Life present in the eastern epistemology presented in the Tao Te Ching - Essay Example

For instance, we find Tao comparing the desolate life adopted by citizens as not worth it since there are great men among them that can initiate changes (Lao, 109). Tao draws a direct comparison with himself that just as he may be considered great because he has not allowed his voice to be silenced, the world would never recognize anyone as great if on does not stand up for something that one believes in. In the same fashion, he goes on to say that although there will always be those who pull down one’s effort to introduce new things, that is part of the system which the masses have been tuned into as it is the safest thing where oppression ranks high.

Interestingly, Tao observes that in order to make positive changes that one believes in, one must desist from only following the order of the day or the usual way of doing things as it brings nothing new. It can be noticed that Tao detest and advises against sticking in the old ways in which when nothing has ever been done by recognized a personality, common men shy away from airing their opinions about it. Tao Te Ching says: With that gentleness, I can be bold; with that economy, I can be liberal; shrinking from taking precedence of others, I can become a vessel of the highest honor.

Now-a-days they give up gentleness and are all for being bold; economy, and are all for being liberal; the hindmost place, and seek only to be foremost;(of all which the end is) death (Lao, 109) Tao Te Ching uses his own personality in a clever way to warn and rebuke against sycophancy and low self-esteem in life characterized by self-doubt. They doubt themselves that since great people have not achieved such levels, and then it looks impossible for them to do any better. The poet advises that in the changing times, it is of absolute importance to fight for what he probably meant as rights.

He asserts rather indirectly that good life can only come to those who struggle to achieve it rather than sit back and fold your arms with the hope that things will change for the better. Nevertheless, Tao Te Ching gives credit to gentleness as a virtue, which should never be used to deter process of change. By the same token (Lao, 111), Tao Te Ching again observes that failing to take appropriate actions for the betterment of life will bring disaster to the people. He claims that position of man is not so lowly placed that it should be accepted in small measures of the big life granted for every man.

One can see that Tao Te Ching is instilling a revolutionary spirit for changes that are meant to uplift the very nature of low life circumstances render to people. Ironically, Tao Te Ching notices that even among the downtrodden in life are men of great wisdom who know the best course of action, but who choose to ignore making an effort. Instead, the sages allow themselves to sink into the lowliness of life. This failure to take action, Tao observes, brings no desired change (Lao, 111). In a bid to agitate for a revolution that may bring good life to the people of Eastern epistemology, Tao Te Ching motivated the masses not to sit back comforted with the promise that religion offers.

He faults the teachings of the church about humility as a virtue that leads low life since people’