taoism – Content Catnip

Lao Tzu: Violence always rebounds upon oneself

Laozi by Zhang Lu; Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

For every force, there is a counter force.
Violence, even well intentioned,
Always rebounds upon oneself.

The Empty Boat by Chuang Tzu

He who rules men lives in confusion;He who is ruled by men lives in sorrow.Yao therefore desiredNeither to influence othersNor to be influenced by them.The way to get clear of confusionAnd free of sorrowIs to live with TaoIn the land of the great Void. Chuang Tzu (300 B.C.)

Comforting Thought A frog in a well never knows the vast ocean

There is an ancient Taoist expression that ‘A frog in a well never knows the vast ocean’. This is a reminder to be humble and to accept the world as being vast, with our own knowledge of it limited. We must never assume to have the answers to everything, but instead be humble students.