Landon

The speaker, Landon, discusses the relevance of the Tao Te Ching text today and its connections to ancient Chinese philosophy. He highlights how the text promotes humility, simplicity, and non-action as a reaction against chaos and emphasizes the concept of wu-wei, effortless action. Landon explains the parallels between Taoism and other philosophies like Buddhism and Confucianism, as well as the text's influence on leadership, mental health, and environmental harmony. He answers questions about achieving Tao through humility, returning to the source, the relationship between water and Tao, and the potential impact of Taoist beliefs on the world. Landon suggests that embracing Taoist principles could lead to a calmer, more balanced world with better leadership, mental health, and respect for nature. Hello, everybody. My name is Landon Lonergan. I'm person B, which is the connector for my group. I want to start off by saying that Haley, Sarah, and Devin done a really good job, and Sarah actually posed some really good questions that I had fun answering. But to connect now to Gene, I'm typed with 1 through 40, I want to talk about how it connects to the time it was written and why it's still, in my opinion, as relevant today. So traditionally, a lawsuit is associated with the warring states period in ancient China, which was a really unstable time politically and socially. There was a lot of conflict, competition, and struggle for power. So when you read these early chapters, with that in mind, the emphasis of humility and simplicity and non-action feels like a reaction against all the chaos. So instead of promoting control of force, the text suggests that trying too hard actually creates more problems. So ideas like softness, overcoming hardness, and stepping back instead of pushing forward seem to be saying that constant effort and domination aren't the answer. This also connects to how Naoism differs from Confucianism. Confucianism, that's how you say it, focuses more on rules, roles, and structure, while the Tao Te Ching often suggests that too many rules make things worse. There's also some interesting philosophical connections. So, for example, the idea that Tao can't be fully explained or named reminds me of later Buddhist ideas about emptiness and the limits of language. So even though they come from different traditions, both suggest that ultimate truth can't really be captured in words. What really makes this text so modern, though, is how applicable it still is, is the idea of wu-wei, where effortless action goes directly against modern hustle culture, and where all it occurs to do more, work harder, stay busy, but the Tao Te Ching suggests that forcing things off the list will imbalance the burnout. Something that I've kind of experienced working two jobs, and it's just getting old. And that kind of goes with my next point, is it connects to leadership and mental health. The text promotes leading quietly, staying humble, and not pushing yourself or putting yourself at the center of everything. And it feels especially relevant today when burnout and stress are so common. There's also strong environmental connections to the text, emphasizing living in harmony with nature instead of trying to dominate it. Culturally, Tao Te Ching has influenced things like Chinese medicine, martial arts, and poetry. The idea that flexibility and softness and strength show up in practices like Tai Chi. Even in modern Western culture, the text has influenced minimalism and mindfulness movements. I think one reason Chapter 1 through 40 still resonates is because the language is so open-ended. Different translations and interpretations allow people from different cultures and type areas to connect with that in their own way. So, overall, the Tao Te Ching offers a very different idea of success and power, one that feels especially meaningful in times of instability, both in China and today. So, for me, because Sarah posed some really good questions and I'm excited to answer them, one of them being my favorite, and I'll explain that in a minute. But question one was, why do you think that Tao is only achieved through humility and non-action? And I think that the idea that Tao isn't something you can force or control. Humility and non-action are about stepping back and letting things unfold naturally instead of trying to dominate or manipulate outcomes. And when you're humble, you're more open and less focused on your ego, which makes it easier to align with Tao rather than fight against it. Question two was, in Chapter 16, the text talks about returning to the source, and how do you think that is accomplished? For me, returning to the source means letting go of distractions, excess, and overcomplications. So, Chapter 16 emphasizes stillness and simplicity, which feels like a reset back to what's natural. Chapter 40 actually supports this by saying the movement is about returning, not progressing forward endlessly. So, I think it's accomplished by simplifying life, quietening the mood, and reconnecting with what's essential rather than constantly striving for more. And that kind of reflects back to what I was saying about burnout, like you're doing too much. I'm striving for too much, and I'll be happy with what I've got, and I'll reconnect with what I've got, and live my simple life and be happy. Question three, this is my favorite question. Tao has no name as compared to water. How do you think water relates to Tao? And, to me, water is probably the best metaphor for Tao, simply because it's flexible, adaptable, and powerful without being aggressive. And, you know, some people look at it and think, you know, what do you mean water is powerful, or what do you mean it's aggressive? Look at Miami Beach. It is taking over their island. They're constantly having to go out there with construction equipment to push the beach back, add more sand and all that, because it's slowly eating the island of Miami Beach. When I went there for vacation, it was a mind-blowing thing to sit and watch. And what I mean is water, it doesn't compete or force its way through obstacles, it just flows around them. Even though it's soft, it can shape landscapes over time. And it reflects how Tao works quietly and naturally without needing labels or control. Last question was, if these beliefs were common today, do you think the world would be a better place? And this one took a minute to answer for me, and it might not be correct, but in my opinion, I think the world would... I don't think there's a right answer to this question, actually. I think it just depends on how you interpret it. For me, I think it would be a calmer and more balanced world or place to live. Because, you know, people focus more on humility, simplicity, and working with nature instead of against it. It would be less constant burnout. I don't expect it, or I wouldn't see it, being able to solve everything. But these ideas could definitely encourage healthier leadership, better mental health. You know, a little bit more respect for the environment. But that's my time here. That's Person D. That's how I connected it. This is a good read. I recommend you read it if you're a reader. I'm actually going to continue to finish it because I'm very interested in it. But with that said, I hope you all have a good day.