#51 Pillars of Self-Transformation
Tao Te Ching, Chapter 51: Discover Lao Tzu's insights on the natural order to assist your journey of self-experimentation and fulfillment for a good life.
Welcome back to The Wisdom of Lao Tzu.
This week, we're delving into Chapter 51 of the Tao Te Ching, where Lao Tzu inspires us with a few principles on how to evaluate our specific circumstances.
Moreover, by learning the fundamental elements of Taoism, including the natural order and the Tao, we can better position ourselves on the journey of self-fulfillment and transformation.
Let’s dive in.
**51**
道生之,德畜之,物形之,勢成之。
是以萬物莫不尊道而貴德。
道之尊,德之貴,夫莫之命而常自然。
故道生之,德畜之;長之育之,亭之毒之;養之覆之。
生而不有,為而不恃,長而不宰。
是謂玄德。
Border-crossing: English translations
#1 Lin Yutang’s version
Tao gives them birth,
The (character) fosters them.
The material world gives them form.
The circumstances of the moment complete them.
Therefore all things of the universe worship Tao and exalt Teh.
Tao is worshipped and The is exalted
Without anyone’s order but is so of its own accord.
Therefore Tao gives them birth,
The fosters them,
Makes them grow, develops them,
Gives them a harbor, a place to dwell in peace,
Feeds them and shelters them.
It gives them birth and does not own them,
Acts (helps) and does not appropriate them,
Is superior, and does not control them.
— This is the Mystic Virtue.
#2 Edmund Ryden’s version
The Way generates them and the life force nourishes them;
Material embodies them and the final shape completes them.
For this reason,
Among the myriad things [there is none]
That does not honor the Way and appreciate the life force;
The honor paid to the Way and the appreciation owed the life force,
Is not like the bestowal of honors
But is ever according to what is so of itself.
Therefore,
The Way generates them and nourishes them;
She grows them and raises them;
She determines them and settles them;
She nurtures them and protects them.
She
Generates and does not possess them;
Acts and does not rely on them;
Grows and does not lord over them.
She is called ‘abstruse life force’.1
#3 D. C. Lau’s version
The way gives them life;
Virtue rears them;
Things give them shape;
Circumstances bring them to maturity.
Therefore the myriad creatures all revere the way and honour virtue.
Yet the way is revered and virtue honoured not because this is decreed by any authority but because it is natural for them to be treated so.
Thus the way gives them life and rears them;
Brings them up and nurses them;
Brings them to fruition and maturity;
Feeds and shelters them.
It gives them life yet claims no possession;
It benefits them yet exacts no gratitude;
It is the steward yet exercises no authority.
Such is called the mysterious virtue.2
Deeper dive
Is there an ideal condition of our human society? Is it possible to build and maintain a society where all people are satisfied with its social and political arrangements?
Are there any possible ways to arrange our lives in an optimal state? How is that possible?
Tao Te Ching reveals Lao Tzu’s thoughts on these questions. In this chapter, he inspires us to reflect on building human society following the Tao.
As he elaborates on the essential characteristics of the Tao — the origin of the myriad things in the world and its liberating spirit, we come to understand the role of natural order and its impact on our explorations in life’s journey.
The making of a natural order
In Taoist philosophy, the natural order is one in which the myriad things in the world could develop and flourish spontaneously instead of succumbing to enforced arrangements from the outside.
The Tao follows that which is naturally so and operates according to the natural order of things (Chapter 25).
What is essential to a natural order is that it is not such a thing as a divine creator who presides over its subjects.3
One does not need to fully understand the Tao to operate oneself in the world.
A heart can beat by itself without necessarily obeying our will and orders.
Similarly, the trees in a forest grow and flourish by themselves without being dictated by some invisible and powerful creator.
In essence, the things of the world operate by themselves in a spontaneous manner. And there is no such thing as a higher spiritual authority to dictate the myriad things.
So, how about the idea of god in various religious and shamanistic traditions?
According to the Taoist principle of naturalness (that which is naturally so) and wu-wei (to be understood as “non-forcing” here), if a religion or any semi-religious doctrine projects an authoritarian belief on its followers, to the extent that they regard non-believers as enemies to be converted or destroyed, then these religions should be reevaluated.
On the flip side, if a religion teaches its followers to be a force for good in the world, even if it preaches the idea of a single legitimate god but does not adopt a narrow-minded and aggressive approach, then Taoism would consider this religion benign and a contributing force to the natural order.
Because we all have a spiritual and psychological need to cling to something higher than ourselves to make it in this world.
Self-establishment and fulfillment
As the opening line says, the Tao is the source of creation.
It is manifested in the virtue of the myriad things in the world.
Humans are also part of this organic and holistic system from the perspective of Tao.
Therefore, we can follow the Tao to make things happen with or without understanding its silent workings.
As Lao Tzu describes,
The way (Tao) gives them life;
Virtue rears them;
Things give them shape;
Circumstances bring them to maturity.
This is a creative process of the Tao. From this, we know we have innate drive and creativity to self-actualize and transform.
In Lao Tzu’s words, “Man models himself on earth, Earth on heaven, Heaven on the way, And the way on that which is naturally so”(Chapter 25)
This crucial principle illustrates Lao Tzu’s deep faith in individual potential and creativity.
The liberating spirit of the Tao
In Taoist thinking, the mark of a spiritually awakened and liberated person is the ability to reevaluate everything specious in the outside world and anything problematic within themselves.
In other words, a Taoist cultivates mental clarity and inner serenity amid the disturbances and turbulences of life.
We can make full use of the laws of the universe to build our societies and civilizations, not because of some higher creator’s command and arrangements.
As the source of all creation in the world, Tao projects a liberating spirit over myriad things by empowering them to grow and transform in their unique and natural ways without meddling or appropriating.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fec4ef600-9aa1-4253-9c95-bdd63d4a5f12.heic)
Lao Tzu says, “It (Tao) gives them life yet claims no possession; It benefits them yet exacts no gratitude; It is the steward yet exercises no authority.”
With this liberating and non-meddlesome Tao, the myriad things (including humanity) could evolve and flourish in their own paths.
Such a relationship, perceived in the context of the natural order, inspires awakened individuals to possess a natural sense of awe and reverence for the Tao instead of fear and subjugation.
Spiritual Taoism
In the journey of self-discovery and self-establishment, Lao Tzu’s messages remind us of two aspects of building a good living:
become who you are meant to be
craft harmonious coexistence
1) Forge your natural and unique path
Tao is within every person. This may be the most important message to get from this chapter.
We can discover and connect with our innate talent and virtue to self-actualize and establish ourselves.
But we often find ourselves in constant struggles and confusion in daily life.
Society constantly tries all possible means to entrap us into believing that we must fit in, conform, and force ourselves to be a part of the whole. This is the conventional way to make it work in this world.
Yet, while we wholeheartedly follow this path, we gradually lose touch with the natural uniqueness within each one of us.
If we want to reverse this trend, it is necessary to become more conscious of our unconscious actions and pursuits.
In the natural world, we cannot find two leaves with the same appearance and structure.
Likewise, we have been created differently from the beginning. If we do not believe in our unique individuality, how can we expect others to respect and appreciate our natural differences?
Recognizing this reality is respecting Tao’s creation and the wonder of life itself. This is the beauty of the natural order.
Nevertheless, this is not to say we should pride ourselves because of that uniqueness. In Lao Tzu’s words,
He who tiptoes cannot stand;
He who strides cannot walk.
He who shows himself is not conspicuous;
He who considers himself right is not illustrious.(Chapter 24)
Instead, this is only the first step of awakening to embrace who we are and be aware of who we could become.
To set on the path of creation and transformation, we must cultivate the ability to distinguish and capitalize on a specific trend or circumstance.
As Lao Tzu describes, “The material world gives them form. The circumstances of the moment complete them.”
The implications are two-fold:
become aware of external conditions and circumstances
fully embrace our creative agency and initiative
First, self-establishment and making things happen hinge on the external conditions.
When the conditions are unfavorable, we will most likely fail in our endeavors, no matter how prepared we are.
In this context, overreach and over-exertion can prove counterproductive as we essentially swim against the tide.
On the flip side, capitalizing on the trend indicates that we proactively engage with circumstances to make things happen.
In American culture, the famous saying is, “Follow the money,” which is an excellent example of identifying how things work and following a trend.
For example, let’s apply this idea to understanding monetary policy. When a loose monetary policy is implemented, businesses will have a sequence of financial incentives and actions.
As the government encourages central banks to print more money and implement policy measures to encourage borrowing and lending or taking subsidies, businesses in particular sectors will get this directed monetary supply to beef up their business operations.
Institutional and retail investors could also track and invest in specific industries and related leading companies to ride on this trend for investing gains.
The application of this popular phrase goes beyond this example, but the gist of the idea is that a specific trend and evolving condition can be understood and embraced.
In military battles, investigating and estimating the overall conditions of both sides will clarify which side may endure and ultimately win.
In Sun Tzu’s words, “…just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions. He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain.”4
If we can grasp the concrete conditions in particular circumstances, we can develop mental clarity and proper strategies to avoid unnecessary battles.
2) Build harmony around you
In our journey through life, we often face the challenge of dealing with complex social relations, such as authority.
While we must cooperate with authority in practical situations to maintain stability and order, on a spiritual and existential level, we do not need to bow to anyone's authority.
This idea is deeply rooted in the teachings of the Tao, which is not our master but a guiding principle for living in harmony with the natural order.
To truly leverage our freedom and creative agency to make things happen, it is important to surround ourselves with like-minded individuals.
This can be a circle of friends, a mastermind group, a supportive community, or kindred spirits (can be imaginary examples, such as established individuals and exemplary figures from books) who share our values and aspirations.
These associations empower us to grow and develop naturally, as they also help shape our personality and character over time.
As we strive to improve and establish ourselves, we also need to be wary of the danger of becoming authoritarian and falling to the dark side (when I reflect on the natural order, it always reminds me of Star Wars).
Acting in a controlling or domineering manner would betray the spirit of the Tao.
Such behavior leads us down a degenerative path, where our energy is focused on limiting, controlling, and resisting, ultimately draining our vitality and potential.
In Taoist thinking, this is also causing an imbalance of the yin and yang, and an eventual breakdown.
Instead, we can aim to elevate ourselves to understand and embody the liberating spirit of the Tao.
Even if we cannot fully grasp this ideal, we can still practice open-mindedness and tolerance.
All creative beings manifest themselves in various ways. This perception helps us avoid narrow-mindedness and limited understanding.
It is human nature to discriminate against or demonize things and behaviors we do not understand or appreciate. This only reveals our own limitations.
By embodying the liberating spirit of the Tao, we free our minds and souls from the shackles of narrow beliefs, ego-centric hubris, and subjective views and preferences.
Therefore, aligning with the Tao brings a refreshing sense of liberation and calm to our social interactions.
When our actions are based on a liberating and empowering spirit, we contribute positively to the social dynamics around us.
In this state of harmony, we do not seek to take pride in our achievements or expect rewards and gratitude for our contributions. We do not dominate others, even if we hold more power and authority.
From a Taoist perspective, this approach helps build a natural order in society, where everyone can thrive and grow together in a state of harmonious coexistence.
Thanks for reading!
Wishing you peace and wisdom,
Yuxuan
Daodejing, trans. Edmund Ryden. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008), 107.
Tao Te Ching, trans. D. C. Lau. (London: Penguin Classics, 1963), 58.
Chen Guying pointed out that the character of Tao represents the humanist spirit of Taoism, which is in clear contrast with the conception of a creator God with absolute power in Western religions. See Chen Guying, “Dao: A Spiritual Home,” in The Humanist Spirit of Daoism, ed. David Jones and Sarah Flavel (Leiden: Brill, 2018), 128.
「故兵無常勢,水無常形;能因敵變化而取勝,謂之神。」Sun Tzu on the Art of War, trans. Lionel Giles. (Leicester: Hallandale Online Publishing), 23.
I wrote a paper in college drawing parallels between logic and Taoism. That graphic in the middle is the first time I can recall seeing somoene do that kind of thing. Very cool.