Verse Five of the Tao Te Ching: Give Kind Energy Equally to All

Verse Five of the Tao Te Ching teaches us to perceive all as being equally worthy. This idea encourages us to reframe our beliefs on who is deserving of our kindness. Although it may bring up a lot of resistance (definitely does for me!), trying to practice is key.

And may result in a liberated state that is freeing.

Let’s take a closer look:

Excerpt From Change Your Thoughts Change Your Life by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Heaven and earth are impartial;
they see the 10,000 things as straw dogs.
The sage is not sentimental;
he treats all his people as straw dogs.

The sage is like heaven and earth:
To him, none are especially dear,
nor is there anyone he disfavors.
He gives and gives, without condition,
offering his treasures to everyone.

Between heaven and earth
is a space like a bellows;
empty and inexhaustible,
the more it is used, the more it produces.

Hold on to the center.
The man was made to sit quietly and find
the truth within.”

Verse Five of the Tao Te Ching reminds us that we aren’t above others.

So many painful, complicated feelings happen when we make ourselves ‘special.’

The temporary high we may feel when we’ve made ourselves special, or better than, lasts about two seconds. Why?

Because when we feel better than, we’ve gone into a place of judgment. I know this is hard to embrace! Trust me, it’s hard for me too.

There are many people I could live my entire life feeling superior to, and I judge to be undeserving of my kindness. I’ve spent many years, and continue even now, feeling this way about people who have wronged me.

But when I stop and reflect, I recognize that these feelings have only held me back.

Attempting to see the innocence in others might open the door to understanding. We’re all here doing our best, working with what we’ve got!

Changing my view, I can see others as being equally worthy of happiness and love. And even forgiveness can come more naturally.

Equally important, try not to place others above you.

Similarly, we’re out of alignment when we see others as above us or place them on a pedestal. When we do this, we know we’ve lost our center.

This reminds me of a section in The Course in Miracles on special relationships. It says, “The special relationship is the triumph of this confusion. It is a kind of union from which union is excluded, and the basis for the attempt at union rests on exclusion.”

In ‘special relationships,’ you feel someone is above you. The Course teaches that this is not love. Love doesn’t come from a place of comparing or placing someone above yourself. This is just a mechanism the ego uses to bring us down.

When we make someone unique and special, our interactions aren’t genuine. Our energy is filled with insecurity or adulation – both of which block us from the true connection we seek.

Focus on offering whatever you have:

‘Giving’ comes in many forms. You can give grace, peace, kindness, time, respect, attention, and love.

Verse Five of the Tao Te Ching reminds us that we are all equally worthy and encourages us to give with the spirit of our shared inner goodness.

But yes, I know. This is hard! Because people are challenging.

The Tao teaches us that we can give freely from this inexhaustible energy source, knowing that what we offer is always replenished.

We can find alignment with the Tao. And when aligned, our lives can become filled with wisdom, abundance, and beauty. We can watch and be amazed by the generosity and kindness all around us.

“By unconditionally sharing and giving, you’ll thrill at the experience of living the Tao and being impartial. The Tao is your truth; it resides within you. Quietly be in the peace and joy of connecting with the inexhaustible Tao.” – Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

So, what do you think? Are you going to give it a try?

Let me know your thoughts below!

Ps: I have a rose quartz crystal that I’m going to carry in my bag this month to remind me of this very important lesson. Join me!