The Cost of Rule
Excessive control and greed from rulers lead to suffering, resistance, and disregard for life. When living becomes a burden, death loses its weight. The Tao teaches to value life by letting it flow naturally.
Why is there famine?
Because rulers take too much.
The people are taxed into hunger.
Why are people hard to govern?
Because rulers interfere too much.
Over-control breeds resistance.
Why do people treat death lightly?
Because life is too hard.
The labour of living
makes dying seem like rest.
Thus, the more you value life,
the less you should cling to it.
Let it flow—
not be forced.
