Tao and politics

I get comments from people sometimes about my views on politics conflicting with Tao. Well, it’s not like the Tao doesn’t have a lot to say about politics – many of the last third of the verses concern politics and war. War and conflict are not foreign concepts to those who have truly studied Tao, nor do they shy away from them. The monks on their hill are one part of Tao, those who live in the world and have to deal with it are yet another. Some of us can be very outspoken about what we believe, (when we are not busy knowing, of course!) and there is no distinction between this and following the principles and ideas of Tao.

As Walt Whitman would say, “I am large, I contain multitudes.” It was true of Whitman and Whitman’s America, and even truer of the Tao.

Tao Te Ching – Lao Tzu – chapter 57

Rule a nation with justice.
Wage war with surprise moves.
Become master of the universe without striving.
How do I know that this is so?
Because of this!

The more laws and restrictions there are,
The poorer people become.
The sharper men’s weapons,
The more trouble in the land.
The more ingenious and clever men are,
The more strange things happen.
The more rules and regulations,
The more thieves and robbers.

Therefore the sage says:
I take no action and people are reformed.
I enjoy peace and people become honest.
I do nothing and people become rich.
I have no desires and people return to the good and simple life.

Tao Te Ching – Lao Tzu – chapter 60 (my favorite!)

Ruling the country is like cooking a small fish.
Approach the universe with Tao,
And evil will have no power.
Not that evil is not powerful,
But its power will not be used to harm others.
Not only will it do no harm to others,
But the sage himself will also be protected.
They do not hurt each other,
And the Virtue in each one refreshes both.

Tao Te Ching – Lao Tzu – chapter 61

A great country is like low land.
It is the meeting ground of the universe,
The mother of the universe.

The female overcomes the male with stillness,
Lying low in stillness.

Therefore if a great country gives way to a smaller country,
It will conquer the smaller country.
And if a small country submits to a great country,
It can conquer the great country.
Therefore those that would conquer must yield,
And those that conquer do so because they yield.

A great nation needs more people;
A small country needs to serve.
Each gets what it wants.
It is fitting for a great nation to yield.

Tao Te Ching – Lao Tzu – chapter 69

There is a saying amongst soldiers:
I dare not make the first move but would rather play the guest;
I dare not advance an inch but would rather withdraw a foot.

This is called marching without appearing to move,
Rolling up your sleeves without showing your arm,
Capturing the enemy without attacking,
Being armed without weapons.

There is no greater catastrophe than underestimating the enemy.
By underestimating the enemy, I almost lose what I value.

Therefore when the battle is joined,
The underdog will win.

Tao Te Ching – Lao Tzu – chapter 72

When men lack a sense of awe, there will be disaster.

Do not intrude in their homes.
Do not harass them at work.
If you do not interfere, they will not weary of you.

Therefore the sage knows himself but makes no show,
Has self-respect but is not arrogant.
He lets go of that and chooses this.

(translation by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English)