#47 Self-mastery in a World of Noise
Tao Te Ching, Chapter 47: Get inspiration from the mindset of wu-wei and the Taoist perspective of self-mastery to navigate life’s complexities.
Welcome back to The Wisdom of Lao Tzu.
This week, we're delving into Chapter 47 of the Tao Te Ching where we can learn some profound teachings from Lao Tzu on self-mastery.
Whoever masters themselves can control their own destinies.
Let’s dive in.
Border-crossing: English translations
#1 Lin Yutang’s version
Without stepping outside one’s doors,
One can know what is happening in the world;
Without looking out of one’s windows,
One can see the Tao of Heaven.
The farther one pursues knowledge,
The less one knows.
Therefore the Sage knows without running about,
Understands without seeing,
Accomplishes without doing.
#2 Edmund Ryden’s version
Go not out the door, know all under heaven;
Peep not out the window: see the way of heaven.
The further away you go the less you know.
For this reason,
The Sage
Walks not, yet knows,
Sees not, yet names;
Acts not on things, yet they are completed.1
#3 D. C. Lau’s version
Without stirring abroad
One can know the whole world;
Without looking out of the window
One can see the way of heaven.
The further one goes
The less one knows.
Therefore the sage knows without having to stir,
Identifies without having to see,
Accomplishes without having to act.2
Deeper dive
In our modern world, the pursuit of knowledge has become more accessible. We can access a vast reservoir of information spanning every conceivable topic on the internet.
Yet, we need to be aware of the crucial distinction between accumulating knowledge and perceiving the essence of things.
One fundamental truth emerges: the more one succumbs to desires and distractions, the less control one has over oneself, and the further one strays from self-discovery.
"The further one goes, the less one knows." In today's digital age, where social media and myriad sources of distraction abound, it is so easy to become trapped in the allure of instant gratification.
If we do not consciously guard our attention, we will lose sight of deeper truths and profound wisdom.
He Shanggong’s (approximately 200 BC — ?)) advice also encapsulates Lao Tzu’s teaching: "Go not out the door, know all under heaven."
He said, “The sage does not leave his home, yet he knows many things in the world. He understands others through understanding himself. He knows others' families by knowing his own. Therefore, he understands how things work in the world.”3
By turning inward and cultivating self-awareness, we gain insight into our own nature and the workings of the world around us. Through introspection and reflection, we understand the laws that govern the universe and human society.
Indeed, some of life's most valuable lessons are acquired not through personal experience alone but also through learning from the experiences of others.
We need not make the same mistakes or endure the same hardships to glean wisdom. Instead, we can heed the lessons of those before us.
This principle resonates with Sun Tzu’s wisdom on strategizing: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.”4
Spiritual Taoism
From this chapter, we uncover two fundamental principles that can guide our path in life’s journey:
learning from experiences
and mastering oneself through the mindset of wu-wei
Be mindful of experiences
Learning the essential lessons and principles from experiences enables us to cut through the clutter of life's motions.
By discerning the underlying truths and wisdom embedded within our experiences, we can navigate life with clarity and purpose.
These lessons serve as guiding beacons, illuminating our path and helping us make informed decisions, especially when we are positioned at life’s crossroads.
However, it's not enough to merely recognize these principles; we must practice them until they become ingrained in us.
When we follow specific principles and lessons, we can mindfully craft a unique life path.
Yet, this is still not enough to go through life’s uncertainties.
The mindset of wu-wei
We must obtain self-mastery through the mindset of wu-wei.
This mindset encompasses three critical rules:
control emotions
not to be enslaved by distractions and desires
and being watchful of what enters our minds
Self-mastery indicates confronting and recognizing the true self. That means we can easily become the victims of emotional turmoil, excessive desires, and external distractions.
In those circumstances, we do not actually control the mind and heart, as we are already driven by external forces.
But, when you master emotional stretch, cut off external disturbances, and transcend above excessive desires, you are in control of your consciousness.
Once external values and beliefs enter the mind, they shape or form the foundations of our value systems.
Thus, the mindset of wu-wei is to rise above the enchantment of any dogma, belief, or ideology.
It is through this self-mastery that we guard against becoming ensnared by specious ideologies or doctrines that may lead us astray.
Indeed, unlearning problematic habits can be as challenging as mastering a skill.
Firstly, it requires courage to face the truth and disentangle ourselves from subjective views.
Secondly, we embrace the principle of emptying the mind and holding firmly to stillness. As Lao Tzu said, “I do my utmost to attain emptiness; I hold firmly to stillness.” (See Chapter 16)
In essence, self-mastery hinges on being conscious of the danger of an egocentric view of the world, which is often influenced by precarious ideas and unexamined beliefs from the outside.
True understanding lies in seeing the essence of things. And that is the fundamental task of self-mastery.
Thanks for reading!
Wishing you obtain self-mastery your way,
Yuxuan
Daodejing, trans. Edmund Ryden. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008), 99.
Tao Te Ching, trans. D. C. Lau. (London: Penguin Classics, 1963), 54.
「聖人不出戶,以知天下者,以己身知人身,以己家知人家,所以見天下也。」See Wang Bi et al., Four Kinds of Laotse 老子四種 (Taipei: National Taiwan University Press, 2016), 134.
Sun Tzu, “Attack by stratagem,” Chinese Text Project. https://ctext.org/art-of-war/attack-by-stratagem.