Seventy-Fourth Chapter

Seventy-Fourth Chapter

Seventy-Fourth Chapter
Tao Te-Ching

The people are not afraid of death
Why then threaten them with death?
Suppose the people are always afraid of death and we can seize those who are vicious and kill them,
Who would dare to do so?
There is always master executioner who kills.
To take executions for the master executioner is like hewing wood for the master carpenter.
Whoever undertakes to hew wood for the master carpenter rarely escapes injuring his own hands.
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As I Understand It:
Our birth, life and death are our reality. Instead of being afraid of death, why not get comfortable with the idea. And deeply understand that we are not in charge of making decisions of anyone’s time of death, not even our won.

When our inner te is linked with the Tao we feel united with the everlasting cosmic energy. Life becomes meaningful and relevant, the fear of death irrelevant. Once this fear is conquered, there is nothing we cannot do.

When alone or in meditation, practice dying while still alive. This exercise slowly helps eliminate the fear and makes life more vibrant. Thinking of death constantly is ruinous to our health.
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Dyer, W. Wayne. Change Your Thought–Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao. Hay House, Inc. 2007.
The Way of Lao Tzu (Tao-te Ching), Translated, with introductory essays, comments, and notes by Chan, Wing-Tsit. The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc. 1963.