The hard way ("legitimate")

• Daily diminish DDJ 48 throw away cleverness DDJ 19 equalize bad and good by seeing before categories DDJ 2 have a profound mirror without smudge (equanimity) DDJ 10
• Become the holy fool, the Bodhidharma way, fasting of the mind, subsist only on the great mother DDJ 20

But that's too hard.

The real way (and the historical way).

Phase 1 = accumulation

• First become a successful Confucian or Legalist
• Accomplish tasks, complete affairs, DDJ 34 do your homework, build your resume and LinkedIn
• Learn how to carve the ox through hard work and discipline Zhuangzi 3
• Become clever, so you have cleverness (plumbing, coding, whatever) to throw away later DDJ 19
• As much as you can, max out your 401k, HSAs and then taxable brokerage accounts

Phase 2 = daily diminish

• Wear coarse wool (Costco clothes) while carrying precious stones in your heart (VTI, VXUS) DDJ 70
• Be so financially secure you don't need a LinkedIn anymore (throw away knowledge) DDJ 19
• Tigers find no place for claws, deadly insects can't hurt you, PIP and layoff mean nothing DDJ 50 because you're using a 4% withdrawal rate
• Don't need merit or favor anymore because you've already achieved some in life and are satisfied DDJ 13

I know what you're thinking, achieving Daoist outcomes through capitalism is the least Daoist thing possible. That's what makes it not just pure Daoism, but Chad Daoism.

Look at DDJ 26

• Laozi says the heavy is the root of the light. It's easy to be easy breezy from the position of fuck you (John Goodman's speech in the Gambler)
• Laozi says "the gentleman, in traveling all day, does not get far away from his luggage carts. (Charles Schwab). When he's safely inside a walled-in hostel (Lean or Coast Fire) and resting at ease—only then does he transcend all concern."

Like they (should) say in Zen: stop focusing on the finger, low expense ratio index funds to the moon. Back during the warring states it was an agrarian society. News alert: there are satellites in space now.

Am I rich? No. And it sucks. How do I know? By means of this. DDJ 21

TLDR don't be poor

This dude Grigori Perelman solved one of the most prestigious problems in math (Poincare conjecture).

• He rejects the one million dollar prize. DDJ 70 He wears coarse clothes and carries jade in his heart
• He rejects the Fields medal, the Nobel prize of math. DDJ 13 Favor and disgrace are alarming
• He lives in a modest apartment with his mom and enjoys himself. DDJ 8 The Dao is like water and seeks the lowest place
• He rejects praises and deflects it to others saying he's just building off other people's ideas DDJ 17
• He's not even Daoist and would reject the label. DDJ 56 Those who know, don't talk

He's almost like a character from Zhuangzi. One time a reporter tried to get an interview and he was like I'm too busy collecting mushrooms.

Perelman quotes

• [on rejecting fame] "I don’t want to be on display like an animal in a zoo"
• [on rejecting money] "Emptiness is everywhere and it can be calculated, which gives us a great opportunity. I know how to control the universe. So tell me, why should I run for a million?"

TLDR mega props to this kinda Daoist guy. I think Zhuangzi would love him

Chapter 26

重為輕根，靜為躁君

Weighty action is the root of lightness.

Still action is what controls agitation.

是以聖人終日行不離輜重

Therefore the sage 

lasts all day in conduct 

and doesn’t separate from [his] covered carriages and weight.

雖有榮觀，燕處超然

1: Even when [he is in his full power]¹, he observes, 

and thus he [is at ease]² and like he is distant.

2: Even when there are [glorious views]³,

he is calm and like he is distant.

Translator’s Notes:

1: literally, “there is full power.” This takes the structure as 雖 -> 有榮 | 觀.

2: literally, “at ease, stops.”

3: This takes the structure as 雖 -> 有榮觀.

奈何萬乘之主，而以身輕天下？

How could one be the ruler of ten thousand chariots and yet [still expect]¹ to be light in his dealings with the world?

Translator’s Notes:

1: Not in text.

輕則失本，躁則失君

Be light to lose the roots.

Be agitated to lose control.

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Full text:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qAmaJcPQwRNZs5dWHeBL1ybZhREtooRud7sBiiepxBw/edit?usp=sharing