Tao Te Ching 40

In this particular day I shall interpret a verse from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, namely verse 40.  In A Source Book In Chinese Philosophy, Wing Tsit Chan presents the verse:

“40. Reversion is the action of Tao.

        Weakness is the function of Tao.

       All things in the world come from being.

      And being comes from non-being.”

Firstly, let us discuss the theme of the verse.  The theme of the verse is the nature of opposites.  Lao Tzu sees the nature of opposites as an effective means of improving one’s character.  It is in this way that one can be enlightened and become a better person.   Another way of viewing this is that in terms of the “extremes”.    This is depicted in the sense that when one does too much, he does not improve himself.  Rather, he reverts to his “opposite” which can be either bad conduct or injury.  

Let us observe this as we go over the verse.  The first notion of the theme is said to be using an individual’s opposite as a start to develop his character.  This is what Lao Tzu calls as “practicing enlightenment”.  It is “practicing” in the sense that the individual is applying the “enlightenment” in his daily life.  This “enlightenment” is the knowledge of the individual about the opposites in his character, his talent or his life.   Say, one discovered that his weakest subject is English because of a low mark.  Surely at first he would go about being depressed about it, but eventually he will come to see that this is an opportunity of making himself more effective as an educated person.   He studies hard about spelling and grammar, and practices his sentence and communication skills every day.  It is observed in this situation that the individual is using the “opposite” of his skills, which is English, to improve more in terms of communication and comprehension.  

Now, we move on to the second notion, which is all about overdoing things to the point that it is not helpful to an individual.   An example would be in trying to finish all the work assigned to one in a single day.   It is true that it will lessen the load of work for the following days, but it cannot be denied that this has a harmful effect in one’s body.   Too much stress and pressure, added by the lack of sleep can really make one ill.  The negative result of overworking, such as sickness or in the worst case, death, implies the notion of overdoing things as being harmful to an individual.    In terms of bad conduct, this can be observed if the individual, after reaping the fruits of his labor and becoming successful in life, forgets to keep his feet on the ground after such victory. Instead of being enlightened and being wiser about life, he “reverted” to his “opposite” which is being an arrogant person. 

Lao Tzu sees the nature of opposites as a way of one to see how he can improve his character and way of living.  Another way of looking at this notion would be “reverting” to one’s “opposite”, which is making oneself bad instead of improving his character.  In order to prevent one from “reverting” to one’s “opposite”, he must not overdo things.  He must not do things that are not “right” for him.  This means that one must not push through things that he cannot do.   This means that one must not overdo himself in every situation he is in, for it will hamper his capabilities in improving more his character. 

Every individual has within him the so-called “opposites.”   These are not essentially negative but they are “necessary givens”   that give one a brighter chance to better one’s life.   They provide constructive motivations to one to look deeply into one’s character and go further in enriching it.  The said opposites are opportunities for one to learn more about life and find more meaningful ways to value it.   In this way, one does not “revert to one’s opposites” but he creates positives out of the opposites. 

Source:

   1.       Wing Tsit Chan, “The Natural Way of Lao Tzu”, (United States: Princeton University Press, 1963), In In A Source Book In Chinese Philosophy, 160.