Indian stream·Tao Te Ching·Chapter 62 — The Treasure of All
The Tao is the treasure of the good; the refuge of the not-good
The Tao is the inner refuge of the ten thousand things — treasure of the good, refuge of the not-good. Fine words can buy honor; fine deeds can win respect. The not-good — why throw them away? Better to offer the unmoving Tao.
Source context
- Theme
- the Tao as cosmic sanctuary — refuge, treasure, and silent protector of both the virtuous and the fallen
- Soul-faculty
- Consciousness Soul
Steiner
not engaged in the GA corpus
Cross-tradition
- Vedanta — Brahman as universal refugeThe Upanishadic teaching of Brahman as the inner ground to which all beings return regardless of karmic standing parallels chapter 62's presentation of the Tao as unconditional sanctuary for both the good and the not-good.
- Kabbalah — Ein Sof as boundless ground beyond meritKabbalistic doctrine holds that Ein Sof underlies all differentiation prior to any moral distinction, showing cross-tradition congruence with the Tao's non-discriminating sheltering function.
- Buddhist — Dharmakaya as impartial ground of beingThe Dharmakaya's unconditional presence for all sentient beings regardless of accumulated virtue structurally congruent with the Tao's protection extending equally to those who are not good.
Chapter 62
Tao has of all things the most honoured place. No treasures give good men so rich a grace; Bad men it guards, and doth their ill efface.
(Its) admirable words can purchase honour; (its) admirable deeds can raise their performer above others. Even men who are not good are not abandoned by it.
Therefore when the sovereign occupies his place as the Son of Heaven, and he has appointed his three ducal ministers, though (a prince) were to send in a round symbol-of-rank large enough to fill both the hands, and that as the precursor of the team of horses (in the court-yard), such an offering would not be equal to (a lesson of) this Tao, which one might present on his knees.
Why was it that the ancients prized this Tao so much? Was it not because it could be got by seeking for it, and the guilty could escape (from the stain of their guilt) by it? This is the reason why all under heaven consider it the most valuable thing.