Tao Te Ching, Ch 48

The Door of all Wonders: 

The Commentary on the Tao Te Ching

by Nirguna, Chor-kok Lam

 Chapter 48

In the pursuit of learning, 

one knows more every day.

In the pursuit of the Truth, 

one does less every day.

One does less and less

 until one does nothing at all.

And when one does nothing at all,

 there is nothing that is undone.

It is always through not meddling

 that the world is won.

Should you meddle, 

then you are not qualified to win the world.

Review

    In this outside world, there are many subjects of different knowledge. To know more about the outside world, we need to learn more and more in different fields, like science, technology, biology, chemistry, literature, mathematics, linguistics, so and so, thus Lao Tzu says:

“In the pursuit of learning, 

one knows more every day.”

    However, seeking the Truth is different from seeking knowledge. To seek knowledge does not mean we can get the Truth. The Truth is inward us which we cannot get outwardly. To seek inward is the opposite way of pursuing knowledge in the outside world. Like a tree, our inner Self is the root, while the outward appearances of all the names, shapes and forms are the branches, stems, leaves and flowers of the tree. We know the Truth by its root, then we can stay firmly in the Truth. If we only know the Truth by its branches, stems, leaves and flowers, we only know the changeable phenomenon which is shifting all the time. The outward knowledge of appearance is temporary and never long-lasting. No matter how much knowledge we have, we can be still an ignorant to the Truth because we do not know the root.

    To seek the root, we need to learn less and less, so that our mind is pure to perceive the Truth, not being distracted by many branches of changeable knowledge. A person who realizes the Truth innate in us is never proud of having any knowledge. He has no pride in all the branches, stems, leaves and flowers but only stay firmly in the root. Here Lao Tzu tells us the true way to seek the Truth:

“In the pursuit of the Truth, 

one does less every day.”

    Knowing the Truth, we must keep our attention inside of us and be silent. To stop doing anything, slowly we contemplate on the Truth and return back in our pure nature. This is the ideal natural stage of human. It is why people all feel perfect after a dreamless deep sleep. The stage of deep sleep by doing nothing is very similar to the stage of contemplation on the Truth while we are awake. Both are silent doing nothing. By doing nothing, naturally our body and mind will gradually get healed, refreshed and fully recharged. However, when there are a lot of disturbances, noises and acts around us, we cannot sleep well to go deep into the deep sleep, we also cannot meditate with silence and concentration. Then what will be the result? Nothing good will happen. Our body and mind will be harmed and stay unhealthy with afflictions and diseases, which is what happens nowadays so many people suffer physically and mentally because they cannot control themselves to be in silence.

    To know the Truth and be always with the Truth is the stage very similar to deep sleep. By doing nothing, everything is done. Let the Truth, the all-pervading power, do the work which is all beneficial and nourishing, thus Lao Tzu tells us:

“One does less and less until one does nothing at all.

And when one does nothing at all, 

there is nothing that is undone.”

    Our mind should be always in silence. Then we can think and understand with clarity. A clear mind is a purified mind without distractions and complications. All the disturbances, distractions and complications will make our mind over-active and turn away from the Truth which can be reached only by being silent, therefore, Lao Tzu tells us not to meddle. Like a person who is sleeping making a lot of dreams, he cannot recover well no matter how long he sleeps. We know this fact very well proven by scientific researches and studies. We human all need deep sleep every night in order to stay healthy physically and mentally, while dreaming stage in sleeping cannot give the same effect to us. A peaceful person can sleep well every day. The peace is attained by keeping silent and doing nothing.

    In the same way, Lao Tzu tells us to live with simplicity. Let our life be always in the silent stage to be calm, not to be excited too much and too often. If everyone can have a peaceful mind, our world will turn better and better. This can be applied in every aspect of our life, even in the governing aspect. To govern a country, the ruling class should let people live well without meddling and disturbances. To disturb people by all means is to harm their natural stage to become unnatural. To become unnatural is turning away from the Truth, hence afflictions and problem arise, which keeps on happening in our world. Our world is always full of conflicts and challenges because we do not live according to the Truth, the pure natural stage in us. Turning away from the Truth, we lose ourselves. We also lose the world as the whole, thus Lao Tzu says:

“It is always through not meddling 

that the world is won.

Should you meddle, 

then you are not qualified to win the world.”