A timeless verse from Chapter 8 of Laozi’s Dao De Jing reads: “Supreme goodness is like water. Water nurtures all things and does not contend. It dwells in places others despise. Thus, it is close to the Dao.” But what is the more profound truth behind this saying?
A dialogue between the sage and the merchant
A young merchant, betrayed by his business partner, lost both his wealth and his trust. Heartbroken and despairing, he walked to the edge of a lake, ready to end his life. There, he encountered an old sage seated in quiet contemplation, watching the still waters, and poured out his sorrow, every wound and grievance of his heart. The wise man listened in silence, then led the merchant to his home and asked him to bring up a block of ice from the cellar. Perplexed but obedient, the merchant complied. “Now,” said the sage, “strike it with all your strength.”
The merchant lifted a heavy axe and swung with all his might. The blade left only a faint scratch on the frozen surface. Breathless and frustrated, he exclaimed: “This ice is too hard to break!” Without a word, the sage placed the block in a pot and lit a fire beneath it. Soon, the ice began to melt into clear, flowing water. The wise man asked the merchant gently: “Do you understand?” “I think I do,” replied the merchant. “I was wrong to fight the ice with brute force. I should have used warmth to melt it.” The sage smiled. “Not quite. What I wished to show you,” he said, “are the seven realms of a life that flows like water.”
The seven realms of a water-like life
1. Unyielding perseverance
Ice is water, yet harder a hundredfold. The colder and harsher the world becomes, the harder it grows. This is the first realm of success: to remain unbroken through adversity.
2. Gathered energy and strength
When water becomes vapor, it seems formless and invisible. Yet, when mist and vapor converge, their power can move mountains and storms. This is the second realm: Unity of purpose gathers infinite force.
3. Compassionate acceptance
Water cleanses all things. No matter how impure the world may be, it embraces everything without complaint, purifying itself. This is the third realm: to accept and transform with compassion.
4. Gentle strength
Water yields to every obstacle yet wears down stone. It can smooth out sharp edges and drip through rocks. Its patience is endless, its persistence profound. This is the fourth realm: to conquer the rigid with the soft, the proud with humility.
5. Graceful flexibility
Water rises to the clouds and descends as rain. It gathers into streams, flows to the rivers, and returns to the sea. It knows how to rise and how to fall. This is the fifth realm: to bend without breaking, to advance and retreat with wisdom.
6. Selfless benevolence
Though cold by nature, water carries a warm heart. It nourishes all life, asking nothing in return, giving endlessly to the world.
This is the sixth realm: to give without seeking reward, to bless the world in silence.
7. Peaceful transcendence
Mist drifts freely, sometimes visible, sometimes imperceptible. It can condense into rain or dissolve into the air. It moves effortlessly between form and formlessness. This is the seventh realm: to withdraw after accomplishment, leaving behind quiet perfection.
Different spirits, different powers
Let your heart be like water, and flow with nature. Still waters run deep — the strength, wisdom, or confusion in our lives all flow from the depths of our inner realm.
Every person who crosses our path is meant to be there — not by accident, but by destiny. Each encounter carries a purpose: to teach us, to heal us, to turn our journey in a new direction.
Whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened, down to the smallest detail. There are no “if onlys” in the rhythm of the Dao. Even when life seems unjust or incomprehensible, every experience is precisely what we need in that moment to awaken, to grow, and to move forward.
Nothing in life begins too early or too late. Every moment arrives at its appointed time. When our heart is ready to receive new light, our existence unfolds — perfectly, silently, like water finding its way home to the sea.
Translated by Katy Liu and edited by Laura Cozzolino
Follow us on X, Facebook, or Pinterest
