Presen-TAO and Absen-TAO

"When Tao prevails in the world, 

galloping horses are turned back to fertilize (the fields with their dung).

When Tao does not prevail in the world, 

war horses thrive in the suburbs." 

                                                                                                                         Tao Te Ching, 46

              Just like a teacher who gives a quiz to that of his students. When he stays at the classroom, watching and checking if there are any student's activities that are not necessary or allowed in taking a quiz, all the students will be as calm as timid lambs. But at the moment the teacher goes out, the students will become reckless, noisy, and busy cheating or doing chit-chats. And just like the teacher in the given context, the Tao acts as a stimulus that encourages goodness.

                  Above in the Tao Te Ching, we can somehow perceive the idea of Lao Tzu to that of the Tao as an influence which promotes goodness to that of all the things; even to that of the horses. It was mentioned that when the Tao prevails, there would be running horses in the fields that will somehow produce fertilizers to that of the plants, etc. This picture somehow suggests that, with the Tao, things will be of good ambiance and mood; there will be peaceful atmosphere and pleasant happenings. Things then will follow a certain good that will somehow be beneficial to that of the human beings; such will be of good use.

                    But, if the Tao does not prevail, horses will then be used for war and violence. Instead that such horses must be out there in the fields, living harmoniously, existing with that of their good use; the horses were actually used for warfare. Instead that they are to be of good use, without the Tao, they lose such good identity in them and probably will be dumped with unscrupulous character and use. 

                 Thus, as how Lao Tzu would put it, it was the Tao that influences all the things that surrounds us to be of good treatment and use. And without such, things will be made out to be forces of evilness, ruthlessness,or simply, badness. 

                    But then again, one must not interpret the Tao as a virtue which when present, takes out all the evil spirits. No, the Tao here is the path which things must go along with; that's why it is called the "Way". Thus, it is not some sort of a product or end, but Tao, is a thing which must be use as means or medium to attain one's ideal preference.