Lao Tzu
(dates unknown, estimated by scholars that he lived between 300 and 600 BC)
The biography of Lao Tzu is difficult to trace, and several people questioned whether or not one actual person or many were responsible for the teachings recorded in the Tao Te Ching. It is not clearly known who Lao Tzu actually was. He is, however, thought to have been a Great Sage who recorded the Tao Te Ching, one of China's most studied and oldest manuscripts of ancient wisdom. Some scholars believe that the Tao Te Ching may be an anthology of wisdom compiled from ancient teachings of many different Chinese sages. In this course, we will treat Lao Tzu as if he existed, and look at some of those stories surrounding his life, as well as presenting some of the teachings of the Tao Te Ching.
The name Lao Tzu is thought to be a title rather than a proper name, and denotes “the old son,” “the old man,” “the old philosopher,” or “old master.” One of the accounts of the life of Lao Tzu claimed that he lived to be over 160 years old, and thus earned the title. Another, more dramatic and seemingly mythological story tells that Lao Tzu’s mother carried him in her womb for 62 years, and thus he was born with white hair, and appeared as an old man, hence his name. Some accounts recorded his actual name as Lao Tan, or Li Er. A work by Ssu-ma Ch’ien, recorded around 90 B.C.E., tells us that sometime in the sixth century B.C.E. Lao Tzu was born, and was appointed Keeper of the Imperial Archives by the Emperor of Zhou, in Luoyang, now the Honan Province. He studied intensively in the Royal library, growing in wisdom and insight.
Lao Tzu became known as a sage, and soon Confucius heard of this wise man, and came to visit him. At the time, Confucius placed great importance on performing rituals and rites, and honoring ancestors. He asked Lao Tzu to comment on these practices. It is said that Lao Tzu told him, “The bones of the people you are talking about have long since been turned to dust! Only their word lingers on. If a man's time comes, he will be successful; if not he will not be successful. A successful merchant hides his wealth and a noble person of character will feign foolishness. Therefore you should give up your proud airs, your desires, vanity and extravagant claims! They are useless to you.”
Later, Confucius tells his students, “Birds can fly, fish can swim, animals can run, so they can all be snared or trapped. But Lao Tzu is like a flying dragon, un-trappable.”
Ssu-ma Ch’ien next records that Lao Tzu, unsettled with the cultural decline of the state, decides to travel into the western mountains. At the gate of the outer entrance to the state, the keeper of the gate, recognizing him, asks Lao Tzu to allow his teachings to be recorded. At this time it is said that he stayed with the gatekeeper for two days, during which time he recorded the Tao Te Ching. After this, it is said that he was not seen or heard from again.
Lao Tzu’s status was to change and transform through the centuries of Chinese history. He was thought of as an inspiration for political philosophy. Eventually he was thought to be immortal, even deified as Lord Haung-Lao, Lord Lao, and later, Li Hung, The Perfect Lord. He was believed to maintain harmony and to be intimately connected with the Tao, the way of the cosmos.
Dr. Chalmers, who translated the Tao Te Ching, did not try to translate the word Tao. He says, “No English word is its exact equivalent. Three terms suggest themselves the way, reason, and the word; but they are all liable to objection. If we were guided by etymology, the way would come nearest to the original, and in one or two passages the idea of a way seems to be in the term; but this is too materialistic to serve the purpose of the translation.” In subsequent translations, the Tao is translated as “the way.” For the sake of this study, the Tao Te Ching could be called “The Way Of Virtue,” yet this is a simplistic translation, communicating only a shadow of the true meaning of the Tao. The Tao seems, as a mere word, to symbolize that which existed before language, and cannot be named, for when the naming occurs, the Tao becomes manifest, and no longer in its pure, undifferentiated form. The symbol of Yin/Yang, with its white part and black part representing the manifest world of opposites, represents that which is beyond separation and contains all opposites. The Yin/Yang symbol can be meditated on to understand the Tao.
To illustrate this point, here are the opening lines of the Tao Te Ching:
The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao;
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth;
The named is the mother of all things.
Hence always rid yourself of desires in order to observe its secrets;
But always allow yourself to have desires in order to observe its manifestations.
These two are the same
But diverge in name as they issue forth.
Being the same they are called mysteries,
mystery upon mystery,
The gateway of the manifold secrets.
Further expressions of this mystery follow, from translations of the Tao Te Ching:
Man follows the ways of the Earth
Earth follows the ways of Heaven
Heaven follows the way of Tao
Tao follows its own nature.
The Tao gives birth to all beings,
nourishes them, maintains them,
cares for them, comforts them,
protects them, takes them back to itself,
creating without possessing,
acting without expecting,
guiding without interfering.
That is why the love of the Tao
is in the very nature of things.
If you don't realize the source,
you stumble in confusion and sorrow.
When you realize where you come from,
you naturally become tolerant, disinterested, amused,
kindhearted as a grandmother,
dignified as a king,
immersed in the wonder of the Tao,
you can deal with whatever life brings you,
and when death comes, you are ready.
To attain knowledge,
add things every day.
To attain wisdom,
remove things every day.
Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
mastering yourself is true power.
A tree trunk the size of a man grows from a blade as thin as a hair.
A tower nine stories high is built from a small heap of Earth.
A journey of 1000 miles starts in front of your feet.
A good traveler has no fixed plans,
and is not intent on arriving.
Fill your bowl to the brim
and it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife
and it will blunt.
Chase after money and security
and your heart will never unclench.
Care about people's approval
and you will be their prisoner.
Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity.
All the fish needs to do is get lost in the water.
All man needs to do is get lost in the Tao.
Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles, and the water is clear?
Can you remain unmoving until the right action arises by itself?
The wise man knows without traveling.
The five colors can blind,
the five tones deafen,
the five tastes cloy.
The race, the hunt, can drive men mad
And their spoils leave them no peace.
Therefore the sensible man
Prefers the inner to the outer eye:
He has his yes, he has his no.
People usually fail when they are on the verge of success
So give as much care to the end as to the beginning.
The Tao Te Ching is a classic Taoist text, not as ancient as the I Ching, it was written by Lao Tzu who was a contemporary of Confucius. The Taoist translation of the Tao Te Ching helps us understand yin yang, sometimes called ying yang. The yin yang symbol represents a symbol of opposites in everything and balance of yin or ying and yang. I wonder when the poor translation began, but it seems common that every Confucius quote begins with “Confucius say” followed by a wise quote. Very simply put tao is the concept of balance in all things.