Tao Te Ching – The Enlightened Way of Lao Tzu, Part 1 of 2

The Tao Te Ching is a classic scripture written by the venerated Enlightened Master Lao Tzu. His original name was Li Erh, and He later became known as the historian and astrologer Lao Dan. According to written history, Lao Tzu held the esteemed position as curator of the Royal Library. He was highly regarded for His profound wisdom and knowledge.

Lao Tzu had practiced perfectly on the Spiritual Way, and the essence of His philosophy stemmed from seclusion and anonymity. Legend has it that when Lao Tzu was about to exit the country via the Hangu Pass, He encountered a gatekeeper who perceived Lao Tzu’s extraordinary spiritual aura. Before letting the Master pass, the gatekeeper insisted that He write down some teachings for the world. This text became the Tao Te Ching, which went on to be one of China's most important philosophical and spiritual scriptures.

“The Tao that can be told of is not the real Tao; The Name that can be named is not the real Name.” The very first chapter of the Tao Te Ching forthrightly points out that the Tao— literally “the Way”— is the highest Truth in the universe. If the Tao is not only incomprehensible to language, but also unperceivable by our eyes, ears, and hands, what is the Tao? Lao Tzu explains: “Before the Heaven and Earth existed, there was something nebulous: silent, isolated, standing alone, changing not, eternally revolving without fail, worthy to be the Mother of All Things. I do not know Its name, and address It as Tao.”

“To do without doing” is the core idea of Lao Tzu. “Doing nothing” does not mean being passive and abandoning one’s responsibilities; rather, it means doing it without ego. This allows us to easily follow the Natural Way, letting oneself be a tool of the Tao. This is the same as the idea of “developing a mind, which does not abide in anything,” found in the Buddha’s Diamond Sutra.

Lao Tzu pointed out that things will develop in the opposite direction when they become extreme, and that disaster and blessing lurk behind each other. Lao Tzu emphasized that spiritual practice should restore you to your original pure and innocent state. He said: “Who is rich in morality is like a child.” Supreme Master Ching Hai further explained Lao Tzu’s teachings during a 2008 lecture in France.