Verse 7: No Rewards

Verse Seven
Death does not exist and only reveals nextness
Wisdom does not permit the end of itself
A man can only learn to move forward in any direction
Not being concerned with what went before
He should not care for the rewards of the day

Seeking only that which can enhance his own reality
He does not consider the rewards of his work
By not considering the results of his work
They are perfect and cannot be made better
~ Stephen F. Kaufman translation ~

One of the hallmarks of a capitalist society is "return on investment". Wealth should only be invested in those financial instruments which will produce the biggest bang for the buck. Community interests, the welfare of workers and the environment can take a backseat, thank you.

The problem with an ethos of this nature is that it ends up permeating every aspect of society. This helps to explain why "Looking out for #1" and "quid pro quo" are ubiquitous in today's world.

It's what Alan Watts in Taoism: Way Beyond Seeking termed as "commercial conscience":

It is amazing how we are conditioned to turn everything into profit, and to feel guilty if we do not, and that is a very dangerous idea to impose on children.

Lao Tzu offers an entirely different take. Rather than putting your all into your work and expecting to reap what you put in and then some, the Tao Te Ching recommends that you do your utmost best and that should be your sole reward in and of itself. In other words, give what you can give with no thought for what you might get back!

And it's not just about giving of yourself in a robotic-like fashion. The wellspring of your commitment and devotion toward doing your best in relationships, work, activism, volunteering, nurturing and/or philanthropy should be love.

As Diane Dreher expresses it,

The Way of Love is not the egotistical possessiveness which masquerades as love in too many relationships. Tz'u expresses itself by sharing joyously with no thought of return. Transcending our limited egos, it unites us with the good of all.

For Taoists, Tz'u is the natural expression of the balanced soul. If our energies are harmonious, we naturally reach out in benevolence toward all creation, creating harmonious new cycles.

When we promote the good of all, we concurrently promote the best in ourselves. More importantly, we often are able to push beyond our perceived limitations to map out new territories within this thing we call the self.

In essence, the sky is the limit when our wings are lifted by love.

This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.