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Each week we address one chapter of the Tao Te Ching. The Tao Te Ching can be obscure, especially if you think you're supposed to understand what it's saying! We find it easier and more instructive to simply contemplate how the chapter resonates with your personal experience. Becoming more aware at this fundamental level simplifies life. This approach conforms to the view that true knowing lies within ourselves. Thus, when a passage in the scripture resonates, you've found your inner truth. The same applies for when it evokes a question; questions are the grist for self realization.
Chapter 66
The reason why the River and the Sea are able to be king of the hundred valleys
is that they excel in taking the lower position. Hence they are able to be king
of the hundred valleys.Therefore, desiring to rule over the people,
One must in one's words humble oneself before them;
And, desiring to lead the people,
One must, in one's person, follow behind them.Therefore the sage takes his place over the people yet is no burden;
takes his place ahead of the people yet causes no obstruction. That is why the
empire supports him joyfully and never tires of doing so.It is because he does not contend that no one is the empire is in a position to
contend with him.Read commentary previously posted for this chapter.
Read notes on translations
Now, do it too at Wengu! -
[Note: I italicize phrases I borrow from the chapter, and link to phrases I borrow from other chapters to help tie chapters together. While making it more tedious to read,
the Tao Te Ching is best pondered in the context of the whole.]The lower position sure is comfortable! The first time I returned to this country, after seven years abroad, it felt very odd. Familiar, and yet distant. Parts of me were prompted to contend with the materialistic and wasteful, 'every man for himself', individual obsessed culture that is America (relative to Asia where I’d settled down and became assimilated). This, and other chapters which speak directly to the issue of non-contention were so very helpful. Yes, I had to constantly keep actively aware of this ‘virtue’, otherwise instinct would overtake my behavior. The take home lesson here is that as long as I kept an active awareness of the stakes involved, I was actually able to get along with folks here during my stay without contending with them. And naturally, that is as true today as it was then. Simply put, simply remember!
Like they say, it takes two to start a fight, or as chapter 22 puts it, It is because he does not contend that no one in the empire is in a position to contend with him. Hmm, now where have I seen that before.
The nearly literal:
The river and the sea therefore serve as the king of the hundred vallies,
Because they are perfect at being below.
Hence they can serve as the king of the hundred vallies.
Correctly so the wise person,
Longing to be above the people, must in words be below.
Longing to be before the people, must in personally be behind.
Correctly so the wise person,
Dwells above, yet the people are not weighed down,
Dwells ahead, yet the people are not impaired.
Used correctly, all below heaven enjoy life's grind, and never get tired.
Because it doesn't contend, none below heaven can contend with it.The nearly translated:
river sea therefore (so, as a result) do (act as, serve as, mean) 100 vallies king,
use (take, because of) their good (perfect, adepts) below (lower, inferior) of,
hence able (capable; can) do (act as, serve as, mean) 100 vallies king.
correctly use wise person
desire (longing) upper (up; higher; superior; better) the people, must use speech (word) below (lower, inferior) of,
desire (longing) earlier (before, first) the people, must use body (life, personally) behind (rear, after) of.
correctly use wise person
manage (dwell, live) upper (up; higher; superior; better) yet the people not heavy (important, deep),
manage (dwell, live) front (ahead; first) yet the people not evil (harm; impair; cause trouble).
correctly use heaven below happy (cheerful, enjoy) push (grind, cut) yet not detest (be tired of).
use (take, because of) its not contend,
hence, heaven below no one able (capable; can) participate in (give, together with) on contend (vie).
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