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Verse 5
Verse 5 of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching
says: Heaven and earth are impartial; they treat all
things as straw dogs. The sage is impartial; treating people as straw dogs.
What are straw dogs?
What does this verse mean?
Straw dog
A straw dog was a ceremonial object constructed with great care.
It played a short but significant role.
Then it was cast aside.
Not real
A straw dog is not a real dog.
It is representational; it does not
bark, wag it's tail or live.
Lao Tzu is saying that the universe does not care whether something is
real or not, significant or not.
Everything is treated the same.
Those who lack wisdom are
convinced that they are truly awake;
they think they understand what is happening;
they think that the king is really the king,
and the servants are really servants.
(Chuang Tzu)
Lifespan
The universe treats people like straw dogs. We are
born, we grow, we live and then we
die. Our lives may be rich and diverse, squalid or tedious. Sooner or later it
will come to an end.
Life ends
'Straw dogs' is a reminder that our life
will not
last. In the face of death, is there any need for pettiness,
argument,
callousness
and cruelty?
If you accept death, does that change
how you live? Nothing that we consider important
will last - especially
ourselves.
Impartial
It may seem unfair for people to be born, struggle, grow and live... only to
die. But this is the way of things. In the scheme of existence, our birth and our death has no significance.
This cycle of life and death is not the outcome of kindness or malice. It
merely reflects the way things are. All that lives must die.
How you treat people
Is the verse suggesting that we treat people
callously? Ruthlessly? Some interpretations suggest this.
However, a better approach might be to take the verse literally:
we enter into relationships with people, we
develop, cultivate and
nourish
them. And we accept that one day it will end.
Half-life
Consider: an apathetic person might consider
tai chi to be a total
waste of time... Why bother learning
tai chi?
You'll get old anyway. You'll get
sick. You'll die.
You could
apply this sort of
thinking in almost every situation: Why bother
to shower? Why fold your clothes? Why should you work? Why learn anything
new?
Hollow people
Instead of gaining mastery
over your own body, great
health and a clear,
sharp, calm mind, you
could watch the news, talk about politics, form
strong opinions and play with technology.
Your body will become increasingly
inflexible and your brain will
deteriorate.
Many people choose to become 'straw people':
no depth, no character, no interests, no insight.
All show and nothing inside.
The greater the outward show, the greater the
inward poverty.
(Krishnamurti)
Real human
The reason why you study
tai chi is
simple: it encourages you to live fully and
completely. You
embrace and cherish your life; knowing that
it may end at any time.
Mortality makes life all the more precious.
Spark of life
In relationships you can aim to do
as well as you
can for as long as you can. This applies to working in a job, being married or teaching a
tai chi
class.
You do your best. At some point it will end.
But it ends in fullness rather than
indifference and apathy.
Security
Once upon a time a worker might have been promised 'a job
for
life'. This no longer happens. Modern life is uncertain. We have fewer guarantees but more
choices.
It is easy to feel
adrift and
vulnerable.
Perspective
People cling to things that they cannot possibly hope to
exert control over. They want
assurances. We receive e-mails from people
wanting to know if they will like our tai chi
class...
How do we know what they will
like? Existence is not tailored to suit
the individual. It does not revolve around
you. You are simply a straw dog.
We all are.
Page created
6 April 1998
Last updated
16 June 2023
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