On Lao Tzu: From chaos to zeroness — the ascending levels of consciousness

The following is an excerpt from a samvaad (dialogue) session with Acharya Prashant.

The highest virtue is not virtuous therefore it has virtue. The lowest virtue holds onto its virtue therefore it has no virtue. The highest benevolence acts without purpose. The highest righteousness acts with purpose. The highest ritual acts, but since no one cares, it raises its arms and uses force.

Therefore when The Way is lost there is virtue, When virtue is lost there is benevolence, When benevolence is lost there is righteousness, When righteousness is lost there are rituals, Rituals are end of fidelity and honesty and beginning of conclusion.

Lao Tzu, Tao-Te-Ching (Chapter — 38)

Acharya Prashant (AP): There is ‘the way’, then ‘virtues’, then ‘benevolence’, then ‘righteousness’, then ‘rituals’, and then ‘confusion’. What are these? These are nothing but ‘levels of…