The Liezi ie considered the third most important text in Daoism after the Dao De Jing and Zhuangzi. Chapter two is named The Yellow Emperor and focuses on living with the Way. It shares many parables found in Zhuangzi including Feeding Monkeys (Zhuangzi, Chapter 2), Taming Tigers (Zhuangzi, Chapter 4), Shaman (Zhuangzi, Chapter 7), Ferryman, Archery Contest, Swimming at the Waterfall, Catching Cicadas, and Training a Fighting Cock (Zhuangzi, Chapter 19).
Emptiness
The sage becomes one with nature. This is called achieving a state of emptiness. There is no difference between self and the outside world.
“Internal and External were blended into Unity...To let the mind reflect on what it will, to let the lips utter what they please, and not grudgingly bottle it up in one’s breast, so that the internal and the external may become as one, is still not so good as passing beyond the bounds of self and abstaining from all manifestation.”
Acceptance
The sage lives in a state of acceptance. They do not desire but follows the contour of life. They do not like or dislike but accept life for what it is.
“Its people were without desires or cravings; they simply followed their natural instincts. They felt neither joy in life nor abhorrence of death; thus they came to no untimely ends.”
Harmony with Others
The sage is in harmony with others. They are honest and do not get angry or intimidate.
“Creatures are not shy of those whom they feel to be in mental and bodily harmony with themselves.”
The sage recognizes that people use knowledge to manipulate one another.
“Howbeit, in seeking perfect wisdom, men attend to the outward form alone, which will not bring them near to it.”
When one is in the Way, others will want to be near them.
“’Nothing else,’ replied Hui Ang, ‘than the teachings of Confucius and Mo Di. Neither of these two men possessed any land, and yet they were princes; they held no official rank, and yet they were leaders. All the inhabitants of the Empire, old and young, used to crane their necks and stand on tiptoe to catch a glimpse of them. For it was their object to bring peace and happiness to all.’”
Accomplishing
When one is with the Way they possess a single mindedness.
“I knew not what part of space my body occupied, nor yet where danger lurked. My mind was simply One, and material objects thus offered no resistance. That is all. ”
They can accomplish things that seem impossible.
“There was an eager response, and Shang Qiukai in perfect good faith, was the first to leap over the edge. And lo! he was wafted down to earth like a bird on the wing, not a bone or muscle of his body being hurt...Shang Qiukai again acted on their suggestion and plunged in. And when he came out, sure enough he held a pearl in his hand.”
When one does not fear life and death, they do not let concerns of the world bother them.
“The man who achieves harmony with Dao enters into close unison with external objects, and none of them has the power to harm or hinder him.”
The reason people worry is that they are concerned with the results. The sage doesn’t let the troubles of the world affect them.
“So the prince inquired what secret power it was that enabled him to dwell in rock and to walk through fire. ‘What do you mean by rock?’ replied the man; ‘what do you mean by fire?’…’I know nothing of them,’ replied the man. It was this extreme of unconsciousness that enabled him to perform the above feats.”
Sincerity
The Way is sincere. The sage always acts with pure intention.
“There was once a man, a sailor by profession, who was very fond of sea-gulls. Every morning he went into the sea and swam about in their midst, at which times a hundred gulls and more would constantly flock about him...One day his father said to him : l am told that sea-gulls swim about with you in the water. I wish you would catch one or two for me to make pets of. On the following day, the sailor went down to the sea as usual, but lo! the gulls only wheeled about in the air and would not alight. There was disturbance in his mind, accompanied by a change in his outward demeanor; thus the birds became conscious of the fact that he was a human being.”
Yielding
The sage knows that to yield is to win while the use of force is to fail. Flexibility is the ultimate state of being.
“With regard to my method of feeding tigers, all I have to say is this: when yielded to, they are pleased; when opposed, they are angry. Such is the natural disposition of all living creatures.”
Government
When a nation follows the Way there is no need for rules, leaders, or profit. The people no longer think about right or wrong but simply follow nature. There is no need for charity or hoarding because everyone has what they need.
“This kingdom was without head or ruler; it simply went on of itself…They knew neither aversion from one course nor inclination to another; hence profit and loss existed not among them.”
A nation should always seek to avoid the use of force and instead yield if possible.
“But I do not think of opposing them and thus provoking their anger.”
Summary
The sage achieves a state of emptiness by accepting whatever comes. They live in harmony with others and is always sincere. The sage seeks to always be flexible for they know that knows that yielding is winning while force is failure. There is a single mindedness that comes with the Dao that makes it possible to accomplish challenging tasks. In a similar way when a nation follows the Dao there is no need for leaders or laws. Everyone has what they require. The nation should always seek to avoid the use of force.
Resource
Teachings from the Book of Liezih Tzu. Lionel Giles, translator. 1912. Classic public domain translation of Chapters 1-6, and 8 of the Book of Liezi.
