Indian stream·Tao Te Ching·Chapter 59 — Sparing
In governing people and serving heaven, nothing surpasses sparing
In governing people and serving heaven, nothing surpasses sparing (sè). Only by sparing does one early submit; early submission means accumulated virtue; accumulated virtue overcomes all. To overcome all is to have no limit; with no limit, one can possess the state. To possess the Mother of the state is to long endure.
Source context
- Theme
- restraint in governance and self-cultivation as the root of enduring power
- Soul-faculty
- Consciousness Soul
Steiner
not engaged in the GA corpus
Cross-tradition
- Daoist self-cultivation (Laozi)Chapter 59 presents frugality (jian) and the accumulation of inner virtue (de) as the structural basis for governing both self and state, paralleling the Daoist principle that non-interference and stored inner power are prerequisites for sovereign durability.
- Vedantic tapas doctrineThe chapter's valorization of restraint and moderation as generative of spiritual potency shows cross-tradition congruence with the Vedantic concept of tapas, whereby disciplined self-limitation builds the inner force that sustains dharmic action.
- Aristotelian phronesisThe idea that the ruler who governs through measured restraint acquires a deep root and lasting vision shows cross-tradition congruence with Aristotle's phronesis, practical wisdom achieved through habituated moderation rather than excess.
Chapter 59
For regulating the human (in our constitution) and rendering the (proper) service to the heavenly, there is nothing like moderation.
It is only by this moderation that there is effected an early return (to man's normal state). That early return is what I call the repeated accumulation of the attributes (of the Tao). With that repeated accumulation of those attributes, there comes the subjugation (of every obstacle to such return). Of this subjugation we know not what shall be the limit; and when one knows not what the limit shall be, he may be the ruler of a state.
He who possesses the mother of the state may continue long. His case is like that (of the plant) of which we say that its roots are deep and its flower stalks firm:--this is the way to secure that its enduring life shall long be seen.