#72 Break Free from the Shadow of Control

Tao Te Ching, Chapter 72: Arm yourself with practical wisdom in the face of invisible forms of control and domination.

Oct 13, 2024

Welcome back to The Wisdom of Lao Tzu.

This week, we delve into Chapter 72 of the Tao Te Ching, which speaks directly to something ancient yet relevant today.

What happens when rulers overstep their limits? When control, once subtle, begins to overshadow individuals’ lives?

Lao Tzu’s words hint at a danger that persists throughout time: the gradual erosion of personal freedom under the guise of order and stability.

But what if this shadow of control is already upon us? Are we aware of the forces shaping our thoughts and actions that don’t always look like tyranny at first glance?

Let’s get to it.

**72**

民不畏威，則大威至。

無狎其所居，無厭其所生。

夫唯不厭，是以不厭。

是以聖人自知不自見；

自愛不自貴。

故去彼取此。

Border-crossing: English translations

#1 Lin Yutang’s version

When people have no fear of force,

Then (as is the common practice) great force descends upon them.

Despise not their dwellings,

Dislike not their progeny.

Because you do not dislike them,

You will not be disliked yourself.

Therefore the Sage knows himself, but does not show himself,

Loves himself, but does not exalt himself.

Therefore he rejects the one (force) and accepts the other (gentility).

#2 Edmund Ryden’s version

When people do not stand in awe of the awesome then great

terror will soon come to pass.

Do not constrict their dwelling-places; do not restrict their life’s resources.

Now it is only because you do not restrict them that they are not resentful.

For this reason,

The Sage knows himself yet does not manifest himself, loves himself yet does not appreciate himself.

Therefore,

He rejects the latter and chooses the former.1

#3 D. C. Lau’s version

When the people lack a proper sense of awe, then some awful visitation will descend upon them.

Do not constrict their living space; do not press down on their means of livelihood.

It is because you do not press down on them that they will not weary of the burden.

Hence the sage knows himself but does not display himself, loves himself but does not exalt himself.

Therefore he discards the one and takes the other.2

Deeper dive

Lao Tzu’s insights offer a warning about the dangers of tyrannical control, a force that often arises in societies with long experiences of autocratic oppression.

Tyranny is not a fleeting phenomenon. It tends to perpetuate itself, leading to new cycles of authoritarian rule.

Tyranny vs. individual freedom

This recurring theme throughout history reminds us of the delicate balance between political authority and individual liberty.

While the overt brutality of tyranny may seem distant in our modern world, its echoes still resonate in subtler forms of political domination.

During Lao Tzu’s time, the Spring and Autumn Period (476-771 BC), ordinary people were subject to the whims of rulers whose insatiable thirst for power often led to devastating wars. War was not merely a backdrop in agricultural civilizations—it was a tool for consolidating political capital, leaving the governed with little say over their own destinies.

Today, we witness a different kind of dominance, one that doesn’t always manifest through blatant violence but often operates in more insidious ways.

The state, wielding political power, can exert control that is less visible but equally damaging to individual freedom.

Coercion

It is in our nature to dislike uncertainty. We become anxious and worried when life feels unpredictable and chaotic.

In these moments of instability, we are often driven to make reckless decisions, which we later regret.

Friedrich Hayek observes, “the interference of the coercive power of government with our lives is most disturbing when it is neither avoidable nor predictable.”3

From a Taoist perspective, the arbitrary actions of political authority reflect an approach that is against wu-wei—non-forcing in this context—and accordingly disrupts the natural flow of life.

Hayek defines coercion as one individual's will being subjugated to another's for purposes other than their own.4 Coercion isn’t just the removal of choice. It’s manipulating options to push individuals toward paths that don’t serve their best interests.

This type of coercion suffocates individual autonomy, forcing people to follow the mandates of those with the power to enforce coercion. It robs individuals of the freedom to act on their knowledge, aspirations, and plans, reducing their capacity to chart their own paths.

In this context, it becomes essential to differentiate between predictable coercion, which individuals can navigate, and arbitrary, unavoidable coercion, which significantly restricts personal freedom and choices in life. The latter is like a fog that obscures one’s path, making self-direction nearly impossible.

While necessary forms of coercion, such as taxation and conscription, may exist, the state’s power to exercise coercion unpredictably requires careful scrutiny.

The function of a political order, from Lao Tzu’s perspective, is essentially about creating conditions that empower individuals to pursue their own paths.

In other words, if the general direction of the political development in a society does not align with the Taoist ethos of naturalness and self-determination, then we would know something terrible is on its way.

Spiritual Taoism

Reflecting on Lao Tzu’s teachings reminds me of the importance of nurturing our autonomy, even in the face of invisible forces that seek to control us.

In a world where political power can be easily abused, the quest for self-knowledge, clarity, and spiritual freedom remains as relevant today as it was in Lao Tzu’s time.

Resistance

It is tragic that the land where Taoism originated has strayed so far from its teachings.

At its core, Taoism encourages us to embrace our individuality and transform ourselves in a world of constant change.

Through self-discovery, acceptance, and understanding of our place in life’s ever-shifting currents, we can elevate the depth and breadth of our existence.

To live fully requires not only knowing oneself but also finding harmony with others in society and attaining a peaceful coexistence with the political order.

But the challenge is multifaceted.

It’s difficult to remain vigilant in the face of political power and the forces of coercion. It takes constant awareness to resist any authority—whether social, political, economic, or religious—that seeks to suppress individuality and autonomy.

Yet, this vigilance is crucial, as freedom is fragile.

Take, for instance, the COVID-19 lockdowns in China from 2020 to 2022. Community workers trespassed into people’s homes and forced residents into quarantine, often on flimsy pretexts.

When Shanghai was locked down for two months, one man, threatened by community workers over his job and his children's future, said chillingly: “We are the last generation.”

Local government policies citing covid restrictions caused small businesses to suffer, pushing many to the brink.

In Xi’an, a pregnant woman lost her baby because her covid test expired and her health code wasn’t green (you must have a green health code in your WeChat to go to public places), and the hospital refused to treat her.

Where was humanity? Where was empathy?

“Do not constrict their living space; do not press down on their means of livelihood,” Lao Tzu warned over two thousand years ago.

Yet modern rulers seem deaf to the wisdom that should still guide us.

Those who participated in enforcing lockdowns—the community workers, the bureaucrats carrying out orders, and their unconscious supporters—weren’t just doing their jobs. They were part of a collective force marching toward something darker.

Marching diverts men's thoughts. Marching kills thought. Marching makes an end of individuality.5

Then came the White Paper Movement, a wave of rightful indignation, a cry for revenge.

It was a revolt, and it won’t be the last.

What happens after the resistance becomes successful eventually?

A social transformation, a project of refreshing the mode of thinking of most people, is the guarantee and the precondition for a society to truly transform and embrace a new future.

This means a regime change will not solve the problem of democratic transition.

Even establishing a democratic system is not enough. What truly matters is what kind of cultural tradition and substance are embedded in the system’s workings.

Simply put, one individual’s dignity and freedom must matter more than the need to save the face of a government.

That is to say, there is still a long way to go before the values of individual dignity, freedom, autonomy, and tolerance take root in the land we call China today.

Thanks for reading!

All the best,

Yuxuan