The Three Treasures of the Tao Te Ching are not competing for the first, and the way of life is hidd

Mondo Culture Updated on 2024-01-29

Lao Tzu pointed out in the sixty-seventh chapter of the Tao Te Ching: "I always have three treasures, and I will keep them: one is compassion, the second is thrift, and the third is not daring to be the first in the world." These three jewels are the principles of human life, which should be strictly followed: being compassionate, knowing how to be frugal, and not competing with others in all aspects.

In life, no matter how we treat others or things, we should have a heart of charity and compassion. Only by always having compassion will one's destiny be better, the blessings will be more abundant, and the whole life will be smoother.

In "The New Language of the World", the story of Gu Rong, a famous man in the Western Jin Dynasty, is recorded. When he was at a banquet in Luoyang, he found that one of his attendants was hungry for the barbecue in his hand, so he did not hesitate to give him his own barbecue. This seemingly small act of kindness was finally rewarded when Gu Rong was in danger, and it turned out that the attendant became his life-saving benefactor.

Compassion not only brings good fortune, but also fulfills others and even changes the entire destiny. In ancient times, it was not uncommon to see people who almost lost their kingdoms because of a lack of compassion. During the exile of Chong'er, Duke Wen of Jin, he was given a cold reception by the Cao State, and in the end, after Chong'er became the overlord, the Cao State was destroyed.

Liu Wending of the Qing Dynasty once said: "Cherish food and clothing, not for wealth and fortune." "Cherishing blessings" here means frugality. The sages were all thrifty, and Ji Wenzi was a nobleman of the Lu State in the Spring and Autumn Period, although his family background was noble, he had always taken thrift as the foundation of his survival. He asked his family not to be extravagant and wasteful, and even to strive for simplicity in his dress and travel.

The reason why Ji Wenzi insisted on frugality was because he knew that thrift could help overcome difficulties when he was poor and prevent decay when he was rich. Even in times of peace and abundance, the truly wise have a heart of sorrow. Because they understand that frugality in daily life is a powerful tool to overcome difficulties.

Lao Tzu said: "The good is like water, the water is good for all things, and it is indisputable, and it is evil for everyone, so it is better than the Tao." "The characteristic of water is that it silently nourishes all things, but does not compete with other things, and is in a lowly place that is hated by all, and is the closest to the Tao.

Don't dare to be the first in the world" actually tells us to be like flowing water, no matter where we are, we must have a humble attitude. Shi Fen's story illustrates this point. As a petty official, he was deeply trusted by Han Gaozu for his humility. During the time of the emperors of the Three Dynasties, he was repeatedly valued for his humble attitude, and eventually the family continued to be held to future generations.

There is a saying in the Book of Shang: "Full of losses, humble benefits, time is the way of heaven." "The proud and complacent invite misfortune, while the humble benefit. This is the way of heaven. Smart people understand that only in the process of being humble and humble can the road of life be smooth and peaceful.

Lao Tzu said: "It is better to hold on to it."It cannot be kept for a long time. The house is full of gold and jade, and Mo can keep it;Rich and arrogant, self-blame. "It's better to stop at the right time than to make a profit;If you sharpen it, it will be difficult to last. Those who are full of gold and jade will be difficult to hold;And if you are arrogant because of riches, you will leave a curse.

* Malice, arrogance, and greed for merit will inevitably lead to disaster. True wise men are based on humility and do not compete with others. Being compassionate, learning to be thrifty, and not being the first in the world are the three treasures given to us by the Tao Te Ching, and they are also the way of life.

The Three Treasures of the Tao Te Ching, Compassion, Thrift, and Not Striving for the First, run through the entire article, providing profound and valuable guidance for people to behave in the world. Compassion, frugality, and humility are not only the basic principles of human life, but also an important way to shape good interpersonal relationships and achieve self-cultivation.

First, about compassion. The article vividly illustrates the importance of compassion through stories. Compassion is not only a way to help others, but also a way to accumulate virtue and do good. As mentioned in the text, while being kind to others, you also inadvertently accumulate good fortune for yourself. The use of compassion not only makes the individual more popular, but also reaps good results in the twists and turns of fate.

Secondly, the way of frugality. Thrift is not only a temperance of material things, but also an attitude to life. The article uses Ji Wenzi's story as an example to vividly express the importance of maintaining humility and frugality in times of abundance. A frugal person can be more calm in adversity, and can be more prepared in good times. A frugal lifestyle is not only beneficial to one's spiritual cultivation, but also to the stability and prosperity of society.

Finally, not for the world's first. This is a humble attitude towards the world, as quoted in the article in the "Tao Te Ching": "The good is like water, and the water is good for all things, and it is indisputable." Those who dare not be the first in the world are like flowing water, silently dedicating themselves and not competing with others. This attitude not only keeps people in a low profile, but also makes it stand out more from the crowd. Shi Fen's story vividly illustrates the importance of not daring to be the first in the world, his humility made him deeply favored by the emperor, and the humility he adhered to throughout his life also influenced future generations.

In general, the benevolence, thrift, and non-competition advocated by the Tao Te Ching are profound to the philosophy of human life. These three are not only the requirements for individual self-cultivation, but also the cornerstone of building a harmonious society. In today's society, there may be a need for more return to these ancient and wise principles in order to build a better future.

Disclaimer: The above content information is ** on the Internet, and the author of this article does not intend to target or insinuate any real country, political system, organization, race, or individual. The above content does not mean that the author of this article agrees with the laws, rules, opinions, behaviors in the article and is responsible for the authenticity of the relevant information. The author of this article is not responsible for any issues arising from the above or related issues, and does not assume any direct or indirect legal liability.

If the content of the article involves the content of the work, copyright**, infringement, rumors or other issues, please contact us to delete it. Finally, if you have any different thoughts about this event, please leave a message in the comment area to discuss!

Related Pages