The pursuit of the Tao within

Abandon learning, and you will be free from worry.

What is the difference between a “yes” and a “no”?

What is the gap between good and evil?

What others fear, I cannot help but fear as well.

This trend has persisted since ancient times,

seemingly without end!

The crowd is joyous,

as if feasting at a grand banquet,

or climbing a terrace in spring to admire the view.

Yet I remain calm and detached,

unmoved,

like an infant who has not yet learned to smile.

Weary and aimless,

as if I have no home to return to.

The crowd has abundance to spare,

while I seem to lack.

Truly, I have the heart of a fool

muddled and ignorant.

The world is sharp and clear,

while I alone am dull and confused.

The world is keen and discerning,

while I alone am dim and obscure.

The crowd has purpose and ambition,

while I alone am stubborn and simple.

I stand apart from the world,

for I cherish the Dao,

the nourishing mother of all things.

(This chapter contrasts the state of ordinary people with that of a Daoist sage. Ordinary people chase external things, indulging in fame, wealth, and pleasure, while the sage remains tranquil and pure, like an infant. Though seemingly foolish, the sage is united with the Dao, embodying true wisdom and freedom.)

Key Concepts:

绝学无忧 (jué xué wú yōu) – “abandon learning, and you will be free from worry” (rejecting artificial knowledge to attain simplicity).

贵食母 (guì shí mǔ) – “cherish the nourishing mother” (valuing the Dao as the source of all life).

愚人之心 (yú rén zhī xīn) – “the heart of a fool” (a metaphor for the sage’s simplicity and detachment).

Core Philosophy:

Laozi highlights the contrast between the worldly and the Daoist sage. While ordinary people pursue external achievements and pleasures, the sage embraces simplicity and inner peace, aligning with the Dao. This chapter celebrates the sage’s apparent “foolishness” as a sign of profound wisdom and harmony with the natural order.