There is a way in which we may conduct our lives without regrets, and in such a manner as assists in developing and realizing our individual potential, without harming others, or inhibiting the realization of their potential, and which is beneficial to a healthy society.
Such a way of life may of course be conducted without a name, and without description, but in order that others may know of it, and so as to distinguish it from other ways in which life may be conducted, we give it a name, and use words to describe it.
When discussing or describing this way in which life may be conducted, rather than refer to it in full, for convenience, we refer to it as ‘the way’, meaning simply that the discussion is concerned with this particular way, not that it is the only way of conducting one’s life. In order that we
might distinguish it more easily from other ways, we refer to it also by its original name, which is ‘Tao’.
– Tao
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If you found that interesting… then I would say its only the tip of a gigantic iceberg…
We have the habit of associating mental images with words. For example, the word “sage” might remind one of a lonely guy roaming around a forest surviving merely on berries and leaves, and badly in need of a haircut. In reality, even a rich software engineer having bungalow, car, etc and happily married, could still be having many qualities of a “sage”. I see several people around me right here in my workplace who have many of the qualities described here!
To better appreciate this work of literature, I would suggest we not get limited by words and their meanings but look more at the bigger picture… at some of the fantastic ideas it presents.
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