Tao Te Ching 60

In this particular day I shall interpret a verse from the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, namely verse 60.  In A Source Book In Chinese Philosophy, Wing Tsit Chan presents the verse:

“60. Ruling a big country is like cooking a small fish.

If Tao is employed to rule the empire,

                Spiritual beings will lose their spiritual power.

Not that they lose their spiritual power,

                But their spiritual power can no longer harm people.

Not only will their supernatural power not harm people,

                But the sage also will not harm people.

When both do not harm each other,

Virtue will be accumulated in both for the benefit [of the

                people].” ¹

Firstly, let us discuss the theme of the verse.  The theme of the verse concerns with governing a state patterned in the Tao. This means governing without interference anchored in humility and non-action.  The common problem of every state is the way it is being governed.  The usual governance is more centered on the ruler’s too many restrictions that interfere in the natural way of realizing the essential purpose of a state.  This purpose is the realization and practice of virtue, which the way of the sage.  The verse is a timely reminder to those who rule a country or state. 

Let us go over the first three lines in the verse.

“Ruling a big country is like cooking a small fish.

If Tao is employed to rule the empire,

                Spiritual beings will lose their spiritual power.”

In these lines, the notion is expressed in the metaphor that likened ruling a big country to cooking a small fish.  A small fish here symbolizes the basic and essential.   It implies simplicity.  When a ruler leads a country, he has to begin with the simple and basic yet essential things. These things are principles presented by individual steps or processes.  One has to consider them one by one without becoming too restrictive or too prescriptive.  These principles follow a particular system or way, that is, the Tao. This further implies that anything that begins in simplicity develops properly and smoothly. A ruler cannot lead a big country by starting immediately with complicated tasks, functions, and goals.  He has to seek first the basic and starts with simple steps.  In this way, he harms no one and he acts without interference.

Moreover, “spiritual beings will lose their spiritual powers” with the Tao being employed, means that all become one with the Tao.  There is no particular distinctions that divide people in groups based on power, influence, and capacity. This implies that this non-distinction allows harmony to flourish among all. No one is abused, underestimated or overestimated in the state. Each one has an important role in the state. When a ruler starts with the basic and simple things in ruling, he will never be blinded by things that satisfy desires.  He considers leadership as a significant challenge to learn and live the way of the Tao.

Now we will proceed to the remaining lines in the verse.

“Not that they lose their spiritual power,

                But their spiritual power can no longer harm people.

Not only will their supernatural power not harm people,

                But the sage also will not harm people.

When both do not harm each other,

Virtue will be accumulated in both for the benefit [of the

                people].”

In these last lines, what is implied is that when one develops the value of simplicity even in the face of great things, like ruling a state, he will never lose his way as a ruler.  Simplicity is an act of humility.  If a ruler has this, he can never harm anyone.  Spiritual powers and supernatural powers which are actually particular endowed skills and abilities are subsumed in the vastness and completeness of the Tao.  Thus, those cannot harm anyone.

 This is related to a common line in a MILO advertisement that says, “Great things start in small beginnings.” This actually means the wisdom of simplicity. Simplicity breeds patience. Patience strengthens humility.  Most of the downfalls of rulers and kings in the past and present reflect their attitude of taking great things as the most important of all.  They embraced them immediately.  That is why they are “swallowed” by the greatness of these things.  They become proud, rude, restrictive, prescriptive and selfish. They rule without values.  They inflicted great harm to the people and to themselves.  They live outside of the Tao.  They become instruments of chaos and misery in the state.

 In our society today, we call leadership or ruling a country a “public trust.”  Government leaders and officials are public trustees.  They do not own their offices through their positions.  Virtue is realized by the rulers and officials when they practice this public trust in the spirit of non-interference, simplicity, humility and contentment in their functions and in their lifestyles.

Virtue is the ultimate character of the Tao.  One should know that this starts in simplicity. Thus, whether a ruler or not, practice of virtue is the indicator of a life lived in the Tao.

Source:

    1.       Wing Tsit Chan, “The Natural Way of Lao Tzu”, (United States: Princeton University Press, 1963), In A Source Book In Chinese Philosophy, 168.