Seventy-Second Chapter

Seventy-Second Chapter

Seventy-Second Chapter
Tao Te-Ching

When people lack a sense of awe, there is disaster.
When people do not fear worldly power.
A greater power will arrive.

Do not despise the conditions of your birth.
Do not resist the natural course of your life.
In this way you will not be weary of this world.

Therefore the sage knows himself but makes no show himself.
Therefore he loves himself but does not exalt himself.
He prefers what is within to what is without.
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As I Understand It:

You have received the gift of life, say “thank you.” Showing no gratitude would ruin this treasure. When the gift is accepted graciously you eliminate self-limitations. Accept your birth, body and the natural course of your life without pretence. Simple acceptance will link you to your inner tao.

Accept that you have power over your life but a greater power, beyond your control, exists. Egoistic personalities ignore this reality thus their tao remains dormant. For the rest awe keeps them grounded and helps them experience the million miracles that an ego-dominated mind cannot feel.

Sage loves his birth, body and life but does not applaud it. He feels the waves of bliss within that are free for all us to feel, like sunshine on cold skin. The ego has no hold on such pleasures. Sage lets the invisible Tao energy that supports everyone and everything, flow through him.
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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.