Original Text
One who masters the Great Way will have the world submit to him; they submit and take refuge without harming each other, thus all live in peace and tranquility. Pleasant music and delicious food can make passersby involuntarily stop in their tracks. Yet the expression of the Way is bland and tasteless. You try to see it but never see it, you try to hear it but never hear it, yet its function is inexhaustible and without limit.
Guide
Whoever grasps the Dao will win the allegiance of all under heaven. Though formless and silent, its function is inexhaustible; people yearn for the Dao and find peace in it, drawing them more than music or fine food.Analysis
This chapter discusses the application and essence of the Great Way. From the perspective of application, acting in accordance with the principles of the Way will lead to the allegiance of all people and freedom from harm. From the perspective of essence, the Great Way is formless and intangible; spoken of, it seems plain and unremarkable, yet it is inexhaustible in use. This chapter aims to illustrate that understanding the Great Way is key to comprehending and transforming the world, as well as the foundation for realizing the meaning of life. Therefore, people must not abandon the root for the branch, deviate from the Way, or be tempted by transient fame and gain. Otherwise, not only will they fail to achieve spiritual freedom, but they will also become confused about the ultimate destination of life.
"Hold the Great Image, and the world will come to you." In this chapter, Laozi introduces the concept of the "Great Image." The Great Image here refers to the manifestation of the Dao, akin to a roadmap. In Laozi's view, if one can grasp the Great Image of the Dao, they will attract the allegiance and obedience of all under heaven. In the previous chapter, Laozi discussed that those who attain the Dao never consider themselves masters of all things, nor are they arrogant, yet they earn the respect and love of the people. Those who attain the Dao resemble the Dao itself—equally vast in spirit, equally free from desires and attachments, indifferent to gain and loss, and never claiming to be the ruler of the world. They never interfere with others' freedom, making people feel safe and secure. For this reason, the people flock to and submit to them, thus fulfilling their good name.
Those who follow the Way do not harm each other, and thus live in peace and harmony. Music and fine food may attract passersby to stop, but the Way is invisible and inaudible, like a humble presence without allure. The Way allows all to turn to it without conflict, bringing stability and harmony to life. Those who attain the Way embody its qualities, and people willingly submit to them, not for fame or gain, but from natural affinity. Unlike worldly submission driven by desire for profit, the Way’s appeal is pure. Laozi illustrates this with an example: people are tempted by delicious food, yet the Way’s simplicity surpasses such allure. Here, “music and fine food” also symbolize popular rites and moral codes, while “passersby” may refer to rulers. Laozi warns officials not to indulge in sensual pleasures but to return to the natural simplicity of the Way, for only by aligning with it can a state achieve order and its people find peace.
The Tao when spoken is bland and without flavor; it cannot be seen, cannot be heard, yet its use is inexhaustible. The great Tao is formless and soundless, offering no temptation to people. We cannot see it nor touch it, making it difficult to persistently pursue it. Although people need not compete for or possess the Tao, it provides endless benefits. Therefore, those who attain the Tao never tempt others with sensory pleasures, for they deeply understand that such pleasures cannot last long; once they end, they stir unrest in people's hearts, inevitably leading to chaos in the world. Thus, those who have attained the Tao cultivate themselves and govern the state with the Tao, and people naturally reap boundless benefits.
The pursuit of pleasure is an inherent human nature. In a materially abundant society, it is difficult for people to restrain their desires, and they will inevitably seek ways to satisfy their possessiveness. How can one pursue the Great Way in real life? This requires people to have a clear mind.