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The Taoist Trader: Breaking the Rules

September 20, 2011 by Terry Chitwood Leave a Comment

The Taoist Trader: Red Dragon Swooping
The Taoist Trader: Your Unique Trading Path

Tao Te Ching (Chapter 38)

To give without seeking reward

To help without thinking it is virtuous—

therein lies great virtue

To keep account of your actions

To help with the hope of gaining merit—

therein lies no virtue

 

The highest virtue is to act without a sense of self

The highest kindness is to give without condition

The highest justice is to see without preference

 

When Tao is lost one must learn the rules of virtue

When virtue is lost, the rules of kindness

When kindness is lost, the rules of justice

When justice is lost, the rules of conduct

And when the high-blown rules of conduct are not followed

people are seized by the arm and it is forced on them

The rules of conduct are just an outer show of devotion and loyalty—

quite confusing to the heart

And when men rely on these rules for guidance—

Oh, what ignorance abounds!

 

The great master follows his own nature

and not the trappings of life

It is said,

“He stays with the fruit and not the fluff”

“He stays with the firm and not the flimsy”

“He stays with the true and not the false”

(By Lao Tsu, translated by Jonathan Star)

Trading Shoulds

Trading literature is full of opinions about the right way to trade. Trading shoulds abound. If trading is as much about self-development as it is about having a proper profit and loss statement, then as a trader you need to rely more on your individual perspective than on collective opinion.  “The rules of conduct are just an outer show of devotion and loyalty—quite confusing to the heart.” To be impeccably loyal to a trading system or trading style designed by someone else is confusing to your heart and your individuality. “And when men rely on these rules for guidance—Oh, what ignorance abounds!”

Breaking the Rules

You might want your trading slogan to be: If you didn’t make the rule, break the rule. Trading guidelines that don’t come from the Tao and/or hard-won personal experience don’t lead to self-growth. Don’t let the internalized trading police force you into trading in a socially approved manner. “And when the high-blown rules of conduct are not followed people are seized by the arm and it is forced on them.” Don’t let the inner and outer voices of tyranny control your trading.

The Great Master

If you want to live a fulfilling, meaningful and exciting life follow your individual path. Follow the Tao. Anything else is fluff. “He stays with the fruit and not the fluff.” In trading as in life, it is important to listen to your deeper self. The voice of “the great master” lies deep within you. Drink the wisdom from that voice. “The great master follows his own nature and not the trappings of life.”

The Taoist Trader: Red Dragon Swooping
The Taoist Trader: Your Unique Trading Path

Related posts:

  1. The Taoist Trader: System or Straightjacket?
  2. The Taoist Trader: Faith
  3. The Taoist Trader: An Empty Vessel
  4. The Taoist Trader: Selfless Trading
  5. The Taoist Trader: Claim Titles, Lose the Tao

Filed Under: The Taoist Trader Tagged With: breaking the rules, Lao Tsu, Tao, Tao Te Ching, Tao Te Ching Chapter 38, Taoist Trader, trader, trading

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