Read and reflect on the following passages. In the Comments column, comment on what the passage meant to you. Use your own experiences as examples to explain the passages.
| Passage | Comments |
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1) Keep your mouth shut, Guard the senses, And life is full. Open your mouth, Always be busy, And life is beyond hope.
(Chapter 52) |
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Better stop short than fill to the brim. Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt. Amass a store of gold and jade, and no one can protect it. Claim wealth and titles, and disaster will follow. Retire when the work is done. This is the way of heaven.
(Chapter 9) |
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Knowing others is wisdom; Knowing the self is enlightenment. Mastering others requires force; Mastering the self needs strength.
(Chapter 33) |
From Feng, G. & English, J. (Trans.). (1972). Lao Tsu: Tao Te Ching. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.
Write a 1- to 2-paragraph response to each of the following:
- How does the Daodejing characterize early Daoist teachers?
- How would you characterize Daoist teachings in their entirety?
