Commentary on The Principles of the Tao
1. To
venerate Heaven and Earth
-
Value and respect both the Heavens and the Earth. Be a good steward of
the planet and its resources.
2. To
revere the divine beings
- Hold in highest esteem the Tao, the eternal source. Appreciate and
honor all of the good role models, Buddhas, sages, and teachers, who
have come before us.
3. To
be patriotic and responsible
-
Respect and honor the good things about your country and its government
and to work to change things that could be done better; fulfill your
civic duties.
4.
To be virtuous and courteous
-
Always act in a virtuous and courteous manner and uphold the Rules of
Propriety. Practical guidelines regarding propriety of Demeanor,
Deportment, Speech, Conduct, Example, and Sexual activity can be found
in the Analects of Confucius.
5. To
honor the parents -
Love, honor, respect, support, and be obedient to one's parents to let
them live worry-free lives.
6. To
value the teachers -
Honor and respect one's teachers and elders for their efforts to educate
you and for the wisdom of their years.
7. To
keep faith with friends
- Be
trustworthy, dependable and honest with your friends.
8. To
live harmoniously with neighbors
- Be
a good neighbor. Be helpful and friendly with those who share your
neighborhood.
9. To
discard the bad and seek the good
- Rid
oneself of bad habits and pursue good thoughts and deeds.
10. To
clarify the Five Relationships and the Eight Virtues
-
Expound upon the Five Bonds of Human Relationships and the Eight
Cardinal Virtues
Five Bonds of Human Relationships - between
sovereign and minister, parents and children, husband and wife, between
siblings, and between friends
Eight Cardinal Virtues - filial piety,
brotherly love, loyalty, truthfulness, courtesy, righteousness,
integrity, and a sense of shame
11. To spread the teachings of the Five
Religions -
Recognize as valid all significant spiritual or philosophical traditions
that have the potential to uplift and inspire people to do good.
12. To
follow the ancient practice of the Four Ethics, the Mainstays and the
Constant Virtues -
To obey and respectfully practice the Four Ethical Principles, the Three
Mainstays of Social Order, and the Five Constant Virtues.
The Four Ethical Principles - courtesy,
righteousness, integrity, a sense of shame
The Three Mainstays of Social Order - between
sovereign and minister, parents and children, husband and wife
The Five Constant Virtues - benevolence,
righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, and truthfulness
13. To
cleanse the mind and purify the spirit
-
Eliminate harmful/destructive thoughts. Maintain a happy positive
attitude.
14. To
utilize the illusory world in cultivating the truth
–
“Illusory” refers to the Buddhist idea that the world is just an
illusion. By studying the world we can learn about the Tao.
15. To
restore the nature of the self
- To
recognize, value, and respect one's original Buddha-nature.
That is, you are a sentient being with
an infinite potential for understanding, or “enlightenment” if you
prefer, and for doing good.
16. To
develop the perfection of conscience
-
Continually work to develop one's innate wisdom with respect to acting
in harmony with the Tao.
17. To
establish oneself and help others in establishment
-
First secure for yourself a stable position in society and then help
those less fortunate to secure a stable position too.
18. To
achieve goals and help others in achievement
- Set
and reach one's own goals and help others do so too.
19. To
bring the world into peace
-
Work to transform the world into a peaceful, honest, and orderly
society.
20. To
change hearts into goodness
-
Enlighten the minds of people, by your actions and your words, and
enable them to return to a natural state of benevolence.
21. To
transform the world into Great Unity
- By
pursuing this path, to bring the world into a state of harmony,
equality, fraternity, and justice.
