Progress: Lesson 10 / 10
Taoist’s Virtue (道德)
Virtue here refers to 德, which means giving back to the source you have taken from. When you return virtue, it must be something that reaches the heart of the source — something the source likes, not something you like.
Think of gifting.
Do you buy something you personally enjoy and force it into someone else’s hands?
Or do you think carefully about what the other person would actually appreciate?
A real gift considers the receiver first.
It is the same with virtue and the Tao.
Understanding What Your Tao Wants
The question is: how well do you understand your Tao?
Do you know what your Tao wants, likes, and needs?
What is truly meaningful as virtue for your specific Tao?
Every Tao is different, just like every person is different. Virtue is not a one-size-fits-all checklist. To give proper virtue, you must spend time learning, observing, and understanding the Tao you belong to.
For example:
If your Tao needs a printer right now, buying one is a great virtue.
But if your Tao already has two printers, buying a third is pointless.
Virtue must match the Tao’s needs, not your assumptions.
Use your heart, use your observation, and feel what is appropriate.
A Real Example of Virtue Done Right
There was a time when I was constantly doing magic to save a disciple because that disciple kept running into danger. I was outputting a huge amount of energy nonstop.
Another disciple saw the situation and decided to buy nutritious foods for me to replenish my energy after the heavy magic work.
That was exactly what I needed — perfectly on point.
This kind of virtue is only possible when someone observes the Tao with heart and attention.
Why Virtue Matters
As Taoists, we take from the Tao all the time — power, protection, guidance, blessings, and support. That is normal and expected.
But if we only take and never give back, the cycle becomes imbalanced.
We become leeches — draining the Tao without contributing to it.
Imagine joining a farm and always picking fruit, but never helping with planting, watering, or maintaining the land. Eventually, the farmers won’t want you around. It is not complicated.
If you say, “I don’t know what to do yet,” that is exactly why you should ask questions and learn — not sit there helpless or complain.
Virtue is action. Virtue is heart. Virtue is effort.
Are You Ready to Go Deeper?
Now that you’ve read through this series of lessons, your understanding of what it means to be a Taoist should feel very different.
If you feel the calling from Saam Law Taoism, maybe it is time to dive in and take the next step.
Want to see how much you’ve absorbed from these lessons?
Take our Tao Basic 101 Quiz and see how well you’ve learned the Tao-Basics 101 course.
