Chapter Sixty-Seven

The whole world claims that my "Way" is great, but I don't seem to be true or not. It is only because of its vastness that it seems unremarkable. If so, after a long time, its fineness is truly remarkable! I have three treasures ④, which I hold and preserve: first, kindness; second, frugality; third, not daring to be the first in the world. Kindness leads to courage. Frugality leads to breadth. Not daring to be the first in the world, one can become a master. Now abandon kindness and ⑨ be brave. Be thrifty yet broad-minded. Let go of the last and take the first. I'm dead! If one is kind and benevolent, victory will be achieved through battle; if one adheres to the rules, stability will be maintained. Heaven will save him and protect him with kindness. All people in the world can say that "my way" is great, unlike any specific thing. It is precisely because it is great that it does not resemble any concrete thing. If it were like any specific thing, then the "Tao" would seem very insignificant. I have three treasures to hold fast to and preserve: The first one is called compassion; The second one is called frugality. The third thing is not daring to be at the forefront of the world. With this tenderness and kindness, one can be brave and valiant. With frugality, one can be generous. Not daring to be ahead of all others, one can become the leader of all things. Now, gentleness has been abandoned in pursuit of bravery. Abandoning frugality and pursuing generosity; To give up giving in and strive for the lead will result in death. Kindness, when used in battle, leads to victory; when used in defense, it ensures consolidation. When heaven wants to help someone, it protects him with gentleness. [Note] 1. My Dao is great: The Dao is me, and I am the Dao. "I" is not a term used by Laozi to refer to himself. 2. Similar or not similar: "Xiao" means similar. It means something that is not like a concrete thing. To put it simply, there's nothing like me. 3. If Xiao, he has been so detailed for a long time: Some scholars believe that the above passage is a mistake in its structure. 4. The Three Treasures: Three magical treasures or three principles. 5. Frugality: to be frugal, conservative, and have something but not fully utilize it. 6. Kindness leads to courage: One can be brave and valiant because of kindness. 7. Frugality leads to magnanimity: Frugality and generosity enable one to be generous. 8. Qi Chang: "Qi" refers to all things. The chief of all things. 9. And: Take. 10. Victory through battle: One book reads, "Defeat through formation." This chapter is a self-narrative of the "Tao", discussing the specific application of the principles of the "Tao" in politics and military affairs. Laozi said that the principles of the "Tao" have three (i.e., the Three Treasures), which are: "compassion", that is, love plus empathy. "Frugality" means to be inclusive and well-prepared, not to be extravagant or to act recklessly. "Not daring to be the first in the world" is the ideology of "modesty" and "non-contention". Those who follow the "Way" can achieve very good results by applying these three principles; otherwise, they will bring about their own downfall. This chapter is actually a brief summary of the thirty-eight chapters of the "Tao Te Ching". [Commentary] This chapter consists of two layers of content: The first is about the greatness of the "Tao"; The second point is about the wonderful uses of the magic treasures. Some scholars hold that there is no connection between the two and they have no correspondence at all. It is obvious that the chapter is wrongly simplified. They believe that it can be moved to Chapter 34, under the sentence "Therefore, it can become great." Our view differs somewhat from this proposition, believing that these two levels echo each other and have an intrinsic connection. For instance, the first and second sentences say that all people in the world say that I am great and not like any specific thing,... What protective magic does this great "Dao" of mine have? This is what is meant by "kindness", "frugality" and "not daring to be the first in the world". Isn't this the intrinsic connection of two meanings? "Ci" encompasses the meanings of gentleness and care. Chapter Forty discusses "The application of the Way for the weak". Chapter 43 talks about "The softest in the world can overcome the hardest in the world", and Chapter 52 talks about "maintaining softness is called strength". Chapter 45 talks about "serenity is the right path for the world", Chapter 55's "harmony", and Chapter 61's "The female always surpasses the male through stillness", all of which can be included within the scope of "compassion". "Non-action" is the highest summary of Laozi's political thought, while another term for "compassion" is "non-action". "Compassion" is the primary principle of the Three Jewels. With compassion, one can win in attack and be firm in retreat. If heaven wants to save someone, defend him with kindness. The connotation of "frugality" has two layers. The first is being thrifty and stingy. The second is restraint and restraint. Chapter 59 states, "To govern human affairs and heaven, nothing is better than frugality," which conveys the same meaning as the word "frugality" here. Frugality is frugality. He called on people not only to save human and material resources, but also to concentrate their spirits, accumulate energy and wait for the right moment. The phrase "Not daring to be the first in the world" also has two layers of meaning. One is not to contend and to be modest. The second is to retreat and take a lower position. Chapter 61 states that "Great states are vulgar." Chapter 66 discusses the phrase "the good descent of rivers and seas", both of which mean not being the first in the world. This is in line with the principle of the "Tao". In conclusion, the "Three Treasures" of "kindness", "frugality", and "not daring to be the first in the world" are Laozi's summary of the social practice significance of "Dao" and "De". Laozi was in the midst of war and witnessed too many violent and cruel scenes. He deeply felt that governing a country and ensuring its stability could not be achieved without these Three Jewels, and thus he made great efforts to elaborate on them.