Daodejing - Other Voices
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.A day in history.
Well, today is going to be historic, Barack Obama’s inauguration changes things on so many levels. He has a huge task ahead of him and will need all of his fortitude and courage to face it, though to be fair, that’s going to be required of everyone in the months to come.
Some would say it’s historic because he’s America’s first African-American president, but I take the view that this runs a lot deeper than that. According to my understanding of the media coverage, this was an election where a whole new demographic of American voter made their voices heard.
Also, we stand at the beginning of a far reaching process of change. I’ve stated before my firm belief that continuing as we are is no longer a long term option.
So what to do? Well, I start re-reading the Tao Te Ching a few days ago, and I think Chapter 3 has some good advice for us, not just for our leaders.
Do not glorify the achievers
So the people will not squabble
Do not treasure goods that are hard to obtain
So the people will not become thieves
Do not show the desired things
So their hearts will not be confused
Thus the governance of the sage:
Empties their hearts
Fills their bellies
Weakens their ambitions
Strengthens their bones
Let the people have no cunning and no greed
So those who scheme will not dare to meddle
Act without contrivance
And nothing will be beyond control
~ from A Quiet Watercourse, author Richard Barker, original post date: 1/20/09 ~
I'm not sure I agree with the Tao, but it is good food for though.
ReplyDeleteBalance is the answer, I think. Because if people can't see that there is better, they can't dream, and if they can't dream, they can't achieve. We can only reach the heights we can envision, and while some resort to crime to achieve their goals, many more do so through hard work and dedication.
In the case of the American people, though, they probably need to lower their expectations quite a bit. There is a sense of entitlement that they've cultivated for many decades,that idea that because you're an American and you live in The States, you can have anything--also known as the American dream.
The worldwide village is in the process of re-distributing the wealth, and the developed nation will from now on have a smaller piece of the pie, and we all have to get used to the changes.