John Heider's translation of Tao Te Ching is an older, but less confusing translation than Stephen Mitchell's attempt to use the original text mixed in with his own. The format is simple and approachable with catchy titles for the page-long, eighty-one chapters, separated by black and white sketches. While Lao Tzu wrote it in fifth century China for sages and political leaders, Heider translates it into a more conversational monologue so all people who are seeking to have compassion and selflessness can understand better how leaders should lead.

The beginning chapter deals with what Tao is and what it is not. Simply put, it is the basis for everything in the world. It is indefinably, mysteriously God and all living things exist because of it. You know Tao by being aware of how things happen, how life unfolds. It is not creation itself but the principle of life behind it.

From there we are taught the unassuming Taoist perspective of being rather than doing, keeping things simple and being open to paradox, polarities or puzzles that life is so full of. Examples of titles are:

Tao Is Not A Thing
Unbiased Leadership
Giving Up Selfishness
The Paradox of Letting Go
A Warrior, a Healer and Tao
Owning or Being Owned?
Existence: Life and Death
The Lowly Receptacle
Three Leadership Qualities
Flexible or Rigid?
The Reward

Let me quote a section from the fifty-eighth chapter, Unfolding Process, which shows you well what Lao Tzu wants from a leader:

The wise leader knows how to facilitate the unfolding group process, because the leader is also a process. The group's process and the leader's process unfold in the same way, according to the same principle.

The leader knows how to have a profound influence without making things happen.

For example, facilitating what is happening is more potent than pushing for what you wish were happening. Demonstrating or modeling behaviors is more potent than imposing morality. Unbiased positions are stronger than prejudice. Radiance encourages people, but outshining everyone else inhibits them.

My Thoughts

Heider definitely makes me think about how I act in the presence of others, especially if they disagree with me. I should ask questions and understand their position instead of condemning it and imposing my own position. By being an example of compassion, I am more likely to receive the same behavior. The whole book makes me reflect on a more gentle way of living (or leading) that will let life unfold as it will, with no thought of winning or losing.

The sketches on the opposite side of each chapter add to the simple, poetic beauty of this book and bring out the message of the words with sketches of such things as waterfalls, Chinese trees, flowers and farmers picking rice. There are no notes of explanation of the chapters at the back of the book as in Stephen Mitchell's studious translation, but a bibliography and recommended reading list which are described briefly and helpful.

I felt that towards the end the advice was getting a bit repetitive, only said in different ways, but I don't think these chapters were originally meant to be read straight through like a book. If you have the inclination, I recommend reading a few chapters at a time so you can focus on how it affects you and perhaps write down these thoughts. The Tao of Leadership can be a lot to try to understand if you've never encountered Taoism belief before.



Recommended: No