Vineetha Raju's Key Ideas from Tao Te Ching
by Lao Tzu

"Not to desire material things is to know the freedom of spirituality; and to desire them is to suffer the limitations of matter."

Peace is meant to be our natural state. A whirlwind never outlasts the morning, nor a violent rain the day. Just as earth and sky return to peace, so should we.

Those who know others are intelligent; those who understand themselves are enlightened.

The way of the Tao is simple— stop striving, defeat desire. In the absence of striving, there is peace; in the absence of desire, there is satisfaction.

goodness is its own reward.

"The wise are also impartial; to them all people are equal and alike."

They are not focused on outcomes or achievements; therefore they always succeed.

Because wise rulers love the people, they lead without using force.

Those who talk do not know; those who know do not talk. The wise shut their mouths and watch their actions.....They cannot be moved by praise or blame; they cannot be changed by profit or loss; they cannot be honored or humiliated. And so the wise are truly honored.