The sage uses moderation in their life to eliminate extreme behavior. They avoid overindulgence on one end and severe self-denial on the other. Moderation reduces stress, improves health, and sets one up for a more balanced lifestyle.
Treasures
Moderation is one of the three most important virtues in Daoism.
“There are three jewels that I cherish: compassion, moderation, and humility.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 67
It allows one to be generous because it saves resources that can be shared with others.
“With moderation, you will be able to give to others…abandoning moderation while being benevolent…will only lead to greater trouble.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 67
Living in moderation reduces jealousy by showing others how to live simply.
“There is nothing better than moderation for teaching people or serving Heaven. Those who use moderation are already on the path to the Dao. Those who follow the Dao early will have an abundance of virtue.“
Dao De Jing, Chapter 59
It leads to a longer healthier life and helps one prioritize what is most important.
“This is spoken of as the deep root and the firm trunk, the Way to a long life and great spiritual vision.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 59
Balance
The sage uses moderation to reach balance in their life. Each individual has to find the balance that works for them. They have to determine the proper level of indulgence and restraint in each part of their life.
“The greatest fullness seems empty.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 45
The level of aggressiveness and passivity.
“If you want something to weaken, you must first allow it to become strong.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 36
How much they like or dislike something.
“If you want something to be removed, you must first allow it to flourish.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 36
Their level of coordination and un-coordination.
“The most valued skill seems like clumsiness.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 45
Their balance between eloquence and silence.
“The greatest speech seems full of stammers.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 45
The sage works to reach proper balance in all parts of their life through the use of moderation.
Yin and Yang
As the individual begins to find balance in their life they start to recognize that the universe is a mixture of passive and active energy.
“All things carry Yin yet embrace Yang.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 42
These forces rely on each other for existence and relativity. Beauty has no meaning without ugliness. Good has no value without bad.
“When people see things as beautiful, ugliness is created. When people see things as good, evil is created.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 2
Happiness doesn’t mean anything unless you can compare it to sadness.
“Good fortune has its roots in disaster, and disaster lurks with good fortune. Who knows why these things happen, or when this cycle will end?”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 58
Taking this idea a step further one can define existence and non-existence as well as non-being and being.
“Being and non-being produce each other.”
Dao De Jing, Chapter 2
Summary
The sage uses moderation to eliminate extreme behavior which helps reduces stress and improve health. It allows one to be more generous, less jealous, and put things into perspective. The sage works to reach proper balance in all parts of their life. They recognize that all aspects of the universe has a mixture of both passive and active energy which relies on each other for existence.
Resource:
Tao Te Ching, Laozi, A Translation for the Public Domain by J.H. McDonald, 1996.
