Wen Tzu - Verse 73, Part II

from Verse Seventy-Three

Indeed, to be immune to stabbing and striking is still an embarrassment; it is not as good as causing people not to dare to stab you no matter how bold they are, not to dare to strike you no matter how clever they are.

Now not daring does not mean there is no such intention, so it is even better to cause people not to have the intent...courage in daring kills, courage in not daring enlivens.

~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~

Many in this world believe that competition both is inherent in the human species AND that it propels us forward. Lao Tzu doesn't see it this way at all!

Competition turns kinsman into adversaries. It tends to create friction and conflict. Too often, any means -- no matter how destructive or disharmonious -- are utilized to win the competition to satisfy the ego. While competition may indeed spur the creation of better technology, it has concurrently helped to swell the ranks of the alienated and disenchanted. For me, it's one of the key reasons so many people in modern society spend so much of their time searching for meaning.

The Tao person doesn't compete and, therefore, doesn't create adversaries. Because the Tao person is simple and humble, he/she doesn't cause envies or resentment. People don't try to outdo him/her because the Tao person seeks the low places at the start.

The bottom line is that people who embrace Tao to its fullest extent create community, not division.

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