Tao Te Ching Chapter 38-15 Leave it

Today's Tao

Therefore, he leaves that and takes this. (Ch.38)


Therefore, leave your hologram and remember that you are Tao.

That's for sure.


But can we leave Tao and go into the floating world of holograms?

Yes, that's what great masters do.

Knowing that this fragile world of holograms is just a catalyst, you play there.

You have fun and appreciate the holographic world for existing right here right now.

"This" and "that" are interchangeable. This exchange makes a circle. It is the act of turning Tao's wheel. (=転法輪 [tenborin])

Let's do it. We are masters of life, too.


«Related Articles»
-The highest attainment 38-1
-The lowest attainment 38-2
-No trace of act 38-3
-Mercy 38-4
-The highest righteousness 38-5
-Politeness 38-6
-Lost Tao 38-7
-Lost attainment 38-8
-Lost mercy 38-9
-Lost righteousness 38-10
-Disorder 38-11
-Foreknowledge 38-12
-Thick and Thin 38-13
-Tao's Flower 38-14
-Leave it 38-15
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 38


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.38 text / Next video


☞Some want a prayer wheel at home. Other don't know anything about it, but live a life of prayer wheel without prayers, just with sincerity. Both of them are the same. No one is better than any. Kurosawa embody a life of a sincere prayer in his «Dodes'ka-Den».

Tao Te Ching Chapter 38-14 Tao's Flower

Today's Tao

He remains in its fruit and stays away from the flower. (Ch.38)


Certainly, "its fruit" means Tao, and "the flower" its hologram.

You always remain in Tao's "fruit" because true You are Tao itself.

Nevertheless, holograms are important, too.

In Dogen's «Shobogenzo» 道元の正法眼蔵, he explains 法華　転　法華 [hokke ten hokke]:

the flowers of manifestation turn the flowers of manifestation.

It is a beautiful way to describe "holograms provoke holograms".

This makes a circle or a cycle, which is the wheel of manifestation 法輪 [horin].

Keeping the cycle is precisely turning the wheel of manifestation 転法輪 [tenborin].


«Related Articles»
-The highest attainment 38-1
-The lowest attainment 38-2
-No trace of act 38-3
-Mercy 38-4
-The highest righteousness 38-5
-Politeness 38-6
-Lost Tao 38-7
-Lost attainment 38-8
-Lost mercy 38-9
-Lost righteousness 38-10
-Disorder 38-11
-Foreknowledge 38-12
-Thick and Thin 38-13
-Tao's Flower 38-14
-Leave it 38-15
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 38


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.38 text / Next video


-There are many ways to turn the wheel of manifestation / Horin. You don't have to look for Satori. You can learn how to rely on Tariki / the power of non-self. Eventually you will find out self and non-self are the same thing. A contemporary Japanese novelist Hiroyuki Itsuki talks about his experience of evacuation from Korea during WW2 and tells us how to "embrace despair".

Tao Te Ching Chapter 38-13 Thick & Thin

Today's Tao

Therefore, a great man remains in its thickness and stays away from its thinness. (Ch.38)


Thickness means Tao.

In Chapter 15 Man who knew Tao Lao Tzu says:

"Thick, as if he were an uncarved block."


Thickness = an uncarved block = Tao

(☞See also Chapter  28 Uncarved block)


Thinness means a hologram.

A hologram is superficial.

Besides, Lao Tzu asks you to stay away from the thin hologram, which we call the world.

You should detach yourself from your world. Don't get stuck in there.

Nevertheless, we must not despise it.

Because it is the flower of Tao's manifestation (=法華 [hokke])

It stimulates you to emit more Love / Tao energy to turn the wheel of manifestation, 法輪 [horin].

The act is called 転法輪 [tenborin].


«Related Articles»
-The highest attainment 38-1
-The lowest attainment 38-2
-No trace of act 38-3
-Mercy 38-4
-The highest righteousness 38-5
-Politeness 38-6
-Lost Tao 38-7
-Lost attainment 38-8
-Lost mercy 38-9
-Lost righteousness 38-10
-Disorder 38-11
-Foreknowledge 38-12
-Thick and Thin 38-13
-Tao's Flower 38-14
-Leave it 38-15
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 38


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.38 text / Next video


-Beautiful flowers bloom in all the spheres of existence. Some stories shine. Some are worth telling to another generation.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 38-12 Foreknowledge

Today's Tao

What you call foreknowledge is the flower of Tao and the beginning of stupidity. (Ch.38)


Foreknowledge, telling something before it happens, has been fascinating men for a long time.

But, right here Lao Tzu says it is the beginning of stupidity.

It is logic because there is no time in Tao.

Foretelling doesn't exist. Don't let stupidity reign over your mind.

"Flower" suggests superficiality and holography.

In Buddhism, they use the expression of 法華 [hokke], the flowers of manifestation.

It is you who are creating your hologram.

Why do you need someone else to tell you about it?


«Related Articles»
-The highest attainment 38-1
-The lowest attainment 38-2
-No trace of act 38-3
-Mercy 38-4
-The highest righteousness 38-5
-Politeness 38-6
-Lost Tao 38-7
-Lost attainment 38-8
-Lost mercy 38-9
-Lost righteousness 38-10
-Disorder 38-11
-Foreknowledge 38-12
-Thick and Thin 38-13
-Tao's Flower 38-14
-Leave it 38-15
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 38


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.38 text / Next video


-Sometimes we think that God is silent facing injustice. Why doesn't He help us? Shusaku Endo asks the question. In Japanese traditional plays, the question is asked a little different way. Silence itself is the place we go back to.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 38-11 Disorder

Today's Tao

What you call politeness is the thinness of loyalty and trust, and the neck of disorder. (Ch.38)


Right here, Lao Tzu says that politeness is the worst form of loyalty and trust.

He even says that politeness is the earliest sign of disorder.

But why?

Because politeness is fake.

The moment you think about communication skills, your act is not spontaneous.

It is not natural.

The present state, right here, right now, is always perfect.

It is perfectly in order.

If you try to add something to it, it will be the beginning of disorder.

Of course, you can be polite, righteous, or merciful without trying.


«Related Articles»
-The highest attainment 38-1
-The lowest attainment 38-2
-No trace of act 38-3
-Mercy 38-4
-The highest righteousness 38-5
-Politeness 38-6
-Lost Tao 38-7
-Lost attainment 38-8
-Lost mercy 38-9
-Lost righteousness 38-10
-Disorder 38-11
-Foreknowledge 38-12
-Thick and Thin 38-13
-Tao's Flower 38-14
-Leave it 38-15
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 38


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.38 text / Next video


-In «Zen and Japanese Culture» Daisetz Suzuki talks about Ikkyu's effort to explain to laymen how Zen functions. Ikkyu was supposed to write a Noh play called «Yama Uba» to tell them how it works.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 38-10 Lost righteousness

Today's Tao

Having lost righteousness, there is politeness. (Ch.38)


A: "I will do anything to protect my family."

B: "Fine. But what happened to your righteousness? I suppose you were fighting to save the planet or something."

A": "Now I am fighting for my family. I don't care about someone else's righteousness. By the way, you forgot to say hello to my son."

B: "Oh! Excuse me. I was not polite."

A: "Certainly you are not polite. Listen. My family is my colony. It is my territory. If you are not polite to any of my family members, I will consider it an attack to my kingdom."


Do we really have to accept a man like this one?

My answer is "Yes."

By accepting him, we turn our prayer wheel, which is called the world.


«Related Articles»
-The highest attainment 38-1
-The lowest attainment 38-2
-No trace of act 38-3
-Mercy 38-4
-The highest righteousness 38-5
-Politeness 38-6
-Lost Tao 38-7
-Lost attainment 38-8
-Lost mercy 38-9
-Lost righteousness 38-10
-Disorder 38-11
-Foreknowledge 38-12
-Thick and Thin 38-13
-Tao's Flower 38-14
-Leave it 38-15
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 38


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.38 text / Next video


-Dogen will teach you what Zen is. The movie «Zen» will tell you about Dogen's life. Daisetz Suzuki will teach you what Zen is in a way modern people can understand.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 38-9 Lost mercy

Today's Tao

Having lost mercy, there is righteousness. (Ch.38)


Merciful and discreet people have become rarer and rarer.

Some people are not happy when they see others who are not so "merciful" as they are.

"For mercy's sake, you've gotta do something."

Now, we have got righteous people.

They want to show off their righteousness.

They even impose their God's given righteousness on you.

What can you do then?

We accept them as part of our hologram.


«Related Articles»
-The highest attainment 38-1
-The lowest attainment 38-2
-No trace of act 38-3
-Mercy 38-4
-The highest righteousness 38-5
-Politeness 38-6
-Lost Tao 38-7
-Lost attainment 38-8
-Lost mercy 38-9
-Lost righteousness 38-10
-Disorder 38-11
-Foreknowledge 38-12
-Thick and Thin 38-13
-Tao's Flower 38-14
-Leave it 38-15
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 38


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.38 text / Next video


-Japanese are fundamentally Japanese as other people are foremost who they are. Nevertheless, modern Japanese have tried very hard to be someone who are not traditionally Japanese. Do we share this enthusiasm for self-denial with other people?

Tao Te Ching Chapter 38-8 Lost attainment

Today's Tao

Having lost attainment, there is mercy. (Ch.38)


The Kanji / Chinese character 仁 [jin] is translated as mercy.

Please look at the left half. 人 [hito].

Then, the right. 二 [ni].

The left part of the character signifies people or a person. You can see two legs.

The right one signifies the number two. One. Two. (Pointing at two horizontal lines)

The entire character symbolizes the merciful relationship of the two persons.

So, the character can be translated as humanity.

The character two certainly denies the oneness of Tao.


Mercy is the artificial act to control the others for so-called "their well-being".

Having lost the attainment of Tao, a "merciful" person thinks the world is not perfect.

He is refusing to accept the world as it is.


«Related Articles»
-The highest attainment 38-1
-The lowest attainment 38-2
-No trace of act 38-3
-Mercy 38-4
-The highest righteousness 38-5
-Politeness 38-6
-Lost Tao 38-7
-Lost attainment 38-8
-Lost mercy 38-9
-Lost righteousness 38-10
-Disorder 38-11
-Foreknowledge 38-12
-Thick and Thin 38-13
-Tao's Flower 38-14
-Leave it 38-15
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 38


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.38 text / Next video


-Haruki Murakami writes the introduction of Natsume Soseki's «Sanshiro». It seems that both writers somehow try to stay away from the lust and desire of «Tale of Genji» and Saikaku's amorous men and women.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 38-7 Lost Tao

Today's Tao

Therefore, having lost Tao, there is attainment. (Ch.38)


If you hadn't lost Tao, you wouldn't need the attainment of Tao.

If you are seeking for Satori, certainly you have forgotten that you are in the state of Satori.

After we had lost the trust in Tao, we came up with the concept of attaining it or reaching Satori.

I just want you to trust yourself.

You have never lost the state of innocence.

You are always as innocent as an uncarved block or a baby.

Please do not doubt that you are perfect no matter how much it seems otherwise.

Doubting your perfection and consequently seeking for a refuge like "Satori" is the first step towards the spiral descent into the spiritual labyrinth.


«Related Articles»
-The highest attainment 38-1
-The lowest attainment 38-2
-No trace of act 38-3
-Mercy 38-4
-The highest righteousness 38-5
-Politeness 38-6
-Lost Tao 38-7
-Lost attainment 38-8
-Lost mercy 38-9
-Lost righteousness 38-10
-Disorder 38-11
-Foreknowledge 38-12
-Thick and Thin 38-13
-Tao's Flower 38-14
-Leave it 38-15
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 38


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.38 text / Next video


-Not artistically important, but it might be interesting if you want to know about the change of the concept on ambition in Japan. Young Japanese, living in the country's never ending sluggish economy, may share the same idea about love and money unconsciously as those 100 years ago. Who knows! You can observe them using the novel as a reference.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 38-6 Politeness

Today's Tao

The highest politeness is doing it and, if the other does not respond to it, rolling up your sleeves and pulling him. (Ch.38)


A: "Thank you very much, sir"

B: "..."

A: "I said, 'Thank you, sir'."

B: "..."

A: "I politely said, 'Thank you, sir'. You've gotta say something."

B: "Uh, uh."

A: "Sir, I am being polite and you say just 'Uh, uh'. You have to learn to be polite, too, sir."


When one is polite against his will, his acts are not spontaneous at all.

The forced politeness is very far from Tao's natural way.

A baby doesn't know politeness.


«Related Articles»
-The highest attainment 38-1
-The lowest attainment 38-2
-No trace of act 38-3
-Mercy 38-4
-The highest righteousness 38-5
-Politeness 38-6
-Lost Tao 38-7
-Lost attainment 38-8
-Lost mercy 38-9
-Lost righteousness 38-10
-Disorder 38-11
-Foreknowledge 38-12
-Thick and Thin 38-13
-Tao's Flower 38-14
-Leave it 38-15
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 38


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.38 text / Next video


-«Sansho Dayuu / Sansho the Bailiff» is a folk tale. It is about the practice of slave trade of infants in Japan. Mori Ogai wrote a novel out of it. Kenji Mizoguchi a film. Both of them are considered to be masterpieces.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 38-5 The highest righteousness

Today's Tao

The highest righteousness is doing it and leaving the trace of the act. (Ch.38)


"I am saving the planet. What are you doing now?"

"I am helping the poor children. What are you doing now?"

"I am fighting against injustice. What are you doing now?"

"I am fighting for my country's righteousness. What are you doing now?"

When people shout them at you, can you really say:

"I am doing nothing."

Let's practice.

"Uh, uh, you are saving the planet. Fine, but for what? I am doing nothing."

"Uh, uh, you are saving the poor children. Fine, but for what? I am doing nothing."

"Uh, uh, you are fighting against injustice. Fine, but for what? I am doing nothing."

"Uh, uh, you are fighting for your country's righteousness. Fine, but why do you have to cry it out?"


«Related Articles»
-The highest attainment 38-1
-The lowest attainment 38-2
-No trace of act 38-3
-Mercy 38-4
-The highest righteousness 38-5
-Politeness 38-6
-Lost Tao 38-7
-Lost attainment 38-8
-Lost mercy 38-9
-Lost righteousness 38-10
-Disorder 38-11
-Foreknowledge 38-12
-Thick and Thin 38-13
-Tao's Flower 38-14
-Leave it 38-15
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 38


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.38 text / Next video


-Ogai Mori spent some time in Germany as a student (1884 - 1888). There he experienced individualism. He looked at himself as an object and wrote «Vita Sexualis». What a difference it is between Japanese minds with and without modernism!

Tao Te Ching Chapter 38-4 Mercy

Today's Tao

The highest mercy is doing it and leaving no trace of the act. (Ch.38)


"I am doing something good for humanity."

"I am helping poor children."

Some people want to show off their mercy.

Even though you are able not to show your virtue, can you avoid thinking that you are acting some kind of mercy?

Mercy isn't mercy the moment you think it's merciful.

"Heaven and earth have no mercy. They treat everything as straw dogs" (No mercy 5-1)

Mercy is not natural because you judge that it is good.


«Related Articles»
-The highest attainment 38-1
-The lowest attainment 38-2
-No trace of act 38-3
-Mercy 38-4
-The highest righteousness 38-5
-Politeness 38-6
-Lost Tao 38-7
-Lost attainment 38-8
-Lost mercy 38-9
-Lost righteousness 38-10
-Disorder 38-11
-Foreknowledge 38-12
-Thick and Thin 38-13
-Tao's Flower 38-14
-Leave it 38-15
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 38


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.38 text / Next video


-«Kokoro» is supposed to be translated as mind or heart. Is mind the same as heart? Lots of things are missing in translation, aren't they? This is the last book of Soseki's later triptych. Daisetz Suzuki seems to have had a hard time translating the word "kokoro" as well.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 38-3 No trace of act

Today's Tao

The highest attainment is doing nothing and leaving no trace of act. (Ch.38)


"You are great because you did this."

Can you ignore this kind of sweet praise?

One wants to be excellent.

One wants to be accepted and loved.

I am afraid to tell you, but Lao Tzu doesn't agree at all.

He thinks the best way to attain Tao is not to show the cause and the effect.

The moment you think about causation, the magic of doing nothing disappears and the resistance of discontent appears.


«Related Articles»
-The highest attainment 38-1
-The lowest attainment 38-2
-No trace of act 38-3
-Mercy 38-4
-The highest righteousness 38-5
-Politeness 38-6
-Lost Tao 38-7
-Lost attainment 38-8
-Lost mercy 38-9
-Lost righteousness 38-10
-Disorder 38-11
-Foreknowledge 38-12
-Thick and Thin 38-13
-Tao's Flower 38-14
-Leave it 38-15
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 38


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.38 text / Next video


«Kusamakura» means a grass pillow. The novel was once translated as «Three-cornered world». Can you live in a three-cornered square like Natsume Soseki?

Tao Te Ching Chapter 38-2 The lowest attainment

Today's Tao

The lowest attainment is trying not to lose attainment. That's why there is no attainment. (Ch.38)


A: "Oh, my god, Master Bonbon. I'm losing my Satori. What can I do?"

B: "Fight and control yourself. Stick to your Satori."


Master Bonbon, you must be joking.

Don't be obsessed with Satori.

This is the worst attitude.

If you try to do something in order to attain Satori, you will never get it.

Just remember that you are already in the state of Satori or enlightenment.

You are looking outside in order to get what you have already got.

You see? This is a mental short circuit.


«Related Articles»
-The highest attainment 38-1
-The lowest attainment 38-2
-No trace of act 38-3
-Mercy 38-4
-The highest righteousness 38-5
-Politeness 38-6
-Lost Tao 38-7
-Lost attainment 38-8
-Lost mercy 38-9
-Lost righteousness 38-10
-Disorder 38-11
-Foreknowledge 38-12
-Thick and Thin 38-13
-Tao's Flower 38-14
-Leave it 38-15
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 38


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.38 text / Next video


-A cat doesn't need Satori. This is a teaching of life. Life is surely prayers. Natsume Soseki's cat is complicated enough to look for Satori.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 38-1 The highest attainment

Today's Tao

The highest attainment is not attaining. That's where there is attainment. (Ch.38)


This is the first sentence of the second half of Tao Te Ching.

The word "Te" of Tao Te Ching comes from this sentence.

Osamu Kanaya (1920 - 2006, Japanese Orientalist specialized in Chinese philosophy) thinks that the Te of 徳 [moral] is the same as the Te of 得 [attainment].

I agree with this late academic totally.

Don't try to attain Tao, Satori, or enlightenment.

If you don't try it, you will simply remember that you are already there.


«Related Articles»
-The highest attainment 38-1
-The lowest attainment 38-2
-No trace of act 38-3
-Mercy 38-4
-The highest righteousness 38-5
-Politeness 38-6
-Lost Tao 38-7
-Lost attainment 38-8
-Lost mercy 38-9
-Lost righteousness 38-10
-Disorder 38-11
-Foreknowledge 38-12
-Thick and Thin 38-13
-Tao's Flower 38-14
-Leave it 38-15
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 38


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.38 text / Next video


-«Tao: A New Way of Thinking» by Chung-yuan Chang. This is the English translation of Tao Te Ching I truly recommend. It is a pity Amazon doesn't have a photo of the book.