32nd Chapter
The eternal Tao is nameless. Its nature is simplicity.
Although people have little awareness of it, everyone will submit to its invisible power in the end.
If a leader can follow Tao to serve his people, everyone will follow him and everything will find its place.
When the attributes of a king emulate the heavenly attributes, the bestowal of Tao will be abundant.
Without supplication or requests to Tao/God, everything will be provided to everyone.
The king’s name will become well known to more people.
If the king can remain lowly before Tao even after he is famous, then no danger will come to him and his dominion will last.
When a king builds his kingdom with Tao (“path”), more and more people will follow that path to come to his kingdom and everything will return to its greatness like all streams flow in their valleys into the river or great ocean.
Implications from the Holy Books
…… the loved ones of God to be forbearing towards their fellowmen, and to be so sanctified and detached from all things, and to evince such sincerity and fairness, that all the peoples of the earth may recognize them as the trustees of God amongst men. Consider to what lofty heights the injunctions of the Almighty have soared, and how abject is the habitation wherein these feeble souls are now abiding. Blessed are they who, on the wings of certitude, have flown in the heavens which the Pen of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, hath spread. ── Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh 115
Overstep not the bounds of moderation, and deal justly with them that serve thee. Bestow upon them according to their needs, and not to the extent that will enable them to lay up riches for themselves, to deck their persons, to embellish their homes, to acquire the things that are of no benefit unto them, and to be numbered with the extravagant. Deal with them with undeviating justice, so that none among them may either suffer want, or be pampered with luxuries. This is but manifest justice.
Let My counsel be acceptable to thee, and strive thou to rule with equity among men, that God may exalt thy name and spread abroad the fame of thy justice in all the world. Beware lest thou aggrandize thy ministers at the expense of thy subjects. Fear the sighs of the poor and of the upright in heart who, at every break of day, bewail their plight, and be unto them a benignant sovereign. They, verily, are thy treasures on earth. It behooveth thee, therefore, to safeguard thy treasures from the assaults of them who wish to rob thee. Inquire into their affairs, and ascertain, every year, nay every month, their condition, and be not of them that are careless of their duty.
It behooveth every king to be as bountiful as the sun, which fostereth the growth of all beings, and giveth to each its due, whose benefits are not inherent in itself, but are ordained by Him Who is the Most Powerful, the Almighty. The King should be as generous, as liberal in his mercy as the clouds, the outpourings of whose bounty are showered upon every land, by the behest of Him Who is the Supreme Ordainer, the All-Knowing. ── Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh 114
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