Tao Te Ching -46

When the world follows the Tao,

Horses plow the fields.

When the world turns away from the Tao,

Horses are prepared for war.

No disaster is greater than discontent.

No mistake is greater than greed.

Therefore, true contentment brings true fulfillment.

Translated by Chiyan Wang

Edited by R. Smitheram; N. Wang

The world reflects the state of our own perception. When we wake in the morning and smile at the mirror with contentment, the world smiles back. When we face the mirror with discontent, the world reflects that same discontent. Greed narrows our vision, allowing us to see only one thing while missing what is essential and the wholeness of life.

In Chapter 46 of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu offers an important teaching for true cultivators: by transforming our inner state and returning to contentment, we restore ease and peace within ourselves.