Before I start rambling on and on about Tao, I would like a chance to explain my title before hand (although I think it is self-explanatory). In the Tao you can find about ten interesting and note-worthy quotes. So, I will do my best in picking the best ones in order to explain them.
I would like to star with a quote that isn't really interesting but I think is really important to talk about. "Knowing the ancient beginning is the essence of Tao."(14:17) We can we really extract a lot from this quote. Most importantly we can sense that past and where things are from and how the were made are very important aspects of the Tao, and in some cases; the "essence." I personally think that when you want to know about something or someone you have to know about the past where they come from in order to find out where they are going. And in a sense that it was the Tao is saying.
As I've read the Tao I've always thought it was a very wise book and a book that encouraged and promoted learning. After I read the first sentence of chapter twenty I run into something a bit peculiar, "Give up learning, and put an end to your troubles"(20:1)What the hell are we supposed to think know? All our lives we've been taught that learning is good, that one makes progress with learning. I've always believed and supported most of the Tao's teachings, but this is bizarre and out of the question in my book. What this quote is suggesting is that learning and knowledge cause trouble and aren't beneficial to you, which I think is wrong. I believe learning is an important tool we should all learn to master. Sorry Tao, you suck.
I know Tao is from a completely different culture than mine, and I know it has many different Ideals as well, but I think our hemispheres also have a lot in common. Take this for example, "He who does not trust, will not be trusted"(23:19) I think we share a very common belief. We believe that someone who does not give something should not get something in return. We believe that everything you get you deserve, good or bad. And judging by what we've read the Tao shares this same belief.
Although I have found the Tao to be an amazing piece of literature and seriously consider making it my life agenda, I think it contradicts itself and can sometimes say stupid things.
I would like to end my blog by analyzing two more quotes I found in chapter 28, "Know the white, but keep the black"(28:7) and "Know honor, yet keep humility."(28:12) I think this relates to the yin-yang. It has to do with knowing your opposites and being aware of their effect on the normal balance. We have to keep a balance because as many people have told me before, "Everything in large quantities is bad."
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