1. Print Form
Chapter 1 -What is the Tao?
The "Tao" is too great to be described by the name "Tao". Original
Chinese
If it could be named so simply, it would not be the eternal Tao.
Heaven and Earth began from the nameless (Tao),
but the multitudes of things around us were created by names.
We desire to understand the world by giving names to the
things we see,
but these things are only the effects of something subtle.
When we see beyond the desire to use names,
we can sense the nameless cause of these effects.
The cause and the effects are aspects of the same, one thing.
They are both mysterious and profound.
At their most mysterious and profound point lies the "Gate of
the Great Truth".
Define SUBTLE Adjective-sly.
Define PROFOUND adjective-of deep meaning
What are some of
the positives that Without labels everyone would be treated equally. people would not be judged if we
occur when people didn't have labels. With labels you don't really know the true personality of a person.
forget about names Without labels you can really understand and know what a person is like. Some people
and labels? lose self-esteem because they are labeled. People have more self-esteem when they are
not labeled.
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What is a word
in our language
Love is a difficult word in our language to define. It is hard to define because people use it in
difficult or
many different ways. It is hard to define also because it is hard to understand and explain.
impossible to
Love is hard to define because it is usually used to explain how someone feels about
define and
something or someone else. Also love is hard to define because it is used in a general sense
why?
instead of using it as how you feel, the way it was meant.
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2. Chapter 5
Heaven and Earth don't play favorites
They treat everything with equal detachment.
Sages don't play favorites
They treat good people and bad with equal detachment.
Heaven and earth are like a set of bellows.
Although empty, they are endlessly productive.
The more you work them, the more they produce.
The mouth, on the other hand, becomes exhausted if you talk too much.
Better to keep your thoughts inside you.
Define
Noun-freedom from prejudice or partiality
DETACHMENT
Define BELLOWS Noun-device that can be expanded to draw in air through a valve and contracted to expel it through a tube
Define SAGE Noun-a profoundly wise person
How can Students can take in what they learn and give it back to a younger generation. They can also
students behave take in knowledge from their parents and give it back to their kids. They can also take in
more like a set information from their grandparents and tell it back to their younger siblings, who might not
of bellows? know their grandparents. Students can also Take in knowledge they learn from all their
classes and tell it back to people who maybe don't have the privilege to go to schoole
FILL THE SPACE because they are in a lees fortunate country.
Give me one
One scenario where it is better to be quiet than to speak is when you are in court and you
scenario where
have not been asked to speak. Another scenario where it is better to be quiet than to speak
it is better to be
is when you are being arrested because you could say something that could cause the police
silent than to
to suspect you are guilty of the crime they are arresting you for. It is better to be quiet than
speak. Explain
to talk because you might say something you don't mean and someone could take it
why it is
offensively. you might contradict yourself so it is better to be quiet than to speak. It is better
important to be
to be silent than to speak because you might "stick your foot in your mouth" and not mean
quiet.
the way you said something.
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3. CHAPTER 8
The highest excellence is like water. The excellence
of water appears in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying,
without striving.
Hence its way is near to that of the Tao.
Define HENCE Adverb-therefore
According to
chapter 8,
people should
be more like
water.
Water is able to go around things, so people should go around an obstacle instead of just
giving up. Water can withstand an immense amount of force because of its strong bond,
What
so people should be able withstand a lot of things. Water goes with the flow. People
characteristics
should go with the flow because it is less difficult to go with the flow than to fight the
does water have
current.
that people
should attempt
to adopt?
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4. Chapter 11
The thirty spokes unite in the center; but it is on the empty
space (for the axle) that makes the wheel useful. Clay is
fashioned into vessels; but it is on their empty hollowness that makes its
useful. The door and windows are cut out from the walls
to form an apartment; but it is the empty space within that makes its useful.
Therefore, it is the empty spaces that makes something useful.
Define FASHIONED Verb-make
Present other
things in the
A bowl is useful because it is empty, when it is full it is useless until it is empty again. A bag is
world that are
useful because it is empty, it is useless when it is full. A closet is useful until it is full of clothes
useful because
then you can't use it add more clothes anymore. A dresser is useful when it is empty, until it is
of the
full of clothes. A garbage can is useful until it is full. Also a room is useful when it is empty. A
emptiness it
car is useful when it is empty. A trunk is useful when it is empty. Also a seater chest is useful
contains.
until it is full. A cabinet is useful until it is full. Containers are useful until they are full.
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5. Chapter 33
Intelligent people know others.
Enlightened people know themselves.
You can conquer others with power,
But it takes true strength to conquer yourself.
Ambitious people force their will on others,
But content people are already wealthy.
Prudent people will abide.
People unconquered by the idea of death will live long.
Define INTELLIGENT Adjective-having good understanding or a high mental capacity
Define
Verb-impart knowledge to
ENLIGHTENED
Define AMBITIOUS Adjective-eager
Define PRUDENT Adjective-careful in providing for the future
Define ABIDE Verb-to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship, etc.;
According to the Tao, it is
more important to be
enlightened than
intelligent.
Do you agree or disagree
and why?
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Reword this line into simpler
terms a 6th grader could
understand.
Prudent people will
abide.

6. Chapter 69
Military strategists have a saying:
"Rather than act like the lord of the manor,
I would rather behave like a guest.
Rather than advance an inch,
I would rather retreat a foot."
The point of the saying is that you should:
Advance upon them without going forward
Seize their property without even bearing arms.
Attack where there is no enemy.
Prevail upon them without weapons.
There is no greater disaster than to underestimate your enemy.
If I did that, I would lose my 3 treasures (benevolence, frugality, never trying
to be number one)
In combat, the most reticent side will win.
Define PREVAIL Verb-To be or become effective
Define
Noun-desire to do good to others
BENEVOLENCE
Define FRUGALITY Adjective-desire to do good to others
Define RETICENT Adjective-reserved
Discuss the
reasons whether
or not you agree
with the following
line from Chapter
69:
Prevail upon them
without weapons.
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7. Chapter 76
When alive, the body is supple, yielding.
In death, the body becomes hard, unyielding.
Living plants are flexible,
In death, they become dry and brittle.
Therefore, stubborn people are disciples of death, but
Flexible people are disciples of life.
In the same way,
Inflexible soldiers cannot win (a victory).
And the hardest trees are readiest for an axe to chop them down
Tough guys sink to the bottom, while
Flexible people rise to the top.
Define SUPPLE Adjective-flexible
Define YIELDING Verb-to give forth or produce
Define UNYIELDING Adjective- inflexible
Define DISCIPLE Noun-follower
This entire chapter
is a metaphor on
how people are
either like living
plants or dead
trees.
How are people
similar to supple,
living plants and
hard, dead trees?
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