{"id":38376,"date":"2024-09-12T11:59:11","date_gmt":"2024-09-12T18:59:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=38376"},"modified":"2024-09-12T11:59:11","modified_gmt":"2024-09-12T18:59:11","slug":"biblical-lessons-on-humility-from-a-chinese-philosopher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/biblical-lessons-on-humility-from-a-chinese-philosopher\/","title":{"rendered":"Biblical Lessons on humility from a Chinese philosopher"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week, I was taken back to 1984, my senior year of high school. I remember that spring studying various religions but the only one that stood out was Taoism, because I remember thinking, this is a nice way of living. Forty years later I am so glad I read Tao Te Ching<\/em> by Lao Tzu. The Tao Te Ching is the fundamental book for the philosophy of Taoism, attributed to the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, who was said to be a contemporary of Confucius during the 5th or 6th century BC.<\/p>\n

All his life, Lao Tzu taught that\u00a0\u201cThe Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao\u201d1 <\/sup>which is in fact the first paragraph of the Tao Te Ching. This can be interpreted as the Tao being teachable. Teachable? I was mesmerized as I read through this book because to be teachable involves humility and humility is a necessary trait of a leader. As I read this book I was reminded of the chapter, The Scandal of Imitating Christ, in the book, The Scandal of Leadership. <\/em>\u201cThe biggest temptation we face as leaders is to build our own kingdoms, by our own power, for our own glory.\u201d2 <\/sup>Taoism is the complete opposite of building your own kingdom, by your own power, for your own glory. In my opinion, I sum up this work of art in one word: humility.<\/p>\n

The language in this book has its limitations and is only second-hand knowledge. According to ancient legend, as Lao Tzu was approaching his death, he was persuaded by his followers to write down his teachings, to serve as a guide on achieving the Tao for future generations.3 <\/sup>Even though not specifically written for leaders, this book is an excellent source on humility. For example, \u201cWe should blunt our sharp points and unravel the complications of things; we should attemper our brightness, and bring ourselves into agreement with the obscurity of others,\u201d4 <\/sup>is all about putting others first and learning from everyone. Other words of humility that resonated with me were:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the work is done, and one\u2019s name is becoming distinguished, to withdraw into obscurity is the way of heaven.\u201d5 <\/sup><\/p>\n

\u201cClay is fashioned into vessels; but it is on their empty hollowness, that their use depends.\u201d6 <\/sup><\/p>\n

\u201cHe who overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is mighty.\u201d7<\/sup><\/p>\n

\u201cThe sage is able to accomplish his great achievements. It is through his not making himself great that he can accomplish them.\u201d8 <\/sup><\/p>\n

The above words of humility are just a snapshot of the wisdom throughout this book. But there are two more important things I would like to mention. First, is the Tao\u2019s understanding of water. \u201cThe highest excellence is like water. The excellence of water appears in its benefiting all things, and its occupying all things.\u201d9 <\/sup>The Tao, like water flows everywhere, to the left and to the right and it loves everything. It nurtures animals and plants and then moves on without seeking praise, when the goal is accomplished, it is not there to receive any thanks.<\/p>\n

The world is a system of interrelated components, none of which can survive without each other. To be and not to be, yes and no, light and dark, high and low, are all necessary and a part of life. Just like water impacts all of life, so does The Tao. Which leads me to my second point.<\/p>\n

Reading Toa Te Ching, <\/em>reminded me of reading about Jesus. The Tao mentions:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The Golden Rule \u2013 \u201cTo those who are good to me, I am good; and to those who are not good to me, I am also good.\u201d10 <\/sup><\/li>\n
  2. Being A Child \u2013 \u201cHe who has in himself abundantly the attributes of The Tao is like an infant.\u201d11 <\/sup><\/li>\n
  3. Forgiveness \u2013 \u201cRecompense injury with kindness.\u201d12 <\/sup><\/li>\n
  4. Be At Peace – \u201cEmpty yourself of everything. Let the mind become still\u201d13 <\/sup><\/li>\n
  5. Quick to Hear, slow to Speak \u2013 \u201cHe who knows (the Tao) does not (care to) speak (about it); he who is (ever ready to) speak about it does not know it.\u201d14<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    How is that a man who never observed the life of Jesus could easily represent Jesus in his life and teachings.<\/p>\n

    Reading this book really got me thinking about leaders and leadership. Lao and Confucius were contemporaries, both lived before Jesus and would most likely agree with the sayings of Jesus. Why was this Chinese philosopher so close to the teachings of Jesus? Why would Tao Te Ching<\/em> be considered a must read for leaders? What can I learn from this book, that I can\u2019t learn from the bible? What is it about my western thinking that hinders me from learning leadership insights from Tao Te Ching<\/em>? What is it about my western thinking that inwardly causes me to reject certain aspects from this book? Why would I be hindered or even reject something from another leader that has stood the test of time?<\/p>\n

    In conclusion, there were quite a few sayings I could not understand. This is why, Tao Te Ching<\/em> will be a must read for me each year. The lessons in this book really captured my heart and challenged me to keep seeking humility as a leader. As I finished this book, I was reminded of Warner and Wilder\u2019s words, \u201cIn our group we don\u2019t try to fix one another. We call out what is best in one another.\u201d15<\/sup> Even though accountability is important, it is also important to call out what is best in others, which shows some humility.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Tao Te Ching<\/em>, Lao Tzu. 7.<\/li>\n
    2. The Scandal of Leadership<\/em>, JR Woodward. 285.<\/li>\n
    3. Ways of Heaven: An Introduction to Chinese Thought, <\/em>Roel Sterckx. 4.<\/li>\n
    4. Tao Te Ching<\/em>, Lao Tzu. 11.<\/li>\n
    5. 16.<\/li>\n
    6. 19.<\/li>\n
    7. 52.<\/li>\n
    8. 53.<\/li>\n
    9. 15.<\/li>\n
    10. 73<\/li>\n
    11. 82.<\/li>\n
    12. 94.<\/li>\n
    13. 27.<\/li>\n
    14. 84.<\/li>\n
    15. Rare Leadership<\/em>, Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder. 53.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      This week, I was taken back to 1984, my senior year of high school. I remember that spring studying various religions but the only one that stood out was Taoism, because I remember thinking, this is a nice way of living. Forty years later I am so glad I read Tao Te Ching by Lao […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":176,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2310],"tags":[3270],"class_list":["post-38376","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-doctor-of-leadership-3","tag-tzu-tao-te-ching","cohort-dlgp02"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38376","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/176"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38376"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38376\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38377,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38376\/revisions\/38377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38376"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38376"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38376"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}