Introduction
As a navy in the past and a single parent now, I have always been interested in the meaning of hardship and the rewards of becoming a better father and being a good human being. I found a stable career path to support my family, but it was more challenging to find the proper teaching to improve my character and be a good example for my children. When I encountered an excerpt about Daoism in our textbook, I realized that it was something I was searching for. Dao is considered the religious and philosophical practice of uniting with nature and embracing the balance between yin and yang, which “describes the creative energy of the universe and the natural order itself” (Fiero 30). The excerpt from Dao de Jing illustrates the essence of this teaching about one’s way toward self-improvement and harmony.
Dao de Jing: Self-Improvement and Harmony
It is essential to note that this excerpt, written in poetic form, is a metaphoric representation of practices that Dao teaches its followers. For example, the passage starts with the idea of a wheel that is formed when thirty spokes converge. At the same time, it claims that “the use of the cart will depend on the part of the hub that is void” (Fiero 31). From what I know about this philosophy, it means that for a person to remain functional and attain balance, one must be able to withdraw from routines and eliminate unnecessary items and ideas. Similarly, the subsequent lines suggest that emptiness is essential for the adequate utilization of anything. The use of a bowl and a house depends on space because, in the same manner, as food fills the former or people occupy the latter, thoughts can only come to the freed mind. Notably, the poem does not suggest focusing only on vacancy, but it highlights the importance of all aspects of human existence, including physical and emotional well-being.
The poem’s concluding four lines reveal the author’s overall idea about the actual usefulness of intangible things. It states that “advantage is had from whatever is there, but usefulness rises from whatever is not” (Fiero 31). Various possessions, wealth, fame, skills, and knowledge that people have brought significant benefits by making our lives easier, safer, and better in terms of material quality. However, it is probably a cliché, but people cannot learn something that they think they already know. It suggests that even knowledge and skills may become obstacles in our way to improvement. Thus, the central insight from these four lines for me is that having a fresh attitude as a young student when starting a new path is vital.
Approaching a problem or situation from a place of stillness and emptiness allows an individual to have an unbiased perspective, resulting in more effective and practical solutions or decisions. Still, it does not mean that a person’s existing knowledge from training and education must be forgotten because, figuratively speaking, the space is protected within the frames of a built house. Similarly, new information is better absorbed if one has an experience of training.
Conclusion
In summary, the short excerpt from the Dao de Jing gave me several insights about personal improvement. First, I realized that internal and external harmony could only be attained by deliberately emptying one’s space and mind from destruction. Next, to improve in a particular craft or occupation, it is crucial to have the perspective of a student who is eager to learn new things. Lastly, these insights are not only essential for spiritual and philosophical purposes, but they are also valuable tools to become better individuals.
Work Cited
Fiero, Gloria K. Landmarks in Humanities. 5th ed., McGraw Hill, 2021.