Tao Teh Ching Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Original
1.不尚贤，使民不争；不贵难得之货，使民不为盗；不见可欲，使民心不乱。
2.是以圣人之治，虚其心，实其腹，弱其志，强其骨。常使民无知无欲。使夫智者不敢为也。
3.为无为，则无不治。
Translation
Do not prefer those people who are superior in quality, then the people will not contend among each other; Do not price rare articles of goods, then the people will not become thieves; Do not reveal things that are desired, then the people mind will not be disturbed.
Therefore in managing a country, the wise man empties the people’s mind, fills their belly, weakens their wills, strengthen their bones. He constantly keeps them without knowledge and desires and deters the informed from venturing to act.
Govern with no action and there is nothing cannot be kept in order.
Detailed Comments
In chapter 2, Lao Tzu said, 圣人处无为之事 – the sage manages his affairs without action. In this chapter, this principle of no action is explained in detail in regards to government
尚and 贵 means to look up to, to think highly of. Again, Lao Tzu had displayed his impartial treatment of human and lifeless objects. People with superior abilities is treated same as goods that are hard to find. It is very easy to understand that you become a target of the thieves if you possesses a fortune, therefore, it seems to be natural that too much of something will always attract the opposite.
不见可欲，使民心不乱。This point here states that the mind is disturbed by desires. How close is that to the teachings of Pantajali in Yoga Sutras? Indeed, this principle is the heart of Yoga, and Lao Tzu and Pantajali agreed on this point (they both from 500BC)
this paragraph deals with how to government the people. Again, the No Action is repeated in government.
Original
1.不尚贤，使民不争；不贵难得之货，使民不为盗；不见可欲，使民心不乱。
2.是以圣人之治，虚其心，实其腹，弱其志，强其骨。常使民无知无欲。使夫智者不敢为也。
3.为无为，则无不治。
Translation
Do not prefer those people who are superior in quality, then the people will not contend among each other; Do not price rare articles of goods, then the people will not become thieves; Do not reveal things that are desired, then the people mind will not be disturbed.
Therefore in managing a country, the wise man empties the people’s mind, fills their belly, weakens their wills, strengthen their bones. He constantly keeps them without knowledge and desires and deters the informed from venturing to act.
Govern with no action and there is nothing cannot be kept in order.
Detailed Comments
In chapter 2, Lao Tzu said, 圣人处无为之事 – the sage manages his affairs without action. In this chapter, this principle of no action is explained in detail in regards to government
尚and 贵 means to look up to, to think highly of. Again, Lao Tzu had displayed his impartial treatment of human and lifeless objects. People with superior abilities is treated same as goods that are hard to find. It is very easy to understand that you become a target of the thieves if you possesses a fortune, therefore, it seems to be natural that too much of something will always attract the opposite.
不见可欲，使民心不乱。This point here states that the mind is disturbed by desires. How close is that to the teachings of Pantajali in Yoga Sutras? Indeed, this principle is the heart of Yoga, and Lao Tzu and Pantajali agreed on this point (they both from 500BC)
this paragraph deals with how to government the people. Again, the No Action is repeated in government.
posted by Eugene Chen | 7:29 PM
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