8 Life-Changing Lessons From Lao Tzu’s Philosophy

Life Changing Lessons From Lao Tzus Philosophy 2

Can you embrace life without controlling it? Can you reach your goals without forcing them? The life lessons from Lao Tzu will inspire you in life!

Lao Tzu – the eminent philosopher of the far east and the founder of Taoism. He has influenced several schools of thought, not only in China but worldwide. Though it has been centuries since his last breath, the teachings of Lao Tzu are still applicable in our modern social and psychological environment.

Let The Tao Be Present In Your Country, And Your Country Will Prosper –

Lao Tzu

8 Life Lessons From Lao Tzu Philosophy

1. Victory Is Of The One Who Can Let It Go

Victory Is Of The One Who Can Let It Go

“Things arise and she lets them come; things disappear and she lets them go. She has but doesn’t possess, acts but doesn’t expect.” – Lao Tzu

Our life is in our in our hands. We make our own fortunes. However, individual events and outcomes are not in our control.

They are subject to randomness, not determinism. So, it is not wise to form attachments and cling to these fleeting events. Let them pass. Nothing is constant. Things come and go in no time. You have to allow things to flow in complete accordance with their intrinsic nature.

Read The Sanskrit Effect: How Chanting Boosts Cognitive Functions

2. To Become Who You Might Be, Let Go Of Who You Are

At the center of your being you have the answer

“At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.” – Lao Tzu

You think you know who you are. But in reality, we live in a fabricated world, where we’re molded into something else and made to believe that the mold is our true self.

This illusion can only be warded off if we let go of who we are and allow the natural flow of the universe to guide us in the right direction. This will bring about gradual transformation, and it is only then can your self truly unfold.

3. Give In Order To Get

The Journey Of A Thousand Miles

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”. – Lao Tzu

If you want to succeed in your journey of life, you have to make the effort.

This is the dynamic principle of opposites complementing each other. To strengthen, one must weaken first, to be rich, one must become poor first, etc.

All these statements indicate that Lao Tzu was one of the very few wise men who could grasp the world beyond the opposites.

He never saw opposite poles in conflict with each other, but saw them as complementary forces acting in accordance with the natural flow of the cosmos. Here, he tells us to apply this wisdom in everyday life to overcome all circumstantial difficulties.

4. Knowing Others Is Knowledge, Knowing Yourself Is Wisdom

Knowing Others Is Knowledge, Knowing Yourself Is Wisdom

“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.” – Lao Tzu

In this day and age, we are more concerned with others and the external affairs associated with them. While we become increasingly familiar with the outer world, our inner world remains unexplored. We fail to give time to ourselves and know ourselves better.

It is always a good thing to know about others, but the self is equally important as far as soul-body balance is concerned. The mind is hardwired into believing that the tangible world is all that there is, but in reality, we have a self that almost always remain concealed in the dark. Lao Tzu asks us to wake up from this darkness and shed light on our self. For that, in essence, is true wisdom.

Read 30+ Dalai Lama Quotes to Enrich Your Life With Wisdom

5. When You Realize All Things Fade, You Cling To None

When You Realize All Things Fade

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” — Lao Tzu

As mentioned earlier, the world is a stream of fleeting events. There is hardly anything outside of yourself that is permanent by nature. Constant is the soul. While transient is everything that revolves around it.

Getting attached and holding onto these momentary events yield nothing but sorrow. Cut the root of the tree and its leaves fall.

Cut the root of the mind and watch your attachments fade away. All worldly things are nothing but phantoms. Substance they have none. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you attain bliss.

6. Rush Leads To Failure

Care About What People Think

If you make hasty decisions based on what others will think of you, then you’re bound to lose the race of life.

Lao Tzu was one of the earliest philosophers to realize that rushing ahead one only loses. Forcing a project to its completion, ruins what is almost ripe.

He tells us that whatever progress we make in our lives, we need to acknowledge that. We must not hassle in order to taste the final fruit, else it will lay waste to whatever we have accomplished.

7. Desperate For Recognition, You Dim Your Own Light

Desperate For Recognition

“Silence is a source of great strength.” – Lao Tzu

We live in the age of social media. This is a time when we demand attention and recognition more than ever. Everywhere you look, there’s only chaos. People are engaged in an aggressive attempt of getting people influenced by their ideas.

They are concerned with image and recognition more than contentment. This results in temptation for material gains that eventually ruins a person’s emotional and spiritual health. The light, the aura of our self is destroyed in this pursuit and we are left with perpetual hollowness.

Read The Importance of Rest In Our Physical, Spiritual and Emotional Health

8. Give No Resistance, The Problem Will Disappear By Itself

Because She Competes With No One

“Because she competes with no one, no one can compete with her.” – Lao Tzu

This seemingly impractical idea actually comes with a twist. It can be best understood when we take into account the way water flow around its obstacles.

If you observe carefully, you’ll find that water flows past every obstacle that comes its way, providing some degree of passive resistance at the same time.

While we humans have learnt to tackle problems head on, what we haven’t is the art of going past it. This is the same art taught in judo and aikido schools of eastern martial arts.

They reason, that like the water that eventually erodes the obstacles by providing passive force, so too, can martial artists and people in general can learn to be absent on the face of looming problems and use the very obstacle in overcoming them.

We hope that these Taoist life lessons from Lao Tzu help you in life and inspire you when you need them. Share your thoughts in the comments below about the teachings of Lao Tzu!


8-Life-Changing-Lessons-From-Lao-Tzu.pin
Life-Changing Lessons From Lao Tzu's Philosophy pinex
Life-Changing Lessons From Lao Tzu's Philosophy pin

— Share —

,

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Up Next

5 Deadpool Quotes That Prove Life is Hilarious and Deep

Deadpool Quotes That Prove Life is Hilarious

‘Deadpool’ isn’t just any superhero film; it’s the film for all you sarcastic loving people, thanks to its hilariously foul-mouthed protagonist. And below are some Deadpool quotes about life that will show you how funny yet deep the movie is!

The multiversal comedy-action duo Deadpool and Wolverine, played by Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, are ready to entertain their fans. It has been six years since the last time we saw this superhero couple reunited on screen together again so you know it’s going to be good!

Up Next

6 Lessons From Emily In Paris Every Millennial and Gen Z Can Relate To

Lessons From Emily In Paris Every Millennial Gen Z Can Relate

Lily Collin’s popular Netflix show isn’t just about pretty outfits, Parisian backdrops, or love triangles but many important life lessons from Emily In Paris that speak to anyone trying to figure out the ups and downs of their 20s.

So, whether you’re tuning in for the fashion or Emily’s dramatic love life, there’s a lot to learn from her experiences in the City of Love. Here are six takeaways from the show that might resonate with you on your own journey through life.

6 Meaningful Lessons From Emily In Paris!

1. Learning A New Language Can Change Your Life

Do you recall the time Emily arrived in Paris

Up Next

Things People Learn Too Late In Life: 7 Eye-Opening Life Lessons

Things People Learn Too Late in Life Eye Opening Life Lessons

Life is full of unexpected events and sometimes there are things people learn too late. Though some lessons come with age and experience, as time goes by, we often wish we had known some important truths sooner.

These moments of truth can be very shocking as well as transformative, they help us live authentically, appreciate what truly matters, and make the most of our time. Below are seven crucial life lessons people learn too late and can still change the way they approach life.

7 Things People Learn Too Late In

Up Next

Is Lifestyle Creep Sneaking Up on You? 2 Key Signs to Reassess Your Spending Habits

Are You Becoming a Lifestyle Creep Check The Warning Signs Now 1

Are you familiar with the term lifestyle creep? Even if you are not, you may be a part of it unknowingly. Wondering why? Because it comes very subtly with the upgradation of our lifestyle.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

You get a raise or a bonus, and suddenly, your daily coffee turns into a pricey latte, your old car feels outdated, and that budget-friendly vacation de

Up Next

Why It’s So Hard to Admit You’re Wrong: 7 Surprising Psychological Barriers You Didn’t Know About

Psychological Reasons Why It Is Hard To Admit Were Wrong 1

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a heated debate, feeling that gnawing sensation that you might be wrong, but don’t want to admit it? Or maybe you are watching someone double down on their stance, even when all evidence points to the contrary, and wondering, “Why can’t they just say they’re wrong?” It’s a common scenario that plays out in classrooms, workplaces, and even family dinners, leaving many of us puzzled about why it is so hard to admit to being wrong.

Up Next

4 Powerful Ways to Accept Vulnerability and Sensitivity In Your Life

Powerful Ways to Accept Vulnerability and Sensitivity In Your Life 1

Vulnerability and sensitivity – are two character traits that are often misunderstood and considered obstacles, but did you know they can be blessings in disguise?

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Our early childhood and formative years, particularly in early infancy, adolescence, and young adulthood are the main times when we get maximum life-altering experiences. This

Up Next

What Self Love Is Not? Understanding 5 Common Misconceptions About Loving Yourself

What Self Love Is Not Common Misconceptions About Loving Yourself 1

Self love is not just taking bubble baths and affirmations. It’s definitely not an individualistic ego thing. So what is it truly? This simple-sounding phrase has a broader meaning in our lives and in this article, we’ll discover what it means to love yourself!

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

The effect of post-modernism has made everyone quite detached from each oth