Tao Te Ching —— Excerpts from the original text of Chunqiu Laozi
He who knows others is wise, and he who knows himself is wise; The winner is strong, the winner is strong; Those who are satisfied are rich, and those who are forced are ambitious; He who does not lose his position for a long time dies but does not die.
Being able to understand and know others is called wisdom, and being able to know and know yourself is called cleverness. Being able to overcome others is powerful, and being able to restrain your own weaknesses is powerful. People who know how to be satisfied are rich. Perseverance and unremitting efforts are aspirations. Only those who do not lose their duty can live long, and those who die and "Tao" still exist are the real longevity.
Extended data
1, the creative background of Tao Te Ching
According to the literature, Lao Tzu is quiet, studious and knowledgeable. In the process of teaching knowledge by his teacher, Shang Rong, Laozi always gets to the bottom of the matter and is very eager for knowledge. In order to solve doubts, he often looks up at the sun, moon and stars and thinks about what the sky is, so that he often can't sleep. Later, Mr. Shang Rong "really learned everything from the old lady." Recommend Laozi to study in Zhoudu.
The literature records: "Last week, I went to see a doctor, went to imperial academy, learned everything about astronomy, geography and human feelings, read all the poems and books, and learned all the cultural relics, laws and history books, and made great progress in my studies. The doctor also recommended him to be an official in the Tibetan room. The Sutra Pavilion is a collection of ancient books in the Zhou Dynasty, which is full of articles and books from all over the world. " Laozi has accumulated a wealth of knowledge, which is well known to all.
2. Appreciation of Tao Te Ching
Tao Te Ching mainly discusses "Tao" and "morality": "Tao" is not only the natural way of the universe, but also the method of personal practice. "Virtue" is not the usual morality or virtue, but a monk's special world outlook, methodology and way of dealing with people. The moral part of Tao Te Ching accounts for a large part of the Confucian classics, which is the basis of monasticism.
Laozi's original intention was to teach people how to practice Buddhism. Morality is the foundation, and Taoism is the sublimation of morality. Without the foundation of virtue, you are likely to fail in dealing with people, managing your family and governing the country, and you will not be able to "cultivate Buddhism." Therefore, cultivating "virtue" is to create a good external environment for monasticism, which may also be needed by people; Being a monk requires a quiet mind and a detached life, which is also indispensable for virtue.
Tao is not only a tangible substance, a thoughtful spirit, a rational law, but also an invisible and intangible cosmic source, which leads to all this. Material, spirit and law are all derivatives of Tao. Tao is inherently infinite. Tao is the ancestor of nature and the source of all things in the universe.