Taoteching

[Name]

[Instructor]

[Subject]

13 October 2007

The Water and the Dao de Jing

Man could learn many things from water which is one of his basic needs to live . Out of the four basic elements believed in the early times of China , water was the one chosen by Lao Tzu to be his object for teaching . In his Dao de Jing , water was often used to describe how man should exist in his Tao . In fact , one of the 81 chapters in Dao de Jing was solely devoted for this

purpose . Looking ahead

In The Unfathomable Tao

Based on the Dao de Jing 's translation of Stan Rosenthal , the word water was first used in the fourth chapter , The Unfathomable Tao . Generally Tao is considered to denote different meanings . As the word unfathomable implies , Tao cannot be sounded or measured . Water was used then to add additional for the understanding of the Tao 's concept . In the second stanza of the Unfathomable Tao

It is the manner of the Tao that even though continuously used , it is naturally replenished , never being emptied , and never being as full as a goblet which is filled to the brim and therefore spills its fine spring water upon the ground . The Tao therefore does not waste that with which it is charged , yet always remains a source of nourishment for those who are not already so full that they cannot partake of it

water was transfigured to be the manner of the Tao . Water is the right object to describe something that though continually consumed , it does not deplete as long as its natural cycle is maintained . Considering the second statement above , the Tao thus not waste this water ' and will always serve as a source of nourishment for the mind full of desires Continuing in the third stanza

Even the finest blade will lose its sharpness if tempered beyond its mettle . Even the most finely tempered sword is of no avail against water , and will shatter if struck against a rock . A tangled cord is of little use after it has been untangled by cutting it

water is further used to describe what Tao really is but now on a different context . Water here is used as one of the obstacles for the Tao . But according to the subsequent stanzas of the Unfathomable Tao through patience , obstacles could be surpassed problems could be resolved

In the Way of Water

The Dao de Jing 's Way of Water , is the chapter wherein the water 's natural flow was associated to Tao . Here is the first stanza

Great good is said to be like water , sustaining life with no conscious striving , flowing naturally , providing nourishment , found even in places which desiring man rejects

Water follows the contour of its container . Water obeys the law of gravity thus water lies to the ground as much as possible . Lao Tzu had used this water characteristic to symbolically teach to the people that the one who wants...