When pearls and jades are valued, the whole world competes for them.Lao Tzu (Chinese: 老子 pinyin: Lǎozǐ Wade-Giles: Laosi also Laozi, Lao Tse, Lao Tu, Lao-Tsu, Laotze, Laosi, Lao Zi, Laocius, Lao Ce, and other variations) was a mystic philosopher of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching (often simply referred to as Laozi). When pure simplicity disappears, manners and music become ornate when right and wrong take shape, the common people are blinded. After essence is lost, humanity and justice are valued after humanity and justice are defined, virtue is ignored. 'To act in accord with essence is called the Way to attain that natural essence is called virtue. not for humanity and justice they strive for high positions not for the Way and virtue. 'Thus survival is in attainment of the Way, not in smallness ruin is in losing the Way, not in greatnmess The rulers of a confused country strive for expansion of territory. Those who do not worry about the chaos of the world but enjoy order in their own bodies can be engaged in conversation about the Way. 'To use a finite lifetime to worry and grieve over the chaos of the world is like weeping into a river to increase its water in fear of its drying up.

Those people who live for gluttony and lust are tripped and blinded by power and profit, seduced and charmed by fame and status, nearly beyond human conception. Therefore when the spirit is in the lead, the body follows it, with beneficial results when the body is in the lead, the spirit follows it, with harmful results. 'The body is the house of life, energy is the basis of life, spirit is the controller of life: if one loses its position, all three are injured. Leaving things to ministers is a way to danger and destruction, esteeming the wise is a source of folly and confusion, emulating natural law is the way to govern heaven and earth. 'The highest sages emulate natural law, the next best esteem the wise, the lowest leave things to ministers. Thus when there is a fixation of attention on small things, then there is forgetfulness of great things. 'The ears of someone whose eyes are examining the tip of a fine hair do not hear a peal of thunder the eyes of someone whose ears are tuning a musical instrument do not see an enormous mountain. Tranquil and uncontrived, when they act they do not miss the timing. Those weak in ambition are flexible and yielding, peaceful and quiet they hide in nonacquisitiveness and pretend to be inexpert. 'Those who attain the Way are weak in ambition but strong at work their minds are open and their responses are fitting. The following quotes are in our database. The Wen-Tzu has long been revered by the Chinese as one of the great classics of ancient Taoism

Wen tzu understanding the mysteries