Tao Te Ching 48

In this particular day I shall interpret a verse from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, namely verse 48.  In A Source Book In Chinese Philosophy, Wing Tsit Chan presents the verse:

“48. The pursuit of learning is to increase day after day.

The pursuit of Tao is to decrease day after day.

It is to decrease and further decrease until one reaches the

point of taking no action.

No action is undertaken, and yet nothing is left undone. 

An empire is often bought to order by having no activity

(laissez-faire)

If one (likes to) undertake activity, he is not qualified to

govern the empire.” ¹

Firstly, let us discuss the theme of the verse.   The theme of the verse revolves around knowing the Way, or the Tao as “unlearning”.  This does not specifically mean ridding oneself of all the knowledge he has acquired.  This points out that when one applies the Tao in his life, he is “unlearning”.  “Unlearning” means the sense that one disposes the desires he has in his mind.   Lao Tzu believed that having too much knowledge would only make an individual desire for more.    Desiring for more, however, gives a harmful effect to the individual.  This is because desires are insatiable by nature.  With this insatiable nature, an individual pushes himself.  He goes against his nature.  And with this action he sends himself to injury and becomes miserable.

Let us observe this notion as we go over the verse.  Let us go over the first four lines.

“The pursuit of learning is to increase day after day.

The pursuit of Tao is to decrease day after day.

It is to decrease and further decrease until one reaches the

point of taking no action.”

The first two lines present the ideas concerning knowledge and the wisdom given by the Tao.  It can be understood that in the course of learning knowledge makes one know a wide range of things. It “increases” one “day by day” and it always gives a new range of information each passing day.   This adds one’s collection of known things in his repertoire of knowledge.   It is with this knowing that he starts to have that feeling of want.  This feeling of want either involves a person or a thing.  Wanting things causes one to abuse himself in the sense that he punishes himself in overworking or overspending just to fulfill that desire.  Then desire becomes a craving.   It is in this problem which Lao Tzu presents the Tao, in which it makes the individual “decrease day by day”.  This “decrease” is not of the negative notion.  This “decrease” refers to the “decrease” of the desire of the individual in his life.  Applying the Tao can aid the individual in doing this.  In embracing one’s nature, he becomes content.  He realizes the values of simplicity and contentment.   He embraces his nature in the sense that he is contented with what he has.  He embraces his nature by doing what is just necessary.    By doing things in a “natural pace”, one “decreases”.  He “decreases” in a sense that he can temper himself from overdoing things.   In this tempering of his actions, he eventually learns to temper his inner thoughts and inner emotions.  He learns to “tame” himself.  In this way his desire is minimized, and thus lives a simple, contented life.   It is in this sense which he “further decreases until one reaches the point of taking no action.” This the “unlearning” that is offered by the application of the Tao.

Now let us continue to the remaining lines in the verse.

“No action is undertaken, and yet nothing is left undone. 

An empire is often bought to order by having no activity

(laissez-faire)

If one (likes to) undertake activity, he is not qualified to

govern the empire.”

These last lines in the verse depict the notion that when one does not overdo things, he accomplishes more.  He does not undertake any action which does not coincide with his natural way of doing things, and with this “nothing is left undone”.   He does what is needed and he accomplishes more.   It makes “nothing left undone”.   The notion of “unlearning” is observed in not doing things that are not necessary at the moment.   Not desiring anything or overdoing anything can give order to one’s life and makes him focus only to what he should do.   It gives order in a sense that it does not injure the individual, his relationships, or everything around him because it does not go over the natural course of things.   It is in this sense that “an empire is bought to order by having no activity”.   Doing the natural way avoids abuse and destruction.

Putting this idea in governance, if leaders would commit themselves into doing the necessary things, then the society would regain order and live in values.  An example would be the numerous laws which govern the Philippines.  They surely cover most of the concerns of the Filipinos.   But the main problem is its implementation.  If the government is serious and committed in implementing these laws, then, there will be harmony among the citizens.  Besides, instead of passing more new laws, the state should strengthen the essence of the laws by aiming for much better outcomes geared towards the good.

 Both present and future leaders should be more oriented with looking at how the present laws can spur development in the lives of the constituents.   They must always check whether the laws are properly and effectively implemented or not.   They do not need to make up new laws to cover for the same problems which the state had been facing for many years.   All they have to do is to look at these problems, and utilize the laws that were made for it.  Doing otherwise would only cause chaos and violence.   This is what the last line “If one (likes to) undertake activity, he is not qualified to govern the empire” wishes to imply. 

Lao Tzu gives the notion “unlearning”, which implies going back to one’s nature by knowing and applying the Tao.   This is seen as a way to rid oneself of selfish desires, which impedes man’s capacity to become truly happy.  In being close to one’s nature, he sees things which are more important and necessary.  It is in this sense that he becomes productive and attuned with his environment.  “Unlearning” does not necessarily imply that one will put himself into a state of idiocy or ignorance.  Rather, it gives the idea that one must live a simple, contented life.  The individual “unlearns” in the sense that he detaches himself from the daily struggles for material wealth and personal gain.  It is in the ridding of selfishness and desire that one can become a true sage. “To unlearn and decrease” requires that one empties himself with trashes of selfishness, pleasure, greed and arrogance in order to pave the way to a lighter and more fulfilling life.  Desire and craving are the prison cells of the greedy.  Minimizing and avoiding these two are the real steps to a worthy life.

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,162