It is so easy for us to do the good things, the pleasing, the pleasurable and the wealth, rather than the right things. Lao Zi listed five good to have things and the bad consequences. He advised us to feed the basic needs and not the unlimited greed. Compare the list with the Seven Deadly Sins and the 3 things of John.Dao De Jing Chapter 12 gives us a list of five pleasurable things to have. But they have bad consequences. We need to choose wisely to go for the basic needs rather than the greed. The mind map gives the details:
For comparison, I list down the Seven Deadly Sins and quote from 1 John 2:16.
See also The Problems and Answers for Men According to Lao Zi for the three desires of men, glory, greed for wealth, and pleasures.
Just to be sure you don't misunderstand, it is OK for us to enjoy the beautiful things, good music, tasty foods, feeling of thrills and excitement, to earn good money and have a good career, but we have to be careful not to go overboard and neglect the basic needs of living which include doing the right things, building good relationships and other things of the Way (Dao) that Lao Zi talked about in other parts of Dao De Jing. We are created with the senses that we may know how to perceive and enjoy the right things.
Lim Liat (c) 23 May 2014/Updated 3 Jun 2021
Next: Greatness is Not About Emptying but Extending says Lao Zi in DaoDeJing 13
More: Ancient Chinese Wisdom
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