Chapter XXXII
* Verse 72: "Heaven and earth will unite and sweet dew will fall." A hint that miraculous effects might be expected from Not Doing: Nature will even produce good weather if we are in harmony with the Tao. This would have unfortunate consequences in some applications of Zen. "And the people will be equitable, though no one so decrees." Again, political advice, not so different from Confucius, since, if the ruler is good, people will be good without being ordered.
2007-10-23 05:17:12 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I only know rule 72 is when the bank use to yield your interest when you save money after 30 yrs.(lol) I was just kidding I think it's good because you said so and because you have wisdom.
2007-10-23 07:55:38 · answer #1 · answered by @NGEL B@BY 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds to me like a prophecy of a time when all people are living in balance, and the effects it will have not only on politics and governance ("people will be good without being ordered") but also the effects it will have on Nature itself ("Nature will even produce good weather if we are in harmony"). It points to the underlying unity of all that is.
2007-10-23 13:28:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
But how can a ruler make people be good without ordering them to be? Isn't the whole function of a ruler to order people around? One could argue that a good ruler could be a moral leader, but I think we've seen by now that politics and morality are almost mutually exclusive.
You can make people be good by having good laws. Or, you can make them be good by using the threat of hell & the bribe of heaven, as many religions do (or of a better/worse next life, if reincarnation's your thing). But for a person to be good on their own, simply for the sake of being good, I think takes a certain level of something--call it enlightenment, wisdom, or being civilized. To be good on one's own requires compassion towards others, and a mindfulness of the consequences of one's actions. If our parents (or, failing that, our teachers) can teach us those values, we'll see a lot more goodness in the world, and I think it could be argued equitability too.
2007-10-23 12:46:13 · answer #3 · answered by R[̲̅ə̲̅٨̲̅٥̲̅٦̲̅]ution 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
That eventually there will be equality, and we might not like it, but we'll all be at the same level, and it sounds like this will come about as a result of some disaster, rather quickly, and we will not have time to adjust, it will be a shock.
2007-10-23 12:33:12 · answer #4 · answered by Hot Coco Puff 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Peace on earth, Example is the best teacher, Love and honer begets love and honer,
2007-10-23 14:02:07 · answer #5 · answered by jenny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋