The Tao Te Ching is a crystallization of Laozi’s wisdom, offering profound insights into the universe and life, as well as guidance on how to control our emotions. In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure world, learning to control our emotions, especially anger, is a valuable skill.
Understanding the Nature of Emotions
Laozi mentions in the Tao Te Ching: “The greatest square has no corners; the greatest vessel is last completed; the greatest tone is hardly heard; the greatest image has no form.” (Chapter 41) This tells us that the greatest things are often formless, including our emotions. Emotions are internal; they are our reactions to external events. Understanding the formless nature of emotions can help us control them fundamentally.
Going with the Flow of Natural Emotions
“Going with the flow” is one of the core ideas of the Tao Te Ching. When we encounter challenges or setbacks, our first reaction might be anger or frustration. However, Laozi teaches us: “The highest good is like water. Water benefits all things and does not compete.” (Chapter 8) Like water, our emotions should be nourishing, not destructive. When we go with the flow of emotions, rather than fighting against them, we can control them more easily.
The Power of Inner Peace
In the Tao Te Ching, Laozi repeatedly emphasizes the importance of inner peace. For example: “He who knows the constant is tolerant; being tolerant, he is impartial; being impartial, he is kingly; being kingly, he is in accord with Nature; being in accord with Nature, he is in accord with Tao; being in accord with Tao, he is eternal, and his whole life is preserved from harm.” (Chapter 55) This means that when we maintain inner tolerance and peace, we can achieve higher wisdom and a long life. This inner peace is key to controlling emotions.
Practicing Wu Wei in Governance
The principle of “Wu Wei,” or “action without action,” advocated by Laozi, can also be applied to emotional control. When we let go of our attachment to outcomes and accept the natural progression of things, we can better control our emotional responses. “Act without action, and nothing is without order.” (Chapter 3) This doesn’t mean we should be indifferent, but rather that we should maintain inner calm and clarity in our actions.
By practicing these principles, we can learn how to remain calm and rational when facing the pressures and challenges of life. The Tao Te Ching provides a framework to help us understand emotions and control them through inner cultivation, leading to a more harmonious and balanced way of living.