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Thoughts on Tao
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Non-contention. Lao Tzu noted that violence and conflict, no matter how tightly
controlled, could not help but cause negative side effects. The Tao ideal is to
solve problems through peaceful means.
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Non-action. The foolish expend a great deal of energy and time trying to do
everything and end up achieving nothing. On the other end of the spectrum, the
truly wise don't seem to do much at all and yet achieve whatever they want.
This magic is possible, indeed unavoidable, when one is in tune with the Tao.
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Non-intention. So often we perform virtuous deeds hoping to receive praise or
recognition. That's no virtue at all. True virtue is a state where such actions
flow forth naturally, requiring no conscious effort or thought.
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Simplicity. The basis for our reality and our existence is elemental and
uncomplicated. Human beings create a lot of trouble for themselves by making
everything more complex than they need to be. If we learn to simplify our
lives, we can experience a profound satisfaction that is infinitely more
meaningful than the rewards of the material world.
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Wisdom. Logic has its place in human affairs but isn't everything. There is a
limit to what we can understand through rationality and reasoning. To transcend
that limit, we need to engage our intuition fully. This is the key to insights
as opposed to knowledge, and the difference between living the Tao and reading
all about it.
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Humility. The more you learn, the more you realize there's still so much more
to learn. This tends to make you humble. Arrogance and egotism come from
ignorance - knowing a little bit and assuming you know a lot.
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Duality. Lao Tzu pointed out that all qualities in the world possess meaning
only by the existence of their opposites. Something can only be big if there is
something else that is small by comparison. "Good" exists in the
world so long as "evil" exists as well. One cannot do without the
other.
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