The great wisdom for life is best described by Lao Zi in DaoDeJing Chapter 33. It is not about working smart or working hard. It is more than just about loving others or doing the right things. Those are obvious and fundamental values or virtues. It addresses the concepts of knowledge, power, wealth, and longevity.DaoDeJing Chapter 33 The Original Text and Translation:
知人者智，自知者明；
Knowing others is wisdom. Self-awareness is understanding/enlightenment.
胜人者有力，自胜者强；
胜人者有力，自胜者强；
Winning against others shows his strengths. Winning against ourselves is truly strong/mature.
知足者富，强行者有志；
知足者富，强行者有志；
Contentment is wealth. Perseverance in action shows determination and aspiration.
不失其所者久，死而不亡者寿。
Being true to oneself is lasting. Died, and yet his legacy lives on, is a long life.
1 Knowing Self and Others
In the Art of War, Sun Zi tells us that we must know others and then know ourselves. Our strengths and weaknesses cannot be self-claimed but measured against the enemy that we are going to engage. In Gui Gu Zi's Strategic Persuasion, knowing others begins with knowing oneself. There is no contradiction here. We must know our character, thinking biases, and ignorance so that we may be able to perceive things more accurately and comprehensively. If we are impulsive, we must learn to stay cool and be more patient in order to find out more about others. If we are presumptuous and narrow-minded, we must surround ourselves with people who think differently from us in order to get a true picture of reality. Knowing others also helps us to know about ourselves. Confucius reminds us to learn from those who are better than us and not to make the mistakes that others have committed. We are to examine our behavior when we see the bad behavior of others.
( See also: Chapter 22b 不自见，故明；不自是，故彰；不自伐，故有功；不自矜，故长。夫唯不争，故天下莫能与之争。)
( See also: Chapter 22b 不自见，故明；不自是，故彰；不自伐，故有功；不自矜，故长。夫唯不争，故天下莫能与之争。)
2. True Strength is Self-Control or Mastering Oneself
Bosses are able to command others to do things. But are they able to control their temper and selfishness? Are we the masters over wealth, using and enjoying the wealth we gained, or are we enslaved by wealth, and forever not satisfied and wanting more?
3. Contented and Yet Progressive
If we are driven by greed and forever not satisfied, then no matter how much we have, we always want more, always having a feeling of lack and need. We will never be happy then. Contentment does not, as many people have misunderstood, mean not wanting to make progress. Lao Zi tells us that we can and should do both. On the one hand, we are happy with the present situation, and yet, on the other hand, we aspire to make it even better. Contentment and aspiration can go together. Our contentment gives us the strength and confidence to do better. Security brings progress. Fear regresses and changes not.
4. Leaving a Legacy
Not losing our values and identity makes us last. But life can be more than our lifespan. Our ability to influence future generations is not limited by our life on earth. Consider what you can leave behind even after your death.
Practical Takeaway:
Focus on cultivating inner integrity (不失其所) and contributing timeless good (死而不亡).
For a more in-depth study of this chapter, see
The Four Principles for Greatness
The Four Principles for Greatness
- The Principles for Greatness: #1 Know Others & Self
- The Principles for Greatness: #2 Influencing Others & Controlling Self
- The Principles for Greatness: #3 Contented Yet Be Better
- The Principles for Greatness: #4 Be Yourself & Leaving a Legacy
Lim Liat (c) 10 Oct 2016
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