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 Commentary on the Tao Teh King–3–by Swami Nirmalananda Giri
 Action Without Deeds
“Exalt not the wise, so that the people shall not scheme and contend; prize not rare objects, so that the people shall not steal; shut out from sight the things of desire, so that the people’s hearts shall not be disturbed” (Tao Teh King 3:1).
- Exalt not the wise, so that the people shall not scheme and contend.
“Wise” here means those that are wise in the eyes of those with small understanding. Such people are usually only clever or cunning, not truly intelligent, much less really wise. I think was all have met those that were reported to have “great personalities” and seen how they were only manipulative sociopaths and not particularly bright, even. It is incredible how shrewd mediocrities make their way to the top in so many aspects of life, particularly in religion, politics, and education. (This morning I came across the broadcast of a class in one of America’s most prestigious universities. The professor’s whole approach was not as serious or challenging as my grade school teachers’ had been. It was obvious he expected next to nothing from the students, and his whole manner of speaking implied that they were about six years of age intellectually. It reminded me of Sunday School class when I was not yet in grade school. A bit more pondering brought the revelation that his entire approach was that of Captain Kangaroo! Evidently a generation of educators have modeled themselves on Bob Keeshan. I once worked with a graduate of that university who had learned absolutely nothing about anything, so I was not surprised at what I saw, but still I was apalled.)
So if polished mediocrities are not exalted, others like them will not scheme and contend to also be exalted.
- Prize not rare objects, so that the people shall not steal.
It is strange how people value things that are rare or very expensive, paying no attention at all to their intrinsic value. What people need is a sensible perspective on what is of actual value to them as worthy human beings. During the days of Saint Edward the Confessor in England theft was virtually unknown. Historians assure us that if a traveler’s purse dropped on the road it would still be there weeks later. How was this? England at that time was a genuinely religious country and the people valued the eternal over the temporal.
- Shut out from sight the things of desire, so that the people’s hearts shall not be disturbed.
“Thinking about sense-objects will attach you to sense-objects; grow attached, and you become addicted; thwart your addiction, it turns to anger; be angry, and you confuse your mind; confuse your mind, you forget the lesson of experience; forget experience, you lose discrimination; lose discrimination, and you miss life’s only purpose” (Bhagavad Gita 2:62, 63). Therefore it is only good sense to avoid all things that can so addict and destroy us. This is way to peace.
The ideal situation
“Therefore in the government of the Sage: he keeps empty their hearts, makes full their bellies, discourages their ambitions, strengthens their frames; so that the people may be innocent of knowledge and desires. And the cunning ones shall not presume to interfere” (Tao Teh King 3:2).
As pointed out previously, there is no use in thinking that philosophers can reform government, but each one of us can apply Lao Tzu’s principles to ourselves as a micro-kingdom. So here is what we are being advised:
- Keep our heart empty of all that clutters or corrodes it.
- Nourish ourselves abundantly on that which is ennobling and satisfy our higher self.
- Curb our aspirations for that which is worthless, meaningless, and contrary to the revealing of the Tao–our true Self.
- Establish ourselves in the correct frame of reference or perspective regarding our life and ourselves, as well as others. This includes very defined and positive morality.
If we do this we shall be free of delusions thought to be knowledge and free of desires for that which countermands our true nature–the Tao. Living in such harmony within ourselves we shall have discovered the secret of life and transcended all that is lesser and unworthy of us. Illusions will then no longer cloud or distort our clear sight. As the Gita further says: “When he has no lust, no hatred, a man walks safely among the things of lust and hatred. To obey the Atman is his peaceful joy; sorrow melts into that clear peace: his quiet mind is soon established in peace” (Bhagavad Gita 2:64, 65).
Action without deeds
“By action without deeds may all live in peace” (Tao Teh King 3:3).
To understand this I recommend that you read the Bhagavad Gita, for that is one of its main themes. Here is a section from its fourth chapter.
“Action does not contaminate me. I have no desire at all for the fruits of action. A man who understands my nature in this respect will never become the slave of his own activity.
“Because they understood this, the ancient seekers for liberation could safely engage in action. You, too, must do your work in the spirit of those early seers.
“What is action? What is inaction? Even the wise are puzzled by this question. Therefore, I will tell you what action is. When you know that, you will be free from all impurity.
“You must learn what kind of work to do, what kind of work to avoid, and how to reach a state of calm detachment from your work. The real nature of action is hard to understand.
“He who sees the inaction that is in action, and the action that is in inaction, is wise indeed. Even when he is engaged in action he remains poised in the tranquility of the Atman.
“The seers say truly that he is wise who acts without lust or scheming for the fruit of the act: his act falls from him, its chain is broken, melted in the flame of my knowledge.
“Turning his face from the fruit, he needs nothing: the Atman is enough. He acts, and is beyond action.
“Not hoping, not lusting, bridling body and mind, he calls nothing his own: he acts, and earns no evil.
“What God’s Will gives he takes, and is contented. Pain follows pleasure, he is not troubled: gain follows loss, he is indifferent: of whom should he be jealous? He acts, and is not bound by his action.
“When the bonds are broken his illumined heart beats in Brahman: his every action is worship of Brahman: can such acts bring evil?” (Bhagavad Gita 4:14-23).
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