While somewhat an easy read, I found this reading rather difficult to wrap my brain around. The structure of and the vocabulary in the article were rather simple, however it's contents were not, this made for a much more difficult reading than expected. I found that the most profound thing that jumped off the pages at me was the actions, or should I say non-actions, of the "Master." Lao-Tzu strategically voices his beliefs towards moderating the government's active roles in society. It was his belief that the government should not do anything. However if the government had to intercede then it should be at a minimum and in a manner in which it was inconspicuous. Lao-Tzu uses "The Master" as an active figure throughout the article. It is through The Master that Lao-Tsu is able to further stress his beliefs in a government for the people, with a significant emphasis on "the people." Lao-Tzu makes it known that The Master is always there, always aware of the situation and always available to lend assistance. However, The Master does just the opposite. The Master acts without actually doing anything physically. Through the various examples in the text, The Master is there, "emptying people's minds and filling their cores" (Lao-Tzu 22), while governing "the people are hardly aware that he exists" (Lao-Tzu 22), and he travels all day without leaving home (Lao-Tzu 23). All of these examples show that while there is a governing presence, his actual involvement is at a minimum. The Master is there acting as a sort of spiritual force behind the scenes, no necessarily always a physically active hand of the government. Lao-Tzu used the Master to show that while there should be a governing presence available at all times to the public, it should not be necessary. The Master, while if needed would step in, was still only present at a minimum.
The more I write the more I find myself questioning my understanding of the article. I kind of feel like I'm "writing in circles." I definitely saw a connection between Lao-Tzu's belief in moderating the government's involvement in everyday life and I believe he used the Master to help shape his argument.
Lao-Tuz. "Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching." A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Ed. Lee A Jacobson. Trans. Stephen Mitchell. 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins. 2006 pp 22-31.
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3 comments:
I like how you commented on how you thought you were writing in a circle, because I think you explained it for everyone. Everyone wrote there own thoughts about the reading, but at the end its all goes in a circle.
I did not understand that why the master should not do any physical actions be side the thinking. Also when Lao-tzu said the master should help people lose everything they know / and create a confusion (22). He thinks that the master should not do what people are beliefs on but what ever will keep him a master.
I dont know why the master presence shouldn't be know. he feels that a master should only intervene when neccesary, but if everyone was following the Tao, when is it neccesary? I can go with questions but every question turns into another question.
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