Stanza 7 of the Tao Te Ching reveals a fundamental truth about selflessness, longevity, and fulfillment. Laozi uses the eternal nature of heaven and earth as a metaphor for the Taoist way of living, one rooted in humility, selflessness, and natural flow. This passage challenges conventional thinking, showing that true fulfillment comes not from self-interest but from letting go of ego and serving the greater whole.
The Eternity of Heaven and Earth
"Heaven is eternal, earth is everlasting. The reason they can be eternal and everlasting is that they do not foster themselves; that is why they can live forever."
Laozi begins by pointing to the eternal nature of the cosmos; heaven and earth endure beyond human lifetimes. Why do they last? Because they do not live for themselves. Heaven (the sky) gives without possessing it; it provides air, rain, and sunlight, yet it asks for nothing in return. Earth supports all life selflessly; it nourishes plants, animals, and humans, yet it does not claim ownership over anything it nurtures.
This reveals a key Taoist principle: That which does not cling to itself can exist indefinitely. That which lives in service of the whole is naturally renewed and sustained.
This challenges human tendencies: People are often taught that survival and success require selfishness, yet Laozi suggests the opposite is true. Those who hoard power, cling to possessions and obsess over themselves ultimately destroy their own vitality. Meanwhile, those who live in alignment with nature, giving freely and without ego, are naturally sustained.
This reflects the principle of the Tao; it does not grasp, strive, or force, yet it continuously creates, nourishes, and renews all things.
Putting Oneself Last to Be First
"For this reason, sages put themselves last, and they were first; they excluded themselves, and they survived."
Laozi now applies this universal law of selflessness to the Taoist sage, the ideal figure who embodies the Way.
What does it mean to "put oneself last"? The sage does not seek personal gain, yet they prosper. The sage does not chase status, yet they are respected. The sage does not strive for survival, yet they endure.
This teaching mirrors the paradox of leadership and wisdom: The best leaders serve others, not themselves. The best warriors fight without personal ambition. The best teachers focus on their students, not their own reputation.
By releasing attachment to personal benefit, the sage naturally rises to a place of honor and longevity, not because they seek it, but because their actions are in harmony with the Tao. This aligns with the principle of Wu Wei (Effortless Action 无为). Rather than forcing success, one allows it to emerge naturally through selfless action.
Fulfillment Through Selflessness
"Was it not by their very selflessness that they managed to fulfill themselves?"
Laozi closes this stanza with a powerful paradox: the idea that true fulfillment comes only through letting go of self-interest. Those who cling to life too tightly are the first to lose it. Those who hoard power end up consumed by it. Those who chase happiness obsessively rarely find it.
Yet those who give without expecting a reward, who live for something beyond themselves, find true fulfillment.
This principle can be seen in many areas of life: A great leader serves others first and is loved for it. A parent sacrifices for their child and, in doing so, experiences the deepest love. Artists create from the heart rather than for fame, and their work becomes timeless.
The ego tells us that putting ourselves first is the key to success, but the Tao teaches that true fulfillment comes from selflessness.
Practical Application
Practice Selfless Giving
- Give without expectation of anything in return.
- This does not mean self-sacrifice to the point of harm, but rather offering freely and letting go of attachment to outcomes.
Lead by Serving
- The greatest leaders serve others rather than seek power.
- Instead of controlling, supporting, and uplifting those around you.
Let Go of Personal Ambition
- Instead of chasing recognition, wealth, or status, focus on doing meaningful work and allowing success to arise naturally.
- Just like a tree does not chase the sun but grows toward it effortlessly, allow your efforts to unfold without force.
Align with the Flow of Nature
- Do not fight for control; trust that the Tao will guide you.
- Instead of resisting change, adapt and flow like water.
Trust in the Power of Humility
- The sage does not try to be first, yet they rise to prominence naturally.
- The humble do not seek status, yet they become respected.
Stanza 7 of the Tao Te Ching teaches one of the deepest paradoxes of the Tao: Self-interest leads to suffering; selflessness leads to fulfillment. Clinging to control shortens life; releasing control allows life to flourish. Striving for success creates stress; allowing success to unfold naturally brings peace.
This wisdom is reflected in nature; just as heaven and earth endure because they serve all things without selfishness, we can also thrive by aligning with the Tao and living for something greater than ourselves.
By letting go, we gain everything.
This is the Way of the Tao: effortless, humble, and infinite.