How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Line)
Quote #4
Without going out the door, know the world
Without peering out the window, see the Heavenly Tao
The further one goes
The less one knows (47.1-4)
Wait... don't scrap those plans for studying abroad just yet. Yeah, it looks like the TTC is saying that traveling makes us dumber, but we probably don't have to read it quite that literally. We prefer to interpret these lines as a warning that we shouldn't expect to be suddenly enlightened just because we traveled thousands of miles to hang out with some sage on a mountaintop. Traveling is awesome. Go for it. But know that the simple wisdom of the Tao is everywhere; you don't have to hop on a plane to find it.
Quote #5
Pursue knowledge, daily gain
Pursue Tao, daily loss
Loss and more loss
Until one reaches unattached action (48.1-4)
Um, so why would we want to pursue the Tao if it's going to make us lose stuff? If the Taoists put a recruitment commercial on TV (which they'd never do), they'd probably have a hard time selling their philosophy with a promise of personal loss for all. What these lines seem to be getting at, though, is that only by emptying our minds can we truly find oneness with the Tao.
Quote #6
The sages have no constant mind
They take the mind of the people as their mind (49.1-2)
Some people might say this makes the sages totally wishy-washy, to which a sage would probably smile, kindly listen to the critic's opinion, learn from it, and then move on without arguing. The TTC thinks we can learn a lot more by going into every situation without preconceptions of what we'll learn from it. How hard is that, though? Being totally open-minded 24/7 sounds like a real challenge if you ask us.