from Verse One Hundred Fifty-EightWhen those who have more than enough stop at good measure, and those with less than enough gain access to what they need, the world can therefore be one.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~
Oh my! No wonder the western world feels that Taoism is antithetical to our basic way of life. The above passage makes Lao Tzu sound like a raving communist or leftist!
Mind you, it doesn't say that everything needs to be equal -- it simply points out the obvious sentiment that, when everybody has a sufficient amount AND recognizes that the amount they possess is sufficient, there is harmony. There is no purpose nor desire served in promoting competition, covetousness, lust or greed.
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
Mind you, it doesn't say that everything needs to be equal -- it simply points out the obvious sentiment that, when everybody has a sufficient amount AND recognizes that the amount they possess is sufficient, there is harmony. There is no purpose nor desire served in promoting competition, covetousness, lust or greed.
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
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