Substance and The Way

In class we have been doing quite a bit of analyzing parts of the Tao De Ching by Lao Tzu.  We have particularly been looking at the Taoist traits that come out through the text.  Taoism is based on the Tao, or Way, which particularly focuses on balance in life.  A yin yang is one of the Taoist symbols that shows balance.  Where one section of the yin yang is dominant, the other is declining and vice versa.  It also shows a cycle, where one section of the yin yang ends, the other section begins, a never ending cycle around the circle.

I’m going to take a look at what would be considered Chapter 12, Substance, of the Tao De Ching, which you can find here: http://www.chinapage.com/gnl.html#12 .

The first section of the selection is really focusing of the balance aspect of Taoism.

“Too much colour blinds the eye,

Too much music deafens the ear,

Too much taste dulls the palate,

Too much play maddens the mind,

Too much desire tears the heart.” 

This section causes me to think about good things in life because although sometimes I think that you can never have too much of a good thing, often this proves wrong.  There is a balance that needs to be found where just the right amount of a good thing plays the role that it should in one’s life.  Using this section as an example, some people enjoy listening to their music on a loud volume, but one day that is going to have an effect on hearing.  Somewhere the appropriate volume level needs to be found, one where an individual can still enjoy their music without damaging their hearing.  Finding balance in one’s life is what leads them to following the Way.

The second section talks about what the sage would do.  This seems to be the way that Lao Tzu is giving the reader advice about how to possibly follow the Way.  The last line particularly stands out to me, “He ignores abstraction and holds fast to substance.”  I would say that this line tells readers that to follow the Way, one needs to stop worrying about perceptions and focus on what is real in life.  Individuals need to accept themselves for who they are and this will lead them to the Way.