Verse 33 - Tao Te Ching

Tao Te Ching Verse 33

I goggled various interpretations, each one even more insightful....

He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent.

He who overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is mighty.

He who is satisfied with his lot is rich; he who goes on acting with energy has a (firm) will.

He who does not fail in the requirements of his position, continues long; he who dies and yet does not perish, has longevity.

* * * 

Knowing others is wisdom;

Knowing the self is enlightenment.

Mastering others requires force;

Mastering the self needs strength

He who knows he has enough is rich.

Perseverance is a sign of will power.

He who stays where he is endures.

To die but not to perish is to be eternally present.

 * * *

He who knows others is clever, but one who knows himself is enlightened. One who conquers others is powerful, but one who conquers himself is mighty.  One who knows contentment is rich and one who pushes with vigor has will. One who loses not his place endures. One who may die but will not perish, has life everlasting.

* * * 

Who understands the world is learned;

Who understands the self is enlightened.

Who conquers the world has strength;

Who conquers the self has harmony.

Who is determined has purpose;

Who is contented has wealth.

Who defends his home may long endure;

Who surrenders his home may long survive it.

 * * * 

knowing others is intelligence

knowing yourself is true wisdom

mastering others is strength

mastering yourself is true power

if you realize that you have enough

you are truly rich

if you stay in the center

and embrace death with your whole heart

you will endure forever

Build awareness, Change happens!

Support building awareness, Change happens automatically!

We all want to Change something in our self or the other. Rather than focus on change, bring focus to understanding. This understanding happens by trust, by rapport, by empathy. Begin with a conversation, but only use the conversation as a device, rather go beyond listening to the words. Listen to the voice, the language of the body, and to the language of silence. It is this that increases your awareness. Listening needs hearing and attention. When you truly listen you become aware.

Awareness is crucial. It is awareness that helps you understand the ‘thing’ out there and the ‘thing’ within. It is awareness that helps you stay connected. Gradually, as you become aware, you notice that you are attached to things – a few things or several things, or some kind of things. You realize that you feel happy or sad, when you merely think about these things. Some of us are attached to thoughts (not many I believe). We live in our inner world of thoughts constantly coming up with one hypothesis or notion or other. We go on refining one notion with another. Finally, there are some of us who are attached to ourselves. In a subtle way, we cling to our ego!  We try and think we have an evolved self, better than most others.

Someone said quite beautifully, you can count the number of seeds in an apple, but you cannot count the number of apples in a seed. We are born with infinite potential. Yet there is no journey. The alpha exists in the omega- there are one. The travel is the goal itself. There is no need to travel someplace. You are aware when you see and feel the truth. You are aware, when the truth within, dances and celebrates with the truth out there. For all truth is One. Truth is eternal. It exists in all times. When you deeply listen, you melt into the truth. You leave behind your pre-conditions and judgments. You listen totally. If it is untrue, you will realize it, if its it true you will see it. And the ‘truth shall set you free’. Awareness does not need plans, no preparation is required. When you feel the truth, you become aware, the awareness itself, creates a spontaneous action. You embrace freedom. Your actions will be relevant, responsive and authentic. You act with energy, creativity and awareness – all the forces of inner good unfold.

In the meditative state,
the mind ceases to differentiate between existences,
and that which may or may not be. It leaves them well alone,
for they exist,
not differentiated, but as one, within the meditative mind.

(The Tao Te Ching)