The Tao Te Ching

The Tao Te Ching is an ancient Chinese text containing the fundamental truths and beliefs of Taoism. The text is, by no means, a clear-cut set of beliefs that just anyone could understand upon their first reading. I am not sure that one could even understand the message after reading the text twice. This type of literature considers the principles of Taoism and of Eastern culture, and requires close reading and analysis. It also requires an open mind.

Throughout the poems that make up the Tao Te Ching, I have found there to be some consistent themes. Many poems refer to “The Way”. Now, The Way is not clearly defined, but is rather described using clever metaphors, similes, and images. Another consistent topic in the Tao Te Ching is the idea of Harmony.

I am fascinated with many of the poems, but specifically am digging deeper into “The Following.” The particular section that I am taking a closer look at reads, “When the great man learns the Way, he follows it with diligence: When the common man learns the Way, he follows it on occasion; When the mean man learns the Way, he laughs out loud.”

The theme of this section is the goodness that prevails when one follows “The Way”. The author refers to the man who choses to follow the way as “great.” He even says that he will follow it with diligence, being careful and persistent. The common man, will only follow it on occasion, therefore he is lower than the great man who is persistent in following the way. The man who “laughs out loud” at The Way is considered mean, therefore, I think that the author holds “The Way” to be true, and great, and ultimately to be the way of life. Later the poem reads, “the finest harmony appears plain”. Here it is interesting that the author takes something so sacred as perfect harmony and pairs it with the word plain. The point that the author is trying to make is that one who has harmony with themselves will not appear as puffed up, proud, or busy, but rather, will appear plain because they have integrity and are content with themselves. We were originally designed to pursue four harmonies, and when we follow The Way, we experience these four harmonies. If one follows the way, they pursue harmony with God, grace; harmony with oneself, integrity; harmony with nature stewardship; and harmony with others, peace.