Tao Teh Ching

Having read the Analects by Confucius recently, I was mentally comparing these two works.

I much preferred the Analects. It had more to say and I feel like I could better understand what Confucius was arguing. It was also a much more simpler and perhaps secular philosophy? Confucius argues to be good to others and that there should be a good government. One should be constantly learning and set yourself towards virtue.

Lao Tzu is not so easy. Firstly, it's written as poetry which makes it much harder to understand the true meanings without going to an external analysis. As a result, my experience was one of confusion and trying to decipher what he was arguing. Lao Tzu has a lot of vague terms like Tao, Ado and so on. You're kind of expected to understand what they are. Lao Tzu recognises this criticism himself when he mentions that his message is simple to understand and practice yet the world does not understand him.

I think the philosophy was one of opposites. To be the best, you have to not try to be the best. The weak will overcome the strong.

There was some interesting insights for sure. Just currently I didn't really get it and perhaps I'll give it a re-read after I read more Eastern Philosophy.