Wisdom In The Way

While running today, I had the good fortune of listening to an audio book recording of Stephen Mitchell reading from his translation of the Tao Te Ching. I've read his version several times, but having it on audio made it possible to refresh my memory during a monotonous six miles.

One chapter in particular, number 57, struck me as apropos for our current political dilemma:

If you want to be a great leader,
you must learn to follow the Tao.
Stop trying to control.
Let go of fixed plans and concepts,
and the world will govern itself.

The more prohibitions you have,
the less virtuous people will be.
The more weapons you have,
the less secure people will be.
The more subsidies you have,
the less self-reliant people will be.

Therefore the Master says:
I let go of the law,
and people become honest.
I let go of economics,
and people become prosperous.
I let go of religion,
and people become serene.
I let go of all desire for the common good,
and the good becomes common as grass.

Wise words spoken over two thousand years ago, yet forgotten or ignored on a regular basis.