The Essence of Faiths
Whispers from everywhere
Nature’s Way and Human Laws
The Wen-Tzu (or Understanding the Mysteries) is a Taoist classic dating back to about 200BC. It suggests that nations are best run by Sages who are spiritually enlightened. This means people who have stilled their ordinary minds so that they are in tune with the Way of Heaven (Nature).
The following quotations explain first what the Way of Nature means and, second, what this implies for the Sage with regard to humanly invented laws. Are there echoes here of what Christ meant when he said that you should “render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and to God that which is God’s”? Is there a higher message here for Lesotho in these changing times?
“Heaven sets up the sun and moon, arrays the stars and planets, sets out the four seasons, and tunes darkness and light. It warms by means of the sun, gives rest by means of the night, dries by means of the wind, and moistens by means of the rain and dew. As it gives birth to beings, no one can see it nurturing, yet all beings grow. As it kills beings, no one can see it destroying, yet all beings pass away. This is called sacred and miraculous.”
“Laws and regulations are to be adjusted according to the ethics of the people, instruments and machines are to be adjusted according to the changes of the times. Therefore people who are constrained by rules cannot participate in the planning of new undertakings, and people who are sticklers for ritual cannot be made to respond to changes. It is necessary to have the light of individual perception and the clarity of individual learning before it is possible to master the Way in action.”
“Those who know where the laws come from adapt them to the times; those who do not know the source of ways to order may follow them but eventually wind up with chaos ... To sustain the imperilled and bring order to chaos is not possible without wisdom. As far as talking of precedents and extolling the ancient are concerned, there are plenty of ignoramuses who do that. Therefore Sages do not act upon laws that are not useful and do not listen to words that have not proven effective.”