Tao-Te-Ching 易性 (The Placid and Contented Nature, s.8)

Last updated on Apr 13, 2022

Question the little things we take for granted. How important is water in your life? yet we don't think about it unless we are thirsty.

Please see the previous sections before reading this one: https://sikh-translations.ghost.io/tag/commentaries/

Continuing on the topic of humility, Lao Tse Ji use the properties of water as an example of how humility works.

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ

上善若水。
The Kindest/Most Helpful (上善) seems to be (若) water (水)
水善利万物而不争。
Water is Benevolent (水善)[because] it benefits/advantages (利) all of the manifestation (万物; ten thousand things) yet is not (而不) striving for/pushing for (争) [struggling & using up mental/physical energy]
处众人之所恶，故几于道。
[Water] lives (处) [among] many people (众人)
[yet] it (之) goes to the lowest places (所恶)
Therefore (故), a few (几) take (于) this Path (道).

Here, Lao Tse Ji explain how water does not need to exert its force yet it is so powerful. It gives life to all. Water is so powerful but its nature is to flow to the lowest of places. There are very few that choose to take the humble path of water.

What can we learn from the architecture of Darbar Sahib?

居善地，心善渊，与善仁，言善信，
政善治，事善能，动善时。
Living in (居) a benevolent/good (善) place/land (地)
[The ideal environment for the self includes having the quality of humility]
The heart/mind (心) is ideally (善) [in a state of] depth/profoundness (渊)
[If humble, the mind will be in a good place for spiritual growth]
Along with (与), benevolence (善) and humaneness (仁)
[the person becomes helpful to others if humble]
Words/Speech (言) [become] good (善) truthful/confident (信)
[the words of a humble person are honest and graceful]
Government (政) rules/reigns (治) benevolently (善) [as well]
[a humble leader will rule with kindness]
Affairs/Matters/Work (事) can (能) [become] good (善) [as well]
[a humble boss/coworker will be good to work with]
Moving (动) [becomes] well (善) timed (时)
[Any action becomes graceful, just like we wait for the right time and right place for action, every action becomes this way for a humble person]

Bhai Gurdaas Ji also mention water in a similar way:
ਜਿਉ ਪਾਣੀ ਨਿਵਿ ਚਲਦਾ ਨੀਵਾਣਿ ਚਲਾਇਆ ।
Jio[u] PaaNee Niv[i] Chaldhaa NeevaaN[i] Chalaaeiaa
Like water flows downwards, [anyone that takes the route of water] also flows downwards
...
ਪਰਉਪਕਾਰ ਕਮਾਵਦਾ ਉਨਿ ਆਪੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ।
Paroupkaar Kamaavadhaa Oun[i] Aap[u] Gavaaeiaa
[They] do good deeds through which the self/ego is lost
...
ਜੀਵਦਿਆ ਮਰਿ ਸਾਧ ਹੋਇ ਸਫਲਿਓ ਜਗਿ ਆਇਆ ॥੨੦॥
Jeevadhiaa Mar[i] Saadhh Hoe[i] SaphaliO Jag[i] Aaeiaa
Living while still dead [to desires], the saints are successful in Their coming to this world [being like water]
(Vaar 9, Pauree 20)

夫唯不争，故无尤。
This [Water] (夫) alone (唯) does not struggle/push/strive (不争),
Therefore (故) [water] does not (无) have faults (尤).

The Daoist’ Wu-Wei theme opens up here. Wu-Wei can be described as the idea of acting without expectation. It is often described as non-doing. Non-doing is often mistaken as laziness. Can water be described as lazy? The same water which is present in your blood and the same water which smashes through the earth during a typhoon/hurricane? Water “goes with the flow”. When a hurricane occurs, do you blame water? Water is indifferent to this process.

For a GurSikh, They go with the flow of Hukam. Going with the flow of Hukam, the mind is able to merge with Vaheguru. Going with the flow of Hukam, the individual becomes selfless... speech becomes graceful... Halemi Raaj will begin... all work becomes easy... every action becomes natural. Vaheguru is the Mover of the Water.

Dhan Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Sahib Ji bless us with this Shabad in Raag Gauree:
ਰੇਣ ਸਗਲ ਇਆ ਮਨੁ ਕਰੈ; ਏਊ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਇ ॥
RaeN Sagal Eiaa Man[u] Karai Aeoo Karam Kamaae[i]
Becoming the dust of everyone [humility and removal of self/ego], in this way karam should be earned
ਹੁਕਮੈ ਬੂਝੈ. ਸਦਾ ਸੁਖੁ; ਨਾਨਕ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਪਾਇ ॥੩੧॥
Hukamai Boojhai Sadhaa Sukh Naanak Likhiaa Paae[i]
Realizing/accepting Hukam will bring you Permanent Peace, Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Ji Sahib this how the Hukam is written for those who will receive it.
(Ang 256)

Bruce Lee echoes the nature of water, a lot of martial arts base their physical techniques based on channeling the inertia of their enemy back towards them... putting philosophies such as the Dao De Ching into practice.

If you do not understand humility, learn it from the downward flowing water. Accept Hukam and realize you are like water, wherever you are moved, that is where you will go. If you reject this nature, you will find yourself suffering. Water is so important but understated. This is how Maharaj pervades subtlely within everything in this world. This is how the Saints live in this world. Silently yet the world is nothing without Them.
–
Please forgive any mistakes in commentary/translations. Please let daas know about any clarifications or suggestions.
Guru Panth Ka daas
~Aaeenaa