Feet on the Path

Following the Tao

“Whenever you advise a ruler in the way of Tao,

counsel him not to use force to conquer the universe.

For this would only cause resistance...

Lean years follow in the wake of a great war.

Just do what needs to be done.

Never take advantage of power...

Achieve results,

but never glory in them.

Achieve results,

but never boast.

Achieve results,

but never be proud.

Achieve results,

because this is the natural way.

Achieve results,

but not through violence.

Force is followed by loss of strength.

This is not the way of Tao.

That which goes against the Tao comes to an early end.”

                            Chapter Thirty in Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu

The Tao Te Ching is more than 2,500 years old, yet it speaks to us today as clearly as any modern text. Each of its eighty-one chapters can be interpreted both as an outer truth, and as an inner one. It helps us to see how the workings of the universe are mirrored within us. Its teachings apply to our world right now as much as they did to ancient China, and tell us how to live in peace with our neighbors.

As you can see from this one chapter, there are certain truths that are included in every great religion. The instruction about the use of violence only as a last resort, for instance. Chapter thirty one says, “Weapons are instruments of fear; they are not a wise man's tools. He uses them only when he has no choice.” It counsels against rejoicing in the face of victory, which will only indicate that you enjoy killing, and “if you delight in killing, you cannot fulfill yourself.” Wise words.

The teachings in the Bible are very similar to those in the Tao Te Ching. I think of Jesus saying, “he who lives by the sword dies by the sword” and the old testament instruction about beating our swords into plowshares and studying war no more. Obviously, we humans are supposed to settle our differences without violence if we want to walk in the Way of any religious tradition.

Non-violence is the way of peace and the way of peace-loving people. In our words, in our deeds, in our thoughts, let us study war no more.

                                    In the spirit,

                                   Jane