On Virtue
Lao Tzu wrote ideas equal to what gems are worth. His ability to put together such profound concepts truly takes my breath away. For example, in Chapter Eight, Lao Tzu talks about what virtue means and how a person can be as virtuous as water.
A person of great virtue is like the flowing water.
Water benefits all things and contends not with them.
What does this mean? Simply put, a person cannot fight the current — it must be one with it. This is not the same as to say that you have to “go with the flow”, because this proverb usually gets misinterpreted as to mean: “Stay put. Everything will be alright if you do nothing and let life take you wherever it wants”. Lao Tzu knew that a person who resembles flowing water is someone who acts in sync with it, not as a result of it. This is a huge difference because the former brings one closer to one’s goals and the latter pretends it’ll do so but fools one to be complacent in life, making one decide in life as a reaction, rather than an effect. One must choose to choose. Moreover, water is an industrious force:
It puts itself in a place that no one wishes to be and thus is closest to Tao.
A virtuous person is like water which adapts itself to the perfect place.
Lao Tzu knew that a person who is virtuous goes places no one wants to visit, as this person knows that true wisdom can only come from true effort. Paradoxically, when this person defies his fears he is closest to The Way. This is extremely profound — when a person desires to be in harmony with the Natural Order, he has to challenge himself into adapting to his environment by embracing it, rather than shying away from it. However, this is only the outcome of one’s inside world:
His mind is like the deep water that is calm and peaceful.
His heart is kind like water that benefits all.
What we see in the outer world is related in direct proportion to what we are in our inner world. If one wants to live calmly, he must resemble stillness first; If one wants world peace, he must reflect inner serenity first. You see, once one realizes that what we see in the world is justly ordered with what we are, we can thrive as human beings. If one has his heart in a place where one wants to create things that will pour positively on others, he will be closest to The Way. If one asks serious questions, he will find deep answers. What comes from a deep mind and a kind heart can only be in sincere form.
His words are sincere like the constant flow of water.
His governing is natural without desire which is like the softness of water that penetrates through hard rocks.
In the Old Testament, it is written that God designed the Universe with his word. Thankfully, we inherited the word from him which gives us the ability to create as well. A person who is virtuous knows that words have power and he uses his power to bring peace to the world, as he is peaceful within himself. His words are just the evidence of who he is already. A person who is virtuous doesn’t seek power, he already posses it; the one who governs accordingly with The Way can achieve impossible feats, just as soft water can break through hard rocks.
His work is of talent like the free flow of water.
His movement is of right timing like water that flows smoothly.
Once again, Lao Tzu acknowledges that what we see outside is the result of what we are inside. This also affects the work we do. Sincere work can only be the product of genuine talent. No creation can be bad if one intends it to be in accordance to who he is already — a virtuous person. Likewise, he who is virtuous does not need move around life cautiously, as all his movements run as smoothly as water.
Lastly, a virtuous person is one who:
…never forces his way and hence will not make faults.
Works Cited
Laozi. Tao Te Ching. New York :Vintage Books, 1972
