The Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu

This is one of the books i came across because of my friend Sri U. R. Jayavanth. He is a man of varied interests. On him some other times.

This book i find lots of knowledge in its simplest form. There are 81 verses – teaching us how to achieve eternal bliss, knowledge or you name it.

It teaches us the importance of freedom from desires, and it also stresses on 'Darkness within darkness - The gateway to all understanding. '

Another important aspect of this was the line that says - 'When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you. ' This line has lots of application and meaning in todays world. May be this is the root of problem to the whole of mankind!!

It also says - 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.

The most poignant one says - We join spokes together in a wheel,

but it is the center hole

that makes the wagon move.

We shape clay into a pot,

but it is the emptiness inside

that holds whatever we want.

We hammer wood for a house,

but it is the inner space

that makes it livable.

We work with being,

but non-being is what we use.

It talks about Tao - Approach it and there is no beginning;

follow it and there is no end.

You can’t know it, but you can be it,

at ease in your own life.

Just realize where you come from:

this is the essence of wisdom.

The potent one says - When the great Tao is forgotten,

goodness and piety appear.

When the body’s intelligence declines,

cleverness and knowledge step forth.

When there is no peace in the family,

filial piety begins.

When the country falls into chaos,

patriotism is born.

One more says - Throw away holiness and wisdom,

and people will be a hundred times happier.

Throw away morality and justice,

and people will do the right thing.

Throw away industry and profit,

and there won’t be any thieves.

Another says - Fame or integrity: which is more important?

Money or happiness: which is more valuable?

Success of failure: which is more destructive?

If you look to others for fulfillment,

you will never truly be fulfilled.

If your happiness depends on money,

you will never be happy with yourself.

Be content with what you have;

rejoice in the way things are.

When you realize there is nothing lacking,

the whole world belongs to you.

Regarding Govarnance, Leaders it says - All streams flow to the sea

because it is lower than they are.

Humility gives it its power.

If you want to govern the people,

you must place yourself below them.

If you want to lead the people,

you must learn how to follow them.

May be for us this will be apt - Governing a large country

is like frying a small fish.

You spoil it with too much poking.

Center your country in the Tao

and evil will have no power.

Not that it isn’t there,

but you’ll be able to step out of its way.

Give evil nothing to oppose

and it will disappear by itself.

Regarding the growth it says - Men are born soft and supple;

dead, they are stiff and hard.

Plats are born tender and pliant;

dead, they are brittle and dry.

Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible

is a disciple of death.

Whoever is soft and yielding

is a disciple of life.

The hard and stiff will be broken.

The soft and supple will prevail.

Try to get this book and read (or download it from http://www.truly-free.org/) – and u need to reflect a lot on every verse, and everytime you will find newer meanings, a better understanding of the sayings and may be a better understanding of the self!!