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WISER LEADERSHIP & SELF-MASTERY
What if Wisdom Was The Way?
Trying to understand wisdom by comparing it to the Tao
For those that don’t know, the Tao Te Ching (TTC) is an ancient text that was once thought to have been written by one person, Lao Tzu, but is now believed to have been a few people, perhaps. It is the primary text of Taoism (Daoism) and concerns itself with describing the Tao (or Way). The text itself is characteristically mysterious and oblique — necessary because the Tao defies explanation and is best understood by putting the mind to confusing or wonderous things.
In researching Wisdom, I have often considered the TTC as it resonates with me. Like most Chinese texts, it occasionally concerns itself with very practical matters (running a province in this instance). But constantly returning to understanding the mysterious to guide your life has several overlaps with even the most modern takes on wisdom.
So, as a thought experiment and a bit of fun (yes this is my idea of fun) I have taken various references from the Tao Te Ching and substituted ‘the Way’ for ‘wisdom’ and ‘those who know the way’ for ‘wise’. I intentionally haven’t gotten involved in all the references to the Sage. Partly because this would be a little on the nose and not add any value beyond existing…