48: Let Go

48

Those who seek knowledge,
Collect something every day.
Those who seek the Way,
Let go of something every day.
They let go and let go,
Until reaching no action.
When nothing is done,
Nothing is left undone.
Never take over the world to tamper with it.
Those who want to tamper with it
Are not fit to take over the world.

Let Go

Letting go is a recurring theme in the Tao Te Ching. It's brought up in several chapters, for example the 19^th, where I mention the similarity to Zen in this respect. In Zen, you let go to reach empty mind, a mental state of clarity, where nothing disturbs you or pulls you way from the soundness of the simple thought. There are many similarities between Zen and what Lao Tzu argues for...

Here is my full commentary on this Tao Te Ching chapter:
Tao Te Ching Chapter 48 Translation and Commentary