The eighth chapter of Laozi says: The supreme goodness is like water. Water benefits all things without contention, residing where others loathe to be, thus it approaches the Dao. It dwells in lowly places, its heart is deep and profound, it associates with others benevolently, its words are trustworthy, its governance is orderly, its actions are capable, and its movements are timely. Precisely because it does not contend, there is no blame.
The meaning of this passage is that the highest goodness is like water. Water is good at assisting all things without contending with them. It stays in places disliked by others, thus it comes close to the Dao. A person of supreme goodness lives like water, content with being humble, their heart is as deep as water, they associate with others like water's benevolence, their words are as sincere as water, their governance is as systematic as water, their work is as capable as water, and their actions are like water, waiting for the right moment. Because he is like water, contending with nothing, he has no worries.
Regarding water, our understanding is not comprehensive or profound. The ancient sages Laozi and Confucius had deeper and more insightful views. Therefore, they compared water to the supreme goodness. Laozi said: The supreme goodness is like water, benefiting all things without contention. Confucius said: Water has five virtues; because it constantly flows without rest, able to benefit all living beings, it seems to have virtue; flowing downward, never resisting its form, either square or long, always following reason, it seems to have righteousness; its vastness is endless, it seems to have the Dao; flowing hundreds of feet down mountains without fear, it seems to have courage; placed without any unevenness, it seems to abide by law; measured by how much it sees, without needing to be cut or scraped, it seems to be upright; it penetrates every hole, it seems to be perceptive; its origin must be from the west, it seems to have a goal; taken out and taken in, all things are washed clean by it, it also seems to be good at change. Water has these good virtues, so when a gentleman encounters water, he observes it. Therefore, water has five principles:
- That which moves itself and can push others is water.
- That which often seeks its own direction is water.
- That which, when encountering an obstacle, can exert tenfold strength is water.
- That which cleanses the filth of others with its purity, having the broad tolerance to accept both clear and turbid, is water.
- That which, vast and boundless, can evaporate into clouds, turn into rain or snow, or transform into mist, or condense into ice as clear and bright as a mirror, regardless of how it changes, still retains its nature, is also water.
Regarding poems praising water:
There is something called water, supremely soft yet possessing great power. Mountain springs show their tips, aiming toward the sea. Bumps and bruises are trifles, rushing forward ceaselessly. Stubborn but not obstinate, invincible wherever it goes. Huge rocks block the path, turning around and finding another way. Cliffs and sheer walls, whistling and jumping through ravines. Encountering sand seeping underground, secretly traveling without showing off. The sun like fire steams, transforming into clouds and learning to soar like dragons. Gathering into rain, freezing into ice upon encountering cold. In spring melting into rivers, surging on still towards the east. After countless hardships, it finally returns to the sea, vast waves surging. The world marvels at its greatness, laughing once again ascending into the sky. Turning around and returning to the mountains, the sound of springs always tinkling. Water is gentle and compliant, able to illuminate objects, nourishing all things without contending with them, contributing to all things yet willing to remain below them. Laozi extols the spirit of water, actually promoting a philosophy of life. One should be like water, having great plasticity.
Water is soft and can change shape: in the ocean it is the shape of the ocean, in rivers it is the shape of rivers, in cups and basins it is the shape of cups and basins, in bottles and jars it is the shape of bottles and jars.
Modern translation of “Supreme Goodness as Water”: A person of supreme goodness is like water. Water excels at nourishing all things without contending with them, staying in places abhorred by all, thus it most closely approaches the “Dao”. He dwells well, his mind keeps to the depths, he associates with others sincerely, his words keep to trustworthiness, his governance keeps to simplicity, his actions play to strengths, and his movements seize the opportune moment. Only because of its non-contentious virtue, there is no reproach.
“A thousand rivers have water, a thousand rivers have moons, ten thousand miles without clouds, ten thousand miles of sky.” Buddhist explanation says: The moon is like Buddha-nature, a thousand rivers are like sentient beings. Rivers are not divided by size, where there are rivers there are moons, people are not divided by nobility or humility, where there are people there is Buddha-nature. Buddha-nature resides in the hearts of people, just as the moon shines on the river, omnipresent. Buddha-nature is omnipresent, the Dao is also omnipresent…
Water – the true scenery lies in:
In the way of governance, one should not forget “saving the common people from the fire and water”; in the way of being an official, one should firmly believe in “a gentleman does not drink from the spring of thieves”; in the way of making friends, one should adhere to “the friendship between gentlemen is as light as water”; in the way of self-cultivation, one should remember “running water does not rot, a door hinge does not rust”; water accommodates filth, but its magical self-purification function allows it to maintain purity forever; water undergoes three state changes, but no matter how it changes, it will eventually converge into the vast ocean.
“The supreme goodness is like water, great virtue bears all things,” means that doing many good deeds, accumulating good deeds day after day, just like drops of water converging into rivers, lakes, and seas, elevating to a noble character. A person with a noble character will be embraced by the people, and a group adhering to moral principles will develop healthily.