While at times natural events such as droughts, floods, hurricanes, windstorms, and excessive rainfall can seem disastrous, they’re actually maintaining balance. This is also clear in the lives of butterflies, flocks of geese, or herds of caribou and buffalo—the sport of killing upsets nature’s system of dealing with surpluses. And the Tao agrees: “When it is surplus, it reduces; when it is deficient, it increases.” Observe nature, says Lao-tzu: If deficiencies exist, don’t continue to reduce what’s already in short supply.
The lessons in these final verses relate to governing the masses by staying harmonized with the Tao. Lao-tzu seems to rail against people in positions of political power who took from the needy to give themselves more of what they didn’t need. In today’s world, we can see evidence of this practice in myriad ways, but especially in lawmakers voting themselves benefits to be paid for by everyone else: They give themselves 95 percent retirement packages, medical insurance for life, limousines, private parking places on public land, and free first-class travel, even as they strip the needy and serve those who have too much. And in countries where starvation is rampant, it’s not unusual to see large amounts of food and supplies stacked on docks while people die from malnourishment because government representatives think they’re “above” all that.
The 77th verse of the Tao Te Ching suggests thinking about the surpluses we can put back into circulation to decrease deficiencies that exist elsewhere in our world. Lao-tzu asks you and me to put the wisdom of this verse to work in our personal lives by seeing what we have but don’t need as an opportunity to be “Tao people.”Lao-tzu isn’t asking our government, political leaders, or captains of industry, but us personally: “What man has more than enough and gives it to the world?” The answer is, only the man or woman of the Tao. When there are enough of us, there will be a pool from which we Tao-centered people emerge to govern. Then we’ll put into place the way of living offered in this verse.
It’s fairly simple to understand a surplus of money or possessions, but the word actually symbolizes much more. For example, there’s the surplus of joy you feel that you can offer to yourself and your family. Then there’s the excess of intellectual prowess, talent, compassion, health, strength, and kindness you can share with the world. Whenever you see deficiencies in joy, abundance, educational opportunities, perfect health, or sobriety, make your own surpluses available. Lao-tzu urges you to look at what’s deficient and be an instrument of increasing, rather than a collector of more, which marginalizes and divides the oneness that is all of life.
Practice these new ways of being that are more aligned with the way of the Tao:
Reduce surplus.
Reduce what’s in excess in your life and then offer it where it can be utilized. Begin with your stuff: clothing, furniture, tools, equipment, radios, cameras, or anything that you have too much of. Don’t sell it; rather, give it away (if you can afford to). Don’t ask for recognition for charitable acts—simply behave in harmony with 77th Verse the Tao by reducing your surplus. Then think about your intangible abundance of health, joy, kindness, love, or inner peace, and seek ways to offer those glorious feelings to those who could benefit from your bounty.
Be an instrument of increasing.
Just as nature fills voids by maintaining the cyclical balance necessary to our world, be an instrument of increasing where you observe deficiencies. Practice giving by dedicating a portion of your earnings to be used to ease deficits, for as Lao-tzu points out, “The master can keep giving because there is no end to his wealth.” If you can’t offer money to those who are less fortunate, say a silent blessing for them. Offer a prayer when you hear an ambulance’s or police car’s siren. Look for opportunities to fill the empty spaces in other people’s lives with money; things; or loving energy in the form of kindness, compassion, joy, and forgiveness.
Do the Tao Now
Plan a day when you make a point of getting rid of some of your surplus, making sure that you part with something that’s useful elsewhere. Look around for things you don’t need or use—for instance, I just glanced up from my writing and spotted some legal pads, three DVDs, and a toaster that I haven’t used in six months. If you scan the room right now as you’re reading these words, I’m positive you’ll see things that you could easily categorize as surplus. So schedule a time to put some of your excess into circulation. You can also pick up those things in your line of vision at this moment and drop them off where they’ll be welcomed today. Be a man or woman of the Tao!
78th Verse
Nothing in the world is softer
and weaker than water.
But for attacking the hard, the unyielding,
nothing can surpass it.
There is nothing like it.
The weak overcomes the strong;
the soft surpasses the hard.
In all the world, there
