The supreme good is like flowing water,
Which nourishes all things without trying to.
It is content with the low places people disdain,
Thus it is like the Tao.
In dwelling live close to the ground,
In thinking keep to the simple.
In conflict be fair and generous.
In governing don't try to control.
In work do what you enjoy.
In family life be completely present.
When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete,
Everybody will respect you.
The supreme good is like flowing water,
Which nourishes all things without trying to.
It is content with the low places people disdain,
Thus it is like the Tao.
In dwelling live close to the ground,
In thinking keep to the simple.
In conflict be fair and generous.
In governing don't try to control.
In work do what you enjoy.
In family life be completely present.
When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete,
Everybody will respect you.
So this verse,
Verse 8 of the Tao Te Ching offers us some potentially practical advice that could also potentially be a little bit more metaphysical in nature,
But let's approach it from the practical to start with.
Live close to the ground,
Think simple thoughts,
Be fair and generous,
Don't try to control others,
With your work do something you enjoy and be completely present with your family.
These are pretty clear and simple and direct instructions and if we abide by them it seems like we will live a pretty relatively joyful life.
Or at least we won't cause ourselves duress,
Cause ourselves unnecessary suffering,
Cause ourselves unnecessary problems.
I wonder just how much people throughout the centuries,
Across cultures and countries have gone against these simple concepts,
These simple suggestions and caused their life to be one of suffering.
You know an unenforced error kind of thing.
By comparing and competing with others we risk trying to elevate ourselves above them,
We cause dissent,
We cause competition,
We cause issue.
But if we can live with more peace,
More harmony,
More connection,
Well perhaps we'll have less forced errors,
Less enemies,
Less things adversely impacting our lives.
I mean what a simple idea,
In work do what you enjoy.
That should be our prime direction,
Find something you enjoy doing and do it.
Yes we need money but would it be better to take a slight pay cut to do something you enjoy more.
This is your life after all,
With your family life be completely present.
Do you need to be on your phone,
Do you need to be thinking about work,
Do you need to be elsewhere or can you simply be here and now in the present moment.
In conflict be fair and generous.
Do you need to absolutely create a win-loss scenario or can you rather work out a win-win,
Can you govern and lead in a way in which inspires people to follow,
One that isn't punitive,
One that is fair and that way if you make a decision that favours one person over another,
One group over another,
Everyone knows that you are acting and moving and deciding in that good faith and thus they are more likely to follow because they know moving forward that the balance may shift in their direction when it is fair to do so.
If you can embody that,
If you can be simply yourself and live in truth,
Surely that will lead to a more harmonious existence,
Surely that will lead to respect and on that think of someone you respect in your life,
Chances are you respect them because they are truly an embodiment of themselves,
They're not trying,
They're not striving,
They're not suggesting otherwise,
They're not pretending,
They are them.
Can we step towards that?
It suggests we should live close to the ground,
Now that could be a practical suggestion but let's look at that a little bit more abstractly,
You know,
Let's live within our means,
Let's not strive for something beyond us,
Let's not try and twist and alter and shape the world so strenuously as to cause duress.
Why build a house in the path of a flood when we could build it in conjunction with nature?
And onto this more esoteric phrase,
The supreme good is like water which nourishes all things without trying to,
It is content with the low places that people disdain,
Thus it is like the Tao.
I think that is pointing us towards the idea of just accepting and embracing all of ourselves,
The reality of our current existence,
Could be pointing us towards the idea of shadow work or inner child work,
Accepting and embracing the reality of all of us,
All of ourselves,
The good,
The bad,
The ugly and the unknown,
Water flows everywhere cleansing it.
Can we embody the totality of ourselves and embrace our total truth so that we can simply sit and be ourselves,
Not comparing,
Not competing,
Just existing,
Just being completely present,
Doing what we enjoy,
Trying not to control,
Being fair and generous,
Keeping things simple.
Can we be like the supreme good,
Can we attempt to embody and embrace it in some capacity,
Being like water,
Nourishing things without trying to,
Helping others without trying to,
Just by our mere presence.
If we look back at the previous session,
The previous verses,
Just being,
Just embodying,
Just embracing life as it is for what it is right now,
This moment itself will help others,
Will help the world,
Will help ourselves.
So let's sit in contemplation of this verse.
The supreme good is like flowing water,
Which nourishes all things without trying to.
It is content with the low places people disdain,
Thus it is like the Tao.
In dwelling live close to the ground,
In thinking keep to the simple,
In conflict be fair and generous,
In governing don't try to control,
In work do what you enjoy,
In family life be completely present.
When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete,
Everyone will respect you.
The supreme good is like flowing water,
Which nourishes all things without trying to.
It is content with the low places people disdain,
Thus it is like the Tao.
In living live close to the ground,
In thinking keep to the simple,
In conflict be fair and generous,
In governing don't try to control,
In work do what you enjoy,
In family life be completely present.
When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete,
Everyone will respect you.
So,
Well done,
This brings us to the end of the session.
At the bottom of your screen,
You have the option to view the classroom or to ask a question.
Before moving on,
I invite you to take a moment to click through and share your interpretations and inner discoveries of today's verse,
As well as to read the answers from other students and hear my replies.
Remember to start your responses with verse 8,
So we all know which one you are referring to.
This is an opportunity for deep learning,
Further introspection and insight,
So please don't miss out.
I look forward to seeing you in the next session.
Thank you.
