"Reversal is the movement of the Dao; weakness is the function of the Dao."
I hope to help you understand this ancient saying from a different perspective—especially how it applies to the path of humanity and the pursuit of truth.
First, let’s reflect on the word “Dao” (道) itself. Its meaning is vast and layered. In the context of human society, it can refer to the path, law, or order. But in many spiritual traditions, it represents the mechanism behind the evolution and functioning of all things in the universe. Through understanding the Dao, we may find the origin of life and the truth of the cosmos.
Before diving in, I ask that you suspend judgment—avoid labeling what you hear as "right or wrong," "good or bad." There’s a reason for this, which will become clearer later on. In the end, I believe you’ll uncover the answer yourself.
To begin with, we must acknowledge a fundamental truth: human beings are, in essence, animals. The world we live in operates by the law of survival of the fittest. No matter how advanced our science or education becomes, human nature remains largely unchanged—greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt have persisted across all eras and cultures.
What has evolved is not human nature itself, but the rules that govern society. These rules curb our instincts, not eliminate them. The darker sides of human nature are merely restrained, not transformed. And why can human behavior be restrained? Simply because, like animals, humans can be domesticated.
Domestication happens at all levels: in families, organizations, nations. It is how structured societies are formed. The key resource in this system isn’t money or land—it’s people. People are the “1” at the beginning of a string of zeros; without them, nothing else holds value.
Imagine this world as a complex game. But unlike regular games, it doesn’t come with a clear manual—though there are plenty of “guides.” Some of these guides are genuine rules designed for fairness, but most are traps, created by the “domesticators” to harvest the energy, attention, and labor of the “domesticated.”
Ironically, this system of control originated from kindness—from compassion. It is this paradox that holds the key. How can a system designed to harvest the weak stem from compassion?
Because this world operates on two opposing yet complementary forces: benevolence and desire.
When humans act out of survival instincts, they seek collaboration. This desire to cooperate often comes from self-interest. We tend to want to partner with the strong and exclude the weak. But what if you are the weak?
That’s when truly powerful souls emerge—those who can integrate the strong and protect the weak. This protection is compassion, and when it’s strong enough, it becomes a force that unifies a society or ecosystem.
As the system grows, so does desire. Competition leads to hierarchy and social classes. Those at the top begin to realize that they can control resources and people by creating more rules. And the weak? They willingly follow these rules to seek stability and protection.
Eventually, people themselves become the resource. Not only do they become domesticated—they begin to domesticate themselves, fulfilling their role in the system with pride and loyalty.
This is not to incite fear or despair. I simply want you to see the deeper laws behind how the Dao functions. In the context of human society, this phrase—“Reversal is the movement of the Dao; weakness is the function of the Dao”—is the true manual of the game.
If you consider yourself a strong individual and wish to shape your own destiny, you must learn to see beyond the rules—to see the essence of the Dao. That means breaking through your own beliefs, your family’s beliefs, and even the beliefs held by your collective culture.
Remember: “Sheep move in herds, but lions walk alone.” When you truly understand what it means to “take the hearts of the people as your own,” you grasp the very engine of this game.
In the world of business, this is called solving pain points. When you help others—especially the weak—you gain influence and resources. Whether it’s a business helping aspiring entrepreneurs or a nation offering aid to others for strategic gain, it’s always the same principle: Giving is just another form of receiving.
But if you consider yourself an average person, there is no shame in becoming a resource. Walk the middle path. Be someone who obeys the laws, contributes to society, and is useful. Yes, it may sound like a primary school teacher’s lesson—but it’s also the Dao’s hidden logic. In doing so, you become the executor of the Dao, both as one who is domesticated and one who participates in domestication.
Now, some people rise through the social ranks. Others fall. Why can’t any one group maintain their status forever?
Because the ultimate law that governs all things is Karma—or in scientific terms, the law of conservation of energy. What you give is what you get. When people become too calculating, they eventually fall victim to their own schemes. Human nature is difficult to transcend.
Let me share a personal story. I once visited a public hospital in China and ended up being transferred across three departments within six months. Each department required repeated tests—many of which overlapped. Even my blood type was tested three times. The doctor’s explanation? “In extreme conditions, blood types may change—we're just being responsible.”
Of course, the real reason was clear: hospitals need revenue, departments have quotas, and doctors want bonuses.
If I were the doctor, I might not even think of it as unethical. I’d believe I was simply doing my job—nobly. But as the patient, it’s obvious: I was being exploited. I was the weak one in that system. Yet ironically, I was also a participant in reinforcing that system, believing doctors were trustworthy and reliable.
The true harvesters? They are smarter, quieter, and harder to detect.
As the Buddha said, "The sea of suffering is endless. Turn around, and you reach the shore." When we live in ignorance, good and evil shift with our roles and environments. Our lives rise and fall in endless cycles. This is a death loop, not because life ends—but because we stay trapped in unawareness, cycling through the same karmic patterns, even after we awaken to the system.
Even if you understand the Dao, and rise from the domesticated to the domesticator, you are still bound by karma. All those who live by manipulation will eventually be manipulated in return.
Many people believe “living a good life is spiritual practice.” But when you truly understand the Dao, you’ll see that this belief is often just another form of self-domestication.
Because when we enter the in-between state after death, we are still carried by our karma and unconscious habits. That’s why I always emphasize real spiritual practice—practice that goes beyond theory and enters direct realization.
"Reversal is the movement of the Dao; weakness is the function of the Dao."
In the human world, we can succeed by thinking differently—seeing the truth behind the rules. But on the path of ultimate truth, we must go beyond not just the five poisons (greed, anger, ignorance, pride, doubt), but also beyond the six senses—even beyond the physical body itself.
From ancient times to now, wise ones have sought the true path of liberation. In the words of Wang Yangming:
“To avoid fate, to dodge karma—these are the chains that bind the true self.
But to accept fate, to carry karma—this is when you realize who you really are.
Once you awaken and meet your true self, what fear is there in old chains?
All shackles in this world are dreams—formless, nameless, and without self.”
May all beings be free from suffering and find true joy.