The Dao does not act directly within the material world.
Yet all Creation is the work of Its creativity.
Act in the same way, and all living beings around you will unfold according to their own natural nature.
When you live simply, without concern for gossip, conflict, or hostility, and remain in harmony with the Dao, you arrive at a state free from attachment and passion.
The absence of earthly desires brings inner peace, and when peace is established within, order naturally appears around you.
A person who embodies the Great De does not force himself to perform good deeds, for virtue flows naturally from his very being.
A person who is far from De may compel himself to do good, because goodness is not yet rooted in his nature.
One who embodies the Great De does not seek constant activity in the material world, for he acts through non-action.
One who is far from De lives in restlessness and acts under the influence of passions.
In spiritual matters, such a person’s efforts are often reduced to rituals alone. Yet reliance on the supposed magic of rituals is a sign of the decline of true religion.
Such a person also seeks to compel others to act as he does.
This happens only to those who have lost the Dao in their lives.
They cannot be trusted, for having betrayed the Dao, they are prepared to betray anyone.
The wise one who has realized the Dao can recognize people by these signs.
Therefore, he chooses to associate only with people of goodness.
— Lao Tzu, Tao De Jing
Lao Tzu said
When the Great Dao is rejected in a country, people begin speaking of “humanism” and “justice.”
But in such a situation, this kind of wisdom is nothing more than profound hypocrisy.
Likewise, when discord reigns within a family, there arise demands for “filial piety” and “fatherly love.”
And when such disorder prevails throughout the state, slogans of “patriotism” and “love for the motherland” begin to appear.
When falsehood and hypocrisy of this kind are eliminated, the people will become a hundred times happier.
Deceit, greed, theft, and cruelty toward living beings will disappear once people possess true knowledge.
For all human vices stem from ignorance.
It is knowledge that will show people that it is in their own best interest to be simple and kind, to moderate earthly desires, and to free themselves from destructive passions.
Dao De Jing
Buddha Said:
Evil… is born in selfishness, and in selfishness — lies its cause.
Evil “polishes” the universe like a diamond…
I teach you to avoid the ten vices:
1. Do not kill, but have respect for life.
2. Do not steal; but help everyone to be the owner of the fruits of their labor.
3. Abstain from impurity, lead a chaste life.
4. Do not lie, but be truthful — reasonably, fearlessly, and with a loving heart.
5. Do not spread false rumors and do not repeat them. Do not criticize, but pay attention to the good sides of your neighbors, so that you can sincerely protect them from their enemies.
6. Do not swear, but speak modestly and with dignity.
7. Do not waste time on idle talk: either speak without deviating from the topic, or keep silence.
8. Do not covet what belongs to others and do not envy, but rejoice in the success of other people.
9. Purify your hearts from malice and do not harbor hatred even toward your enemies; but treat all living beings with kindness.
10. Free… the mind from ignorance and strive to know the truth, especially about that which you need to know, so that you do not become a victim of either skepticism or delusion.