Chapter 67: Living by the Three Treasures
“I have just three things to teach:
simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and in thoughts, you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world.”
— Tao Te Ching, Verse 67
In this powerful teaching, Lao Tzu distills the Taoist path into three core virtues: simplicity, patience, and compassion. He calls them “treasures” because they offer us the richest kind of life—not in material wealth, but in alignment with the Tao.
Wayne Dyer emphasises that living by these treasures allows us to transcend ego, fear, and conflict. These are not soft ideals—they are spiritual technologies that transform our inner and outer world. They simplify our path, deepen our relationships, and soften our reactions.
By embodying these treasures, we become natural conduits of peace, wisdom, and wholeness.
The Three Treasures Explained
- Compassion
Compassion dissolves separation. When we soften toward ourselves and others, we open the gateway to unconditional love, empathy, and healing. Compassion transforms judgment into unity. - Simplicity
Living simply in thought and action returns us to our natural state. It is freedom from complexity, overthinking, and material obsession. Simplicity invites clarity and connection to Source. - Patience
Patience with others—and life itself—honours the natural pace of things. It teaches us trust, surrender, and peace amid uncertainty. It calms the mind and opens the heart.
Actionable Steps: Living by the Three Treasures
- Practice One Act of Simplicity Daily
- Declutter a space, say “no” to something unnecessary, or choose silence over speaking.
- Ask yourself: “What can I simplify today?”
- Build the Muscle of Patience
- The next time you feel irritated or rushed, pause. Breathe.
- Whisper inwardly: “Everything in divine timing.”
- Choose Compassion Over Judgment
- When someone makes a mistake, soften instead of harden.
- Say: “They are learning, just like me.”
- Extend Compassion to Yourself
- Stop punishing yourself for past errors. Speak to yourself with kindness and forgiveness.
- Journal: “What would I say to my best friend in this situation?”
- Live Intentionally with These Three as Your Compass
- Before decisions or conversations, ask: “Am I being simple, patient, and compassionate?”
Mantra for Living by the Three Treasures
“With simplicity, I return. With patience, I trust. With compassion, I heal.”
Repeat this daily to align with the spirit of the Tao and bring peace to every corner of your life.