The good is like water, and the water is good for all things without dispute- Lao Tzu explains in chapter 8

Good is like water. Water is good for all things without controversy, and is evil to all, so it is more than the Tao.

Dwelling in a good place, having a good heart, being kind and benevolent, saying good faith, governing well, doing good deeds, and moving good times.

Husbands are indisputable, so there is no special.

【Translation】

The virtuous are like water. Water is good at moisturizing all things and not competing with all things, staying in the place that everyone hates, so it is closest to the Tao.

The place of residence is good at choosing places, good at keeping calm in the heart, good at treating people with sincere love, good at speaking and abiding by credit, good at streamlining the handling of government, good at giving full play to the strengths of things, and good at grasping the opportunity in action.

Only because there is an indisputable virtue, there is no resentment.

【Commentary】

What is "goodness"?

Wu Cheng said, "The shangshan is said to be the first-class and the ultimate goodness, and the goodness of the Tao." ”

Jiang Xichang said: "Shangshan is called a person who is good, that is, a saint." ”

It can be seen that the upper good can be interpreted as: the ultimate good and the person who has the ultimate good (the one who has the tao, the saint). In the context of union, it is better to translate it as the person who is good.

"Several", near.

These seven sentences are the description of water virtue, the concentrated description of Lao Tzu's use of water as a metaphor for the character of the saints, and the reason why the good people are like water, and the reason why water is close to the Tao.

In the above sentences, Xue Hui once had a concise commentary, and Xue Hui said:

"Do not argue with oneself, avoid the high place, and 'good land'; hide the subtle, unfathomable, 'good roots' also; its charity and love are selfless, 'good and benevolent' is also; its words are not happy, 'good faith' is also; governing the country is quiet and self-righteous, and 'good governance' is also."

Dwelling in the Good: The good are in their proper place like water. The water tends to decline, and the water flows low. Lao Tzu's philosophy advocates: to be weak and strong, "the world is weaker than water, and the strong mo can be first", "after its body and body first, outside its body and body", so the saints are good at choosing places.

Good heart: The heart of the virtuous should be as deep and quiet as the water, that is, it must be nurtured, tolerant, not shallow, not narrow. Only with a broad mind can we tolerate different people and things, and can we better integrate into society.

Good governance: Governing the people should conform to the road, which means ruling without doing anything.

When moving well: water always moves according to the law, and people should do the same, and when they obey the rules, they should go with the flow. Lao Tzu's so-called 'time of doing good' is not that the saint himself has any positive actions and can respond at any time; it is that the saint does nothing, he is silent, and the people are self-reliant. ”

In this chapter, Lao Tzu uses water as a metaphor for the way of man, which is vivid, kind, and easy to understand. Lao Tzu said that the best virtues are like water. The natural nature of water is close to the natural nature of the Tao. To personify the natural nature of water is to be virtuous.

Why? For water always gives all things all kinds of convenience for life and nourishment, never competes with all things for their own selfish interests, and never shows off its own merits; not only that, but water is always in a low-lying place that everyone hates, and it embraces all the dirt that is gathered there.

The water washed away everything and carried all the dirt alone. It is a selfless dedication that is indeed close to the way of the universe.

Man should imitate the spirit of water: he should be in a lower position in society, willing to go to places that others do not want to go, and bear the chores that others do not want to do; tolerate everything like water and bear everything; his heart is as broad and calm as water; he should get along with people, benefit people and love others like soft water; speak the truth, tell the truth, believe what he says, and be consistent with his words and deeds; be in line with the right path for political dignitaries; be honest and selfless for officials, and act without arbitrariness, then the people will be self-righteous and self-righteous, social tranquility, and the country will be prosperous To do things, we must have the tenacity of dripping water through stones like water, and the ability to carry boats with soft kegang; we must be good at grasping the opportunity, advancing with the times, good at seizing opportunities, when moving, when quiet is quiet.