don’t want to become something or to be credited with something he has done because the sage wants to be nameless and the character of the sage is namelessness. The sage doesn’t teach because when he teaches, it means that he is something because he has the capability to teach and he doesn’t want to become something. And when he works, he does not want to be credited for it or notice for it because it is his character the character of not to be know.

It is also shown in the Tao Te Ching 64, especially in the part that is said that ‘The sage does not act, and so is not defeated. He does not grasp and therefore does not lose.’ When one does something, it means that the things that he has done have a result, and the result is not known. And when the result is not known, you will not know whether you lose or you win therefore the sage does not act so there will be no bad result. And the sage does not grasp because when grasping, it has the result of falling therefore the sage don’t do a thing.

Therefore, namelessness is philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy by Lao Tzu in the way he characterizes the sage.

Tao Te Ching 65 (Second Paragraph)

Tao Te Ching 65 (Second Paragraph)

When they think they know the answers,

People are difficult to guide.

When they know that they don’t know,

People can find their own way.

Today I will interpret the Tao Te Ching 65 (second Paragraph). “When they think they know the answers, people are difficult to guide” This statement is true, because you cannot guide a person to the right answer if that person has already his/her biases or if he/she is close minded. When a person has a answer. He/she will not anymore listen or don’t want any more to be guided because his/her mind is already closed or set.

“When they know that they don’t know, people can find their own way” This statement is true because when one is not closed minded, he/she is always ready to listen and always listen to what others tell good and accept it but when he/she is close minded he/she can’t find his/her way because he/she already has the answer on him/her and would not listen even the one he/she has is false and the one that will be given to him/her as an answer is true.

Midterm Synthesis Paper One(1)

What is Philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy by Lao Tzu in the way he perceives the philosophical problem?

“Contentment” is the philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy by Lao Tzu in the way he perceives the philosophical problem.

I can say that contentment is the philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy by Lao Tzu in the way he perceives the philosophical problem because wanting more is the problem. In the Tao Te Ching 46:5-7 (Gia Fu Feng & Jane English) “There is no greater sin than desire, No greater curse than discontent, No greater misfortune than wanting something for oneself”, we can see or tell that wanting more or having a great desire is the problem. In “There is no greater sin than desire” when wanting something or desiring something, it will make you do a thing that will make you sinful or you will make a thing than is not good. Like when you desire to be rich but you don’t have the capacity to be rich. You will do so many bad things that will make you rich, even the things that you will do is bad and can harm others.

In “There is no greater curse than discontentment”, it is like in the first sentence of the Tao Te Ching 46:5-7. When one has no contentment in his/herself, he/she will become discontent with what he/she has and if one is discontented with what he/she has, he/she will do a thing that would satisfy him/her even it is bad. While when a man has contentment or if a man is contented with what he she has. He will not do things or bad things that would suffice his wants and being contented will make you not to desire more because desiring more will make you harm others or do bad things.

In “There is no greater misfortune than wanting something for oneself” when one is contented with what he or she has, he/she will not desire more or desire bigger for oneself and when one is not desiring more or bigger for oneself, he/she will not be put in danger or in bad situation while when one is wanting more or big for oneself, he/she will be put in danger because of the desire to become something big.

In Tao Te Ching 75 (Gia Fu Feng & Jane English) “Why are people starving? Because the ruler eats up the money in taxes; therefore the people are starving. Why are the people rebellious? Because the rulers interfere too much; therefore they are rebellious. Why do the people thing so little of death? Because the rulers demand too much of life; therefore the people take death lightly. Having little to live on, one knows better than to value life too much” in this verse, we can see or tell that the root of the disorder is discontentment or wanting more or too much. When one is discontented with what he/she have or if one wants too much. He/she will not think of others anymore whether he/she can harm others by his actions or not, because he/she only thinks of himself and he/she desires more and not being contented with what he/she have.

Therefore, “Contentment” is the philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy by Lao Tzu in the way he perceives the philosophical problem.

Tao Te Ching 66 (Second Paragraph)

Tao Te Ching 66 (Second Paragraph)

If you want to govern the people,

You must place yourself below them.

If you want to lead the people,

You must learn how to follow them.

Today I will interpret the Tao Te Ching 66 (Second Paragraph). “If you want to govern the people, you must place yourself below them” this statement if true because when one wants to govern the people and does not want to place him/herself below the people, how can he/she know what the people need and want. While when one that wants to govern the people, placed him/herself below the people, he/she can know what the people want and need.

“If you want to lead the people, you must learn to follow them” this statement is also true because when a person wants to lead the people, he/she must also learn how to follow them. Because when you want to lead the people, you must learn to follow them because when you learn to follow them, you can know how to be a follower and can know what to do as a leader for the follower to feel good and safe.

Tao Te Ching 48 (Second Part)

Tao Te Ching 48 (Second Part)

“True mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way. It can’t be gained by interfering”

Today I will interpret the Tao Te Ching 48 (Second Part). “True mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way. It can’t be gained by interfering”. This statement is true, I will give the chick that is about to let go of its shell. When a chick is about to get out of its shell and you want to make it fast, so you help it crack it shell and let the chick out. Eventually the chick will die because it does not get out of its shell naturally while when you do not touch it. It will live because the chick will get out naturally without pain.

Another example is when you are learning something. You cannot learn what you are trying to learn when you will do it fast because you want to learn fast. You will not master what you are trying to learn because you cannot master something in just a short span of time because mastering something needs time, patience and effort. While when you are patient learning it, you will eventually mater and learn it in its true way. While when you learn it in a fast way, you cannot master it because as I have said, mastering something needs time and patience.

Tao Te Ching 9 (Second Paragraph)

Tao Te Ching 9 (Second Paragraph)

Gold and jade fill up the room

No one is able to protect them

Wealth and position bring arrogance

And leave disaster upon oneself

Today I will interpret the Tao Te Ching 9 (Second Paragraph. “Gold and jade fill up the room, no one is able to protect them”. It means that when a place is full of wealth and money or so much richness, there is no one will be able to protect them. Because even how much you will protect or care for your wealth, there will be many people that will act to get it from you and it just mean that when having so much wealth, you will never able to protect it and it will actually put you in danger or harm.

“Wealth and position bring arrogance, and leave disaster upon oneself”. This statement means that when you have so much wealth, it will bring arrogance or make you arrogant and being arrogant will bring harm upon oneself. For example, politicians who acquired so much wealth through their terms. Politicians because arrogant and don’t notice that they have stooped down to someone or hurt someone and it makes them bad and out of control and when you have stooped down to someone, you will have so many enemy and cannot live a simple and peaceful life. Therefore, having so much in this world is harmful or can cause harm.

Tao Te Ching 9 (First Part)

Tao Te Ching 9 (First Part)

Holding a cup and overfilling it, cannot be as good as stopping short.

Pounding a blade and sharpening it, cannot be kept for long.

Today I will interpret the Tao Te Ching 9 (First Part). “Holding a cup and overfilling it, cannot be as good as stopping short” this statement is true because when overfilling a cup, it will eventually pour out and the water or anything you contain in a cup will be spilled and useless and you just waste an amount of something. While when it is in a normal level, it will not be spilled and you can use what you have put efficiently and it will not be just a waste.

“Pounding a blade and sharpening it, cannot be kept for long” when pounding a blade for so long because you want it to be super fine, it will eventually be broken because you did not expect that it will be push to its limit and it will break. Even in inflating a balloon, you want it to be so big but you don’t notice that it cannot contain much air and it pops out. The two statements mean that when making a thing or doing a thing, you should not push it to its limit because everything that is too much is bad and harmful. And being moderate is really good and having a moderation in all aspects of life, will result a good outcome. And when everything is moderate it will not have a adverse effect.

Second Synthesis Paper Mid

What is Philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy as revealed by the assumptions for the solution?

The Philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy as revealed by the assumptions for a solution is ‘Balance’ or all about the balance of things. I can say that is balance because as I read his assumptions of the solution, I can see the common ground of his verses in the given readings and it is balance. Like in the nature of opposites, one cannot work without the existence of its opposite and all things in this world has its opposites that give each other their distinction. And in the essence of Tao, one cannot use of the other when one has no space for the other or no space for something. Tao don’t choose but it wants balance on all things, like in the Tao 77 “The Tao of heaven is to take from those who have too much and give to those who do not have enough.

Tao is for everyone. Tao does not choose who side is it. Tao sees all as the same and balance. Tao does not want to see someone or something that is ahead of someone or at the back of someone because Tao is impartial like in the verse in Tao Te Ching 5 “Heaven is impartial; They see ten thousand things as straw dogs. The wise are impartial; they see the people as straw dogs.” And in the expression of the Tao, one must not be over but rather one must be balance. Like in the Tao Te Ching 9 “Better to stop short than fill to brim. Over sharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt. Amass storage of gold and jade, and no one can protect it. Claim wealth and titles, and disaster will follow. Retire when the work is done. This is the way of heaven.” One must be balance to show its full potential or use its full potential. Therefore the Philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy as revealed by the assumptions for the solution is Balance.

Tao Te Ching 33 (Third Part)

Tao Te Ching 33 (Third Part)

Those who know contentment are wealthy.

Those who proceed vigorously have willpower.

Today I will interpret the Tao Te Ching 33 (Third Part). “Those know contentment is wealthy”. This statement is indeed true because when one is contented with what he/she has, he/she don’t feel that there is something lacking on him/her but when one is not contented with what he/she have, he/she will feel that he/she don’t have that more and he/she will don’t feel that he has many of the things that he/she thinks less. Having contentment means having the feeling of not being empty and the feeling of being moderate. While having no contentment means having the feeling of there is something more you want and feels being empty even in fact you have more.

“Those who proceed vigorously have willpower”. This statement is indeed true because in life, there are so many trials which would challenge us if we are capable of fighting it or not. Everyone of us has many trials in life that we have passed or awaits us, It is the one who is strong that would proceed and have the willpower to live more but those who surrender to the trials in life, are those people who lacks the strength and lacks the willpower to survive and therefore surrender to the trials of life.

Tao Te Ching 49 (Second Paragraph)

Tao Te Ching 49 (Second Paragraph)

To those who are good to me, I am good; and to those who are not good to me; I am also good; and thus all get to be good. To those who are sincere with me, I am sincere; and to those who are not sincere with me, I am also sincere; and thus all get to be sincere.

Today I will interpret the Tao Te Ching 49 (Second Paragraph). “To those who are good to me, I am good; and to those who are not good to me, I am also good; and thus all get to be good”. This sentence means that being good does not require for someone to be good also to you. If you are good to others, continue being good to them even they show you with bad things or even they don’t return goodness that you showed to them. When you are showing goodness to others, don’t be tired showing it to them even they don’t show it back to you because when they saw that you are being good to them even they are not being good to you, they will eventually be good to you and if you show everyone with goodness, everyone will be good to you and to each other.

“To those who are sincere with me, I am sincere; and to those who are not sincere with me, I am also sincere; and thus all get be sincere”. Same thing with the first paragraph, you should also be sincere even the person you showed sincerity is not sincere with you. Don’t be weary of being sincere with everyone even they are not sincere with you, because once they reflected on their action, they will be the one who will be ashamed with their not being sincere with you even you are sincere. And once they reflected on it, they will show sincerity to you. Once sincerity is established to many, it will follow to the few who are not sincere and once it followed, all will get to be sincere.

Tao Te Ching 47 (Second Paragraph)

Tao Te Ching 47 (Second Paragraph)

The more you know, the less you understand.

Today I will interpret the Tao Te Ching 47 (Second Paragraph). The more you know, the less you understand. I adhere to what Lao Tzu said. I will give the student as an example. When studying many things or many subjects, you are prone to confusion and you can’t understand some points in your reading materials. But when you study one by one and exert time studying to the specific subject, you will understand well the points and the lessons in the book or material that you are studying.

Another example is when you are choosing what course do you want, you have many choices but you should choose only one. You choose the one that you think that fit for you and by choosing the specific course. You will learn a lot and can concentrate on a specific field that you chose and you can understand it well.

 Another example is the Swiss knife. Swiss knife has many used but the tools that are put on it are not really that useful and you cannot fully use the use of some tools in the Swiss knife. In knowing things you can know many things but cannot grasp or fully understand each one of the things you know. But when you concentrate on specific things, you can understand it well.