Chapter 3 · Emptying the Mind

Tao Te Ching (Legge, 1891) · chapter title added by Learn the Dao

Learn the Dao: a quiet practice for learning the thing that can’t be known.

The chapter’s first line

Not to value and employ men of superior ability is the way to keep the people from rivalry among themselves;

Free. No account needed to start.

This chapter in plain modern English — David Kooi’s rendering ↓

Not to value and employ men of superior ability is the way to keep the people from rivalry among themselves; not to prize articles which are difficult to procure is the way to keep them from becoming thieves; not to show them what is likely to excite their desires is the way to keep their minds from disorder. Therefore the sage, in the exercise of his government, empties their minds, fills their bellies, weakens their wills, and strengthens their bones. He constantly (tries to) keep them without knowledge and without desire, and where there are those who have knowledge, to keep them from presuming to act (on it). When there is this abstinence from action, good order is universal.

Learn this chapter by heart, one line at a time.

Read a chapter. Recite the next line from memory. The app shows you, gently, what you missed — then has each line ready again around when it would start to slip.

Your recall of a later line — for example

When there is this abstinence from — missed action good order is universal

The dotted words are the ones you missed.

Try this chapter’s first line ↑

Free. No account needed to start.

Chapter 3, in a second rendering

Off the Pedestal

Dao De Kooi — an original rendering by David Kooi

Stop putting the clever people on a pedestal and everyone quits clawing to be one. Stop prizing stuff that's hard to get and people quit stealing it. Quit dangling the bait and minds settle down. So the steady hand quiets the wanting and feeds the need. Cools the ambition, strengthens the spine. Mostly it keeps people from drowning in cleverness and craving - and keeps the few who already know better from running the show. Do less of the forcing kind of doing, and things fall into place on their own.

Next · Chapter 4The Tao is (like) the emptiness of a vessel…Read chapter 4 →

Read the whole chapter end to end →How the practice works →