The Beauty of Wisdom

We live in an age when the world’s knowledge is available everywhere, all the time, served up to anyone with an internet connection.

We assume we are different —modern, intelligent, informed, and more advanced than those who came before us. However, there is scant evidence to support that view regarding our internal well-being.

Around forty years ago, I began collecting wisdom literature. I don’t have an exact definition of wisdom literature, but I know it when I see it because it has a quality and depth that transcends time. Reading wisdom literature centers me and quiets my mind. The ancient Tao Te Ching is a good example.

According to legend, the Tao Te Ching was written by Lao Tzu, a contemporary of Confucius, and a respected keeper of the Royal Archives.  Lao Tzu became disillusioned with societal violence and, at age 80, decided to leave modern civilization. At the Hangu Pass on the kingdom's western border, he was recognized by the gatekeeper, who begged him not to leave before sharing his wisdom. Lao Tzu ultimately composed 81 poems and presented them to the guard. He then left and was never seen again. 

The Tao Te Ching has significantly shaped Taoist, Confucian, Buddhist, and Chinese political thought for over two millennia. Many translations and interpretations of this work have been offered. Below are a few excerpts I gleaned over the years from various sources.

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The name that can be spoken is not the eternal name

Tao 1

All qualities exist only in relation to their opposites 

Be wise and live openly

But grasp, cling to, and identify with nothing absolutely

Tao 2

Help each other empty the noise from the mind

Tao 3

You don’t need to know all the details of the universe to be right with it.

Tao 4

Successful people adapt to any environment

Successful people turn their minds to understanding.

In dealing with others, they are kind

Tao 8

Cultivate your interior life

And all things become new again

Tao 12

Be still and discover your center of peace

Tao 16

The flexible are preserved unbroken

Tao 22

One who understands others has knowledge

One who understands himself has wisdom

-Tao 33

If you want to grow outwardly,

First, grow inwardly

Tao 36

You are always already free

Tao 41

The worst fate of nations and individuals

Is greedy discontent amidst plenty

Tao 46

To live in the chaos of the moment 

Simplify!

Then simplify again

When seeking knowledge, much is acquired

When seeking Tao, much is discarded.

Tao 48

Successful people hold no fixed ideas

Their principles are high

But their minds are open

Tao 49

Be wise

Observe your internal conscious process

And you will truly see

Tao 52

The one who knows does not speak

The one who speaks does not know

Tao 56

One who is truly successful

Turns ups and downs into forward motion

Tao 58

Be wise

Recognize the power of observation

And the strength of simplicity

Tao 65

How did the ocean become Queen

of all rivers and streams?

Because it is lower than they are.

Likewise, if you have humility

You can serve everyone

Tao 66

The wise person dresses plainly

And carries a treasure within

Tao 70

When people lose their sense of wonder

It is no wonder they lose their good sense

Tao 72

Live for more than yourself

And you’ll know the value of every life

Tao 75

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Wisdom literature is often found in philosophy, religion, and history. Looking back, it’s an abomination that my college education didn’t include these subjects.

Maybe when AI-assisted knowledge becomes ubiquitous, educators will place more emphasis on wisdom literature. I would love to help develop the curriculum for such a course—perhaps a Survey of Wisdom 101.

Maybe in another life! 

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For those that are new to this blog, each Sunday, I post a topic relevant to the pursuit of a life well-lived, defined as experiencing happiness that is resilient in the face of difficult circumstances, seeing where we “fit in,” and feeling accepted just as we are. You can subscribe to my latest posts by filling out your email address at the bottom of this page.

My new book, The Secret Within, provides a practical guide to living with personal difficulties.  Check it out on Amazon.