Reading Log 1: Response to "Thoughts from Tao-te Ching"

8/3/2012
Jeremy Ocampo
Prof. Billy Middleton

     Lau-tzu wrote the Tao-te Ching as basic guidelines for the early rulers of China so that they may lead a successful country through harmony and enlightenment. Lau-tzu focuses mainly on achieving harmony and enlightenment among the people and this is accomplished through minimal government interference thus allowing people to forget that they are being governed. By doing so, "the leader allows the people to achieve good things" (22). Lau-tzu goes on to discuss how by "emptying people's minds" (23), it eliminates people's desires for things that they don't have and this will prevent them from stealing and competing for power. I definitely agree with Lau-tzu's position because by eliminating this desire for something that they do not have, people would be content with what they have and they with enjoy the little this, thus allowing them to live in harmony. He goes on by saying that if a man realizes he has made a mistake, he will correct the mistake and take criticisms from other people. The criticisms are the man's enlightenment and by enlightening the man who made the mistake and not heckling him about it, he will learn and not make the same mistakes in the future. As said by the passage "the master sees the things as they are, without trying to control them. She lets them go their own way and resides at the center of the circle" (26), the leader's main purpose is to allow the people to live their own lives and find the path to enlightenment by presenting to them the knowledge of the Tao. By centering ourselves around the Tao, the whole world would transform itself for the better and "people would be content with their simple, everyday lives, in harmony and free of desire" (27) Lau-tzu also teaches, what I think are quintessential components to becoming one with the Tao, simplicity, patience, and compassion. By accomplishing these three, one would find the true definition of becoming one with the Tao.