Tao Te Ching Verse 42: The How and the Why of the Tao

The Tao Te Ching for Everyday Living

Tao Te Ching Verse 42

translated by Shi Fu Hwang
From Tao arises one;
from one arises two;
from two arises three, and from three arise all things.
All things leave behind them the obscurity (Ying), and go forward to embrace the
brightness (Yang) and inherit the blending property of the two harmonized polarities.
What people dislike is to be called solitary, unworthy, virtueless;
and yet those rulers regard them matching to their status.
So those things are benefited by being harmed, others are harmed by being benefitted.

While others have taught their precept, I have my own,
- the violent person shall die a violent death.
I will make this the basis of my teaching.
Photo by Martin Engel - Grafiker Hamburg on Unsplash
What's my purpose?
At the beginning of this year, I started questioning why I was actually here on Earth. I had realized that I am not my body, I am not my thoughts, I’m not my words, all of that. What I was left with was this corporeal experience I was having. And I really could figure out what the point of it was.

I pondered, read some things, and talked with some people. And at the end of it, seeing how I was still alive, I came to the conclusion that I am here to participate. That’s it.

So that helped me be ok with this cosmic circumstance in which I find myself. Chalk it up to a part of the journey.

If that’s the case, and I’m here to participate, I can be assured that the Tao provides every experience I need to be here fully. So when I find myself in a situation that seems undesirable, I can ask myself: is the circumstance, situation, or the way others are treating me, is it just something I’m supposed to learn from? Or am I doing something to cause it all so I can learn?

Here’s what that question’s got to do with this verse:

The motion of the yin and the yang creates the universe. I am of the universe, therefore, I am the universe. There are others who are the universe as well. Our perception of time binds us to a linear corporeal experience to allow us all to learn and experience different things. Your journey is specific to you; mine is crafted for me. When we look at others and their situations, and we find ourselves wanting what the other person has, be it material, people around them, or social position, we can remember that not only would a situation like that contain trade-offs - we can also remember that our positions or circumstances may be enviable to others, as well. Further, we can remember that each aspect of our trade-off represents this constant motion, this ebb and flow of things.

If I were to paraphrase this verse into language for today, I’d probably say something like this:

There is no need to do anything except participate in the universe. Stop wanting more. Allow the Tao to provide everything that you’ll ever need. Be here for your life. Set aside violent or selfish pursuits by concentrating on being aware of how you can bring the Tao to others. Move into Harmony with the Tao.