As I've read the third verse/chapter of the Tao through Dyer’s book and Derek Lin’s translation, I come to realize that learning how to be satisfied with life’s little unfoldings might be more of a fantasy than reality. Like many, I've been condition to want so badly that I don’t believe it is even possible for me to reach such a level of content. A level so strong that it blocks out all of my egocentric-driven desires. See, I’m not sure where and when it happened, but life always just feels like a fight. Like everybody else, I’m constantly contending with deep levels of inner habituations and outer influences. So what am I (or we) left with when we travel through the two different verses of the Tao’s third verse/chapter translation? Verses that ask us to let down our guard and relax ourselves on this plane by being auto-piloted by our spirits. As always, let’s look at Dyer’s version then Lin’s.
Dyer’s translation reads as:
Will create contentiousness.
If you overvalue possessions,
People begin to steal.
By not displaying what is desirable, you will
Cause the people’s hearts to remain undisturbed.
The sage governs
By emptying minds and hearts,
By weakening ambitions and strengthening bones.
Practice not doing…
When action is pure and selfless,
Everything settles into its own perfect place.
And Lin’s reads:
Do not glorify the achievers
So the people will not squabble
Do not treasure goods that are hard to obtain
So the people will not become thieves
Do not show the desired things
So their hearts will not be confused
Thus the governance of the sage:
Empties their hearts
Fills their bellies
Weakens their ambitions
Strengthens their bones
Let the people have no cunning and no greed
So those who scheme will not dare to meddle
Act without contrivance
And nothing will be beyond control
Sources
Dyer, Wayne W. Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, 2007.
Lin, Derek. “Accurate Translation of the Tao Te Ching.” Accurate Translation of the Tao Te Ching. N.p. <http://www.taoism.net/ttc/complete.htm>.