#55 The Journey Back to Innocence
Tao Te Ching, Chapter 55: Explore why preserving your innocent and authentic spirit is the key to the inner path of self-discovery.
Welcome back to The Wisdom of Lao Tzu.
This week, we delve into Chapter 55 of the Tao Te Ching, where we discover Lao Tzu’s teachings on spiritual practice as a journey of returning to innocence.
Why does Lao Tzu use the symbol of a newborn child as an ideal?
What are the practical implications for us on the spiritual path?
Let's find out.
**55**
含德之厚,比於赤子。
毒蟲不蟄,猛獸不據,攫鳥不搏。
骨弱筋柔而握固。
未知牝牡之合而朘作,精之至也。
終日號而不嘎,和之至也。
知和曰常,知常曰明。益生曰祥。
心使氣曰強。
物壯則老,謂之不道,不道早已。
Border-crossing: English translations
# 1 Lin Yutang’s version
Who is rich in character
Is like a child.
No poisonous insects sting him,
No wild beasts attack him,
And no birds of prey pounce upon him.
His bones are soft, his sinews tender, yet his grip is strong.
Not knowing the union of male and female, yet his organs are complete,
Which means his vigor is unspoiled.
Crying the whole day, yet his voice never runs hoarse,
Which means his (natural) harmony is perfect.
To know harmony is to be in accord with the eternal,
(And) to know eternity is called discerning.
(But) to improve upon life is called an ill-omen;
To let go the emotions through impulse is called assertiveness.
For things age after reaching their prime;
That (assertiveness) would be against Tao.
And he who is against Tao perishes young.
#2 Edmund Ryden’s version
One who keeps the fullness of the life force,
Is comparable to a newborn child.
Wasps, scorpions, adders, and kraits do not sting him;
Fierce beasts do not seize him; birds of prey do not grasp him.
His bones are supple, sinews soft, yet he grasps firmly.
He does not yet know the harmony of female and male yet his penis is aroused:
The epitome of essence!
All day long he shouts and yet is not hoarse.
The epitome of harmony!
To know harmony is called ‘what is ever thus’;
To know what is ever thus is called ‘insight’;
To block life is called ‘inauspicious’;
The mind controlling qi is called ‘strengthening’.
When things are at their peak they grow old.
This is called ‘Lacking the Way’.
What is lacking the Way dies early.1
#3 D. C. Lau’s version
One who possesses virtue in abundance is comparable to a new born babe:
Poisonous insects will not sting it;
Ferocious animals will not pounce on it;
Predatory birds will not swoop down on it.
Its bones are weak and its sinews supple yet its hold is firm.
It does not know of the union of male and female yet
its male member will stir:
This is because its virility is at its height.
It howls all day yet does not become hoarse:
This is because its harmony is at its height.
To know harmony is called the constant;
To know the constant is called discernment.
To try to add to one’s vitality is called ill-omened;
For the mind to egg on the breath is called violent.
A creature in its prime doing harm to the old
Is known as going against the way.
That which goes against the way will come to an early end.2
Deeper dive
Lao Tzu often uses the symbol of the newborn child to represent unspoiled innocence and innate nature.
A child, manifesting the purity of spirit, embodies an unblemished state we wish to return to in our spiritual cultivation.
In Wang Bi’s (226-249 AD) words, “An infant without requests or desires never offends anything. Therefore, poisonous insects never sting him. One who maintains an abundance of virtue never threatens anything. Nothing will interfere with his perfection.”3
Spiritual cultivation is essentially an inner journey of self-discovery. It can guide us back to a state of purity like that of a newborn child.
It’s easy to lose our moral compass in life. Consequently, we may harm others and ourselves.
However, there is always a second chance to make things right and readjust our ethical codes, an essential step in protecting our spiritual world.
Lao Tzu also emphasizes the importance of preserving the wholeness of character for a simple way of life.
The world is brimming with allures and distractions that lead us astray.
He warns:
The five colors blind the eyes of man;
The five musical notes deafen the ears of man:
The five flavors dull the taste of man;
Horse-racing, hunting and chasing madden the minds of man (Chapter 12)
Achieving inner stillness through concentrated efforts, meaningful projects, and life's work can save us from these distractions.
Chuang Tzu, too, depicts the wholeness of spirit without showiness in the following story:
Ji Xingzi was training gamecocks for the king. After ten days, the king asked if they were ready.
“Not yet. They’re too haughty and rely on their nerve.”
Another ten days and the king asked again.
“Not yet. They still respond to noises and movements.”
Another ten days and the king asked again.
“Not yet. They still look around fiercely and are full of spirit.”
Another ten days and the king asked again.
“They’re close enough. Another cock can crow, and they show no sign of change. Look at them from a distance, and you’d think they were made of wood. Their virtue is complete. Other cocks won’t dare face up to them but will turn and run.”4
Spiritual Taoism
By taking the inner journey of rediscovering our original innocence, we can identify two spiritual ideas that could guide us in life:
embracing gentle strength
cultivating crisis awareness
1) The power of gentleness
Lao Tzu emphasizes gentleness and resilience over outward strength.
Inspired by the natural world, he observed the natural cycle of things: life and death, the fate of nations and empires, and the growth and decay of living things in nature.
For Lao Tzu, these are symptoms of Tao’s silent and constant workings.
“Reversion is the action of Tao
Gentleness is the function of Tao” (Chapter 40)
Gentleness is not weakness. It is a resilient attitude toward the vicissitudes of life.
With a gentle heart and a sturdy spirit shaped by life experiences, one is empowered to prevail in life’s ups and downs.
Lao Tzu says, “I have three treasures which I hold and cherish. The first is known as compassion…Being compassionate, one could afford to be courageous…Through compassion, one will triumph in attack and be impregnable in defense.” (Chapter 67)
With compassion driven by bravery, like a mother’s love to protect a child, we find the strength to face life’s challenges.
2) Crisis prevention
Crisis awareness is prevalent in the Tao Te Ching.
Lao Tzu lived through an extremely turbulent and dark environment (the Spring and Autumn period), during which ordinary people’s fate was vulnerable to societal upheavals.
Throughout the text, he frequently reminds readers of the necessity of being aware of invisible dangers and potential crises.
He says,
Rather than fill it to the brim by keeping it upright
Better to have stopped in time;
Hammer it to a point
And the sharpness cannot be preserved for ever;
There may be gold and jade to fill a hall
But there is none who can keep them. (Chapter 9)
and it is crucial to cultivate awareness of all aspects of life,
That which lies still is easy to hold;
That which is not yet manifest is easy to forestall;
That which is brittle (like ice) easily melts;
That which is minute easily scatters. (Chapter 64)
Sometimes, we bring misfortune to ourselves without being aware of it in the first place.
Poisonous insects and predatory birds symbolize a precarious and dangerous environment.
Similarly, we also experience highs and lows in life’s journey. Therefore, how we prepare and strategize beforehand is the key to surviving hard times.
So, Lao Tzu stressed the importance of incremental progress,
A tree with a full span’s girth begins from a tiny sprout;
A nine-storied terrace begins with a clod of earth.
A journey of a thousand li (500 meters) begins at one’s feet. (Chapter 64)
The spiritual path is a constant process. Persistence and dedication are the way.
Understanding the impermanent nature of things in the universe, Lao Tzu pointed out a spiritual way for people to follow the Tao.
By doing so, we can dissolve constant worries and anxieties, tackle practical problems, and find inner peace on the path.
From a Taoist perspective, going through this life means we will encounter all those twists and turns, joyous adventures and silly moments, crises and adversities.
Yet, it is up to us to preserve our essence as innocent and authentic spirits.
After all, life is an open experience.
Discover More
On “following the Tao”:
On navigating complex social and political uncertainties:
Thanks for reading!
Wishing you peace and joy,
Yuxuan
Daodejing, trans. Edmund Ryden. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008), 115.
Tao Te Ching, trans. D. C. Lau. (London: Penguin Classics, 1963), 62.
「赤子,無求無欲,不犯眾物,故毒蟄之物無犯於人也。含德之厚者,不犯於物,故無物以損其全也。」See Wang Bi et al., Four Kinds of Laotse 老子四種 (Taipei: National Taiwan University Press, 2016), 48.
Burton Watson, “Mastering Life,” in The Complete Works of Zhuangzi (New York: Columbia University Press, 2012), 151. Translation Modified.