The document provides an overview of chapter 1 of the Tao Te Ching. In 3 sentences: The chapter discusses that the Tao cannot be defined or named, as it is eternal. It notes that while the natural world arose from the nameless Tao, individual things were created through naming. It also states that seeing beyond names allows one to sense the subtle, nameless cause of effects in the world.

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 cunning, wily, or crafty.....adjective
Define PROFOUND being or going far beneath what is superficial, external, or obvious.....adjective
What are some of
the positives that
A positive affect of forgetting labels and names is that you wouldn't be able to judge
occur when people
people without knowing them. Another positive affect would be that it would make
forget about names
going to high school and college more enjoyable. Forgetting labels and names would
and labels?
make everyone appear to be on an equal playing field.
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What is a word
in our language
difficult or
A word in our language that is difficult to define is love. The definition for love is different for
impossible to
everyone and is more of a personal opinion. In my opinion love is caring extremely about
define and
someone's life.
why?
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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
freedom from prejudice or partiality.....noun
DETACHMENT
a device for producing a strong current of air, consisting of a chamber that can be expanded to draw in air
Define BELLOWS
through a valve and contracted to expel it through a tube......noun
Define SAGE a profoundly wise person; a person famed for wisdom.....noun
How can
students behave
more like a set
of bellows?
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Give me one
scenario where
it is better to be
silent than to
speak. Explain
why it is
important to be
quiet.
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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 as an inference from this fact; for this reason; therefore......adverb
According to
chapter 8,
people should
be more like
water.
What
characteristics
does water have
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 to give a particular shape or form to; make......verb
Present other
things in the
world that are
useful because
of the
emptiness it
contains.
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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 having good understanding or a high mental capacity; quick to comprehend......adjective
Define
to give intellectual or spiritual light to; instruct; impart knowledge to......verb
ENLIGHTENED
Define AMBITIOUS strongly desirous; eager......adjective
Define PRUDENT wise or judicious in practical affairs; sagacious; discreet or circumspect.....adjective
Define ABIDE to put up with; tolerate; stand.....verb
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. Patient and wise people will do what is told.
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 to succeed; become dominant; win out......verb
Define
an act of kindness; a charitable gift......noun
BENEVOLENCE
Define FRUGALITY prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful......adjective
Define RETICENT disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved....adjective
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 bending readily without breaking....adjective
Define YIELDING inclined to give in; submissive; compliant.....adjective
Define UNYIELDING Not bending; inflexible.....adjective
Define DISCIPLE follower......noun
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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