The Value Of Humility
In this session, we explore verse 13 of the Tao Te Ching, which reflects on the value of humility and the vulnerability that comes with true power. It teaches that pride and recognition can be burdensome, while humility brings clarity, freedom, and peace. The verse suggests that those who are content with their own nature, free from ego, are in tune with the Tao and move through the world with grace and ease. This track is taken from my course, ‘The Wisdom Of The Tao Te Ching’, available now via my profile.
Transcript
Favour and disgrace cause one dismay.
What we value and what we fear are within ourselves.
But what does it mean,
Favour and disgrace cause one dismay?
Those who receive a favour from above are dismayed when they receive it,
And dismayed when they lose it.
What does it mean,
What we value and what we fear are within ourselves?
We have fears because we have a self.
When we do not regard that self as self,
What have we to fear?
Therefore,
He who values the world as his self may then be entrusted with government of the world.
And he who loves the world as his self,
The world may then be entrusted into his care.
Favour and disgrace cause one dismay.
What we value and what we fear are within ourselves.
But what does it mean,
Favour and disgrace cause one dismay?
Those who receive a favour from above are dismayed when they receive it,
And dismayed when they lose it.
What does it mean,
What we value and what we fear are within ourselves?
We have fears because we have a self.
We do not regard the self as self.
When we do not regard that self as self,
What have we to fear?
Therefore,
He who values the world as his self may then be entrusted with government of the world.
And he who loves the world as his self,
The world may then be entrusted into his care.
So this verse,
Verse 13 of the Daldi Ching,
The Daldi Ching points to a couple of things.
The most obvious one is the sense of a separate self versus the connected self,
The oneness,
The non-dualistic approach that we've been talking about within this course.
If you see yourself as separate,
As individual,
As distant or disconnected in some capacity from the world,
From consciousness,
From others,
From the source,
From the Tao,
It leads to a striving,
A greed,
A desire to have for yourself.
And I'm not going to presume to know or understand the truth of reality,
Dualism versus non-dualism,
Or the nature of true values and ethics and morality and the existence of God and all of these questions.
I simply don't know.
But I can interpret and discuss based on texts like this and what they are suggesting and what those suggestions are implying,
And then sort of see that as a point of guidance or wisdom towards a truer understanding.
And that's sort of what I hope to do here with this session and this course in general.
I say all that to say this,
When we feel and act as a separate being,
We tend to be more selfish and greedy.
We hoard,
We strive beyond,
Well beyond what we actually need.
In a vain and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to,
Well,
Stave off death,
To have more,
To protect ourselves from a future that will come,
That we can't stop coming.
Whereas if we see ourselves as part of a bigger collective,
As part of a bigger project,
Be it humanity as a whole,
Or just existence as a part of this earth,
As part of the universe,
However we like to look at it,
We start to see that those behaviors are not ideal.
We may have evolved to inherently need to look after ourselves and those close to us,
But our very nature,
Our intelligence,
Our ability to contemplate allows us to challenge those inherent urges that may have caused us to get here,
But may cause us to not get further.
That's one place that this verse is taking me.
The next place I want to talk about is the idea of favour and disgrace cause one dismay.
If you've ever gotten what you want,
A promotion,
Wealth,
A partner,
An accomplishment,
Winning a race or a competition so to speak,
Landed a big deal,
You know,
We're putting in cliches here,
But note when you get something you want,
Even something as small as a piece of cake,
When you get something you want,
Even something as small as a piece of cake,
There is a moment of joy,
A moment of elation,
Of happiness.
Neurotransmitters are firing in the good way,
But almost instantly,
As you are consuming that cake,
As you are swallowing,
Or as you are stepping down from the podium,
Your brain starts wanting more,
Wanting the next thing.
I wonder if when people get to the top of the mountain,
Literally even,
Are they wondering what the next thing is,
Are they dismayed because of the years of preparation and all the effort has led them toward this peak,
And they just realise,
Oh no,
Getting to this goal wasn't the point.
It's like the difference between an ego climber and a climber that climbs for the journey.
If you are going for the goal,
You are going to be disappointed,
Because no matter what,
Eventually,
Your mind,
Your body will start failing and you won't be able to stay at the top.
But rather,
If you enjoy the journey,
If you live your life,
Perhaps then,
When you get to the top,
And on the way down from the top,
You will find joy,
Favour and disgrace cause one dismay.
I think the other side of the coin,
The dismayed when you lose it,
The disgrace causing dismay,
That makes more logical sense,
But when good things happen,
There is a sort of undercurrent of bitterness of knowing that it will pass.
To pull from a different spirituality,
Different religion,
The Buddha talks about life as suffering,
And this is one of those things,
Even as you are attaining goodness,
Even as you are winning,
Even when good things are happening,
There is still this knowing that it's going to end,
Something to consider there.
And the same thing,
What we value and what we fear are within ourselves.
There's a saying that heaven and earth are states of mind,
And that's one way to take this,
But we take it a little bit further.
If we do not regard that self as the self,
What do we have to fear?
If you see yourself as a part of a collective whole,
As part of a oneness,
As part of something more than just you,
Then the you that I am talking to,
The you that is listening,
You that I am talking to,
The you that is listening,
The small you,
Whether or not that thing exists,
The pattern remains,
Right?
The Tao continues.
If you regard yourself as simply a part of a greater whole,
And all of us and all things as a part of that greater whole,
Values and fears dissipate,
Because it's all contained within that whole.
Another thing to consider.
He who values the world as himself may be entrusted with government of the world,
And he who loves the world as himself may be entrusted to its care.
I'm not sure if the word world there means the physical earth,
Or means the totality of creation,
Or means the Tao,
But if you see yourself as more than a mere person,
There will be wisdom inherent just in holding that view.
So if we can step outside of this small space that we find ourselves in,
Step beyond our favor and disgraces,
Step beyond our values and our fears into a greater sense of self,
If we can try and embody that truth a little bit,
Surely goodness shall come,
For us,
The small us,
But also the total us,
The world,
Yeah?
So let's review this verse,
And just sit in contemplation of it for another minute.
Favor and disgrace cause one dismay,
What we value and what we fear are within ourself,
But what does it mean favor and disgrace cause one dismay?
Those who receive a favor from above are dismayed when they receive it,
And are dismayed when they lose it.
What does it mean what we value and what we fear are within ourself?
We have fears because we have a self,
When we do not regard that self as self,
What have we to fear?
Therefore,
He who values the world as his self may then be entrusted with the government of the world,
And he who loves the world as his self,
The world may then be entrusted into his care.
Favor and disgrace cause one dismay,
What we value and what we fear are within ourself,
But what does it mean favor and disgrace cause one dismay?
Those who receive a favor from above are dismayed when they receive it,
And are dismayed when they lose it.
What does this mean what we value and what we fear are within ourself?
We have fears because we have a self,
When we do not regard that self as self,
What do we have to fear?
Therefore,
He who values the world as his self may then be entrusted with the government of the world,
And he who loves the world as his self,
The world may then be entrusted to his care.
So,
Well done.
This brings us to the end of the session.
At the bottom of your screen,
You'll see the option to view the classroom,
Or to ask a question.
Before moving on,
I invite you to take a moment to click through and share your interpretations and inner discoveries of today's verse,
As well as read the answers from other students,
And hear my replies.
Remember to start your responses with verse 13,
So we all know which one you are referring to.
This is an opportunity for deep learning,
Further introspection,
And insight,
So please don't miss out.
I look forward to seeing you in the next session.
Thank you.
This track was taken from my course,
Wisdom of the Dalte Ching.
It's available now on my InsightTimer profile.
Check it out.
