The Taoist Trader: The Sound of Nothing
Tao Te Ching (Chapter 35) Hold fast to the great thought and all the world will come to you, harmless, peaceable, serene. Walking around, we stop for music, for food. But if you taste the Way it’s flat, insipid. It looks like nothing much, it sounds like nothing much. And yet you can’t get […]
The Taoist Trader: Grace Provides
Tao Te Ching (Chapter 34) The Tao is pervasive, flowing on the left and on the right. It works and completes its affairs but never lays claim. All things return to it, but it never acts as master. Ever desireless it is small. All things return to it, but it never acts as master. It […]
The Taoist Trader: Dying to Live
Tao Te Ching (Chapter 33) Those who know others are wise; those who know themselves are enlightened. Those who overcome others are powerful; those who overcome themselves are strong. Those who are contented are rich; those who act strongly have will. Those who do not lose their place endure; those who die without perishing live […]
The Taoist Trader: Peace Descends
Tao Te Ching (Chapter 32) What we call the Tao really has no name. Naming something, we think we understand it. What we call the Tao is far too subtle for that. We experience it in our own true nature. If we hold on to our own true nature, all external and internal strife falls […]
The Taoist Trader: Trading with Compassion
Tao Te Ching (Chapter 31) Weapons are the tools of violence; all decent men detest them. Weapons are the tools of fear; a decent man will avoid them except in the direst necessity and, if compelled, will use them only with the utmost restraint. Peace is his highest value. If the peace has been […]
The Taoist Trader: The Nonviolent Trader
Tao Te Ching (Chapter 30) He who uses the Tao to advise a ruler will oppose violence. Such methods tend to turn on the user. Briars grow where armies have been. The good general only achieves what has to be done. He does not use force for his own gain. He achieves results without boasting; […]
The Taoist Trader: The Perfect Trade
Tao Te Ching (Chapter 29) Those who look down upon this world Will surely take hold and try to change things But this is a plan I’ve always seen fail The world is Tao’s own vessel It is perfection manifest It cannot be changed It cannot be improved For those who go on tampering, it’s […]