Read the Tao Te Ching to understand human nature and worldly affairs

Author: Ba Manzi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: Once, there was a Shanxi merchant who had a very successful business. Although he had hired a professional accountant, he still had to do the bookkeeping himself. He would often calculate accounts until late at night with an abacus, and as he grew older, he found it increasingly exhausting. Outside his high walls lived a couple who sold tofu. Every morning, they would grind beans, cook soy milk, and make tofu. Although their life was modest, they were always cheerful and happy. The merchant's wife said to him, "Husband! Our life is so dull. How come having money makes us less happy than those who don’t? Look at our neighbors—how happy they are!" The merchant replied, "You think they’re happy? Fine, then I’ll make sure they’re not." He took a gold ingot from his drawer and threw it over the high wall. The couple was happily grinding beans when they suddenly heard a "thump" at the door. Assuming someone had fallen, they picked up their lantern to investigate and found a gold ingot on the ground. They quickly picked it up. Now what? Selling tofu for a lifetime probably wouldn’t earn them this much. However, after their initial joy, they immediately worried: Where should they keep it? They didn’t have a safe at home, and burying it underground wasn’t an option. What if someone stole it from their rice bin? They debated and discussed until dawn without grinding any beans. In the days that followed, the couple constantly pondered how to spend the money. It was a waste, but how could they use it? They thought about buying a piece of land, but how would they explain where the money came from? People might accuse them of theft or robbery, and they could even get into legal trouble. No matter how hard they thought, they couldn’t come up with a good solution. The cheerful laughter of the past was long gone. This story perfectly illustrates the saying, "Less is more, more is confusion." Therefore, a person should learn to endure both poverty and prosperity, entertain themselves, not be overly happy about gains, nor overly upset about losses, and always face life’s challenges with an open and magnanimous heart.
Because of this, ancient sages always "embrace the one as a model for the world." What is "the one"? "The one" is the primordial origin of all things in heaven and earth, the initial state of the Dao. In other words, sages lived their lives embracing the great Dao, remaining pure and self-restrained. They never clung to their own opinions, always observing the world from the perspective of an onlooker, thus gaining a clear understanding of all things. They never acted arrogantly, never forced their views on others, and as a result, earned the respect of all. When they achieved merits, they never took credit for themselves, instead attributing everything to others, who then felt even more impressed by their contributions. They never boasted or acted arrogantly, so no one envied them, and they lived long and peaceful lives. They never argued with others, precisely because they didn’t compete, no one could match them in the world. Laozi’s saying, "To be whole, one must first be bent," was not spoken in vain. The wisdom behind it is profound. Because sages deeply understood its meaning, they practiced "to be whole, one must first be bent," adapting and handling situations skillfully. Thus, the people of the world followed them like rivers flowing into the sea.
We live in an era of excessive material desires, where everyone is driven by ambition. If we want to be good people and do good deeds in this world, we should take the time to reflect on the deeper meaning of Laozi’s "To be whole, one must first be bent."
P80-81