This verse talked about the institutions of education, business and justice & our relationship with them. For example, in society it was the norm that without the right education from a prestigious school, one wouldn’t be able to climb the corporate ladder. But we’re beginning to see how those paradigms are shifting (for the better). What Bill Gates and Kanye West have in common, is that despite being college dropouts, they believed so much in themselves and in their idea, that they were willing to leave the herd behind and go confidently in the direction of their dream/vision.
Personally, growing up in an African household, we were taught that in order to be liked and respected within the community, we had to be well-educated, well-to-do, God-fearing, law abiding members of society.
The world of institutional pressures constantly dish out an endless list of do’s and don’ts - and most times the damn rules change with the times - so you’re constantly changing yourself to fit in. I think that the measure of success shouldn’t be in how much is in one’s bank account, or how many degrees you received from the prestigious school you went to. I’ve learnt that the people, who on the surface seem to have everything, end up being the most emotionally/mentally/spiritually impoverished people of them all.
Of course being knowledgeable is key (Knowledge is POWER). Being financially abundant helps both you and the community and abiding by the rules of society maintains a certain level of order. But we can’t have that be the entire content of our existence. If tomorrow everything you’ve acquired was taken away, who/what are you left with? As a generation I don’t think we’ve developed a strong sense of self - we link our worth to our academic achievements and/or our current socio-economic status. That’s why over the past decade, social media has been such a gift and a curse. Not only does it serve as a tool for community and inspiration, it can also foster envy/judgement and social comparison. In the words of Shakti Gawain, "We will discover the nature of our particular genius when we stop trying to conform to our own or to other peoples' models, learn to be ourselves, and allow our natural channel to open."
It is our birth right, each and every one of us, to live our best lives - and that doesn’t have to mean the same exact thing for everyone. For our sake, and the sake of the future generations, we have to rediscover what it’s like to live from the heart. Not from familial/societal expectations, but from our core. That is what Laotzu is proposing here in this 19th verse, that these “outward forms” - the institutions of society are not sufficient in themselves. He says “It’s more important to see the simplicity and realize one’s true nature.”
Who are you and what are you living for?
Ai-Creo