03 Tao Te Ching General Explanation Chapter 3

03 Tao Te Ching General Explanation Chapter 3

original:

If you are not virtuous, you will not argue with the people; if you are not expensive and rare goods, the people will not be stolen; if you do not see what you want, so that the people will not be chaotic. Yes, the rule of the saints, the humility of their hearts, the truth of their belly, the weakness of their will, the strength of their bones, the constant making the people have nothing, the knowledge of no desire, so that the husband knows that he does not dare, and the buddha does not do it; then there is no cure.

exegesis:

Top: Advocating, respecting.

See: Show, let people see.

Knowledge: Tongzhi, some versions are "wisdom".

In fact, it is a good thing: let the people have no worries about food and clothing.

Strengthen their bones: let the people be strong, healthy and happy.

General:

If you are not virtuous, you will not argue with the people; if you are not expensive and rare goods, the people will not be stolen; if you do not see what you want, so that the people will not be chaotic.

Do not advocate meritocracy, so that the people do not compete for status; do not pay expensive and rare goods, so that the people do not steal; do not show what the people hope to get, so that the people do not scramble and grab. ★ The second chapter of the Tao Te Ching just says that comparison is the fundamental way to know all things. People are born with the distinction between wisdom and foolishness, and there is a distinction between meritocracy and inferiority; there is always a distinction between noble and inferior in the use of goods, and things are rare and expensive. It is contrary to reason not to worship the virtuous and the rare goods that are not expensive. Why did the reasoned Lao Tzu list these things that violated reason? For he wants to tell people that saints can do this according to reason; let people worship merit without controversy, and precious and rare goods without stealing. How can this be done?

Yes, the rule of the saints, the humility of their hearts, the truth of their belly, the weakness of their will, the strength of their bones, the constant making the people have nothing, the knowledge of no desire, so that the husband knows that he does not dare, and the buddha does not do it; then there is no cure.

Therefore, this is how the saints govern the world, so that the people are humble, food and clothing, ambition is weakened, and they are strong, and they are always quiet and inactive, wise and desireless; so that the people know that they dare not do it and do not do it. If so, there is nothing that cannot be governed. ★ Lao Tzu told people that in order to achieve the seemingly impossible things in front of them, they only need to let the people have no worries about food and clothing, physical fitness, health and happiness, and wisdom and desirelessness. Wise people dare not and will not do things that go against the truth, do not argue or grab, and are content and happy; stupid people will be bold, want to fill in the gaps, and want to make the intellect faint. Let the people be wise, worry-free about food and clothing, health and happiness is the fundamental way to govern society.

Translation:

Do not advocate meritocracy, so that the people do not compete for status; do not pay expensive and rare goods, so that the people do not steal; do not show what the people hope to get, so that the people do not scramble and grab. Therefore, this is how the saints govern the world, so that the people are humble, food and clothing, ambition is weakened, and they are strong, and they are always quiet and inactive, wise and desireless; so that the people know that they dare not do it and do not do it. If so, there is nothing that cannot be governed.

keynote:

Emphasize that the fundamental way to govern society is to make people worry-free, healthy and happy, and have no desire for wisdom. Advocate the wise people and oppose the foolish people. As long as the people have wisdom, they will be content and happy, and they will not fight.

The wise see the wise, and the fool sees the foolish. Many "high-ranking people" in history have completely misinterpreted this chapter, believing that this chapter of Lao Tzu advocates foolishness. As a result, people are unable to understand the Tao Te Ching. Fools cannot understand the wise, and the misinterpretation of the Tao Te Ching is normal. Wise Taoists emphasize the wise people, of course, it is impossible to advocate foolish people, but stupid people do not understand or deliberately distort.

Taking a step back, what ruler in history has allowed the people to be well fed, healthy, healthy and happy?