The Five Colors Blind the Eye

By Dan Segarra, 9th Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do

Original Chinese

五色令人目盲，
五音令人耳聾，
五味令人口爽，
馳騁畋獵令人心發狂，
難得之貨令人行妨。

是以聖人為腹不為目，
故去彼取此。

English Translation

“The five colors blind the eye.
The five tones deafen the ear.
The five flavors dull the taste.
Racing and hunting madden the mind.
Precious things lead one astray.
Therefore the sage is guided by what he feels and not by what he sees.
He lets go of that and chooses this.”
— Tao Te Ching

At first glance, this chapter of the Tao Te Ching almost sounds anti-enjoyment—as if Lao Tzu is saying colors, music, flavor, excitement, and possessions are somehow bad. But like much of the Tao, the deeper meaning is about balance and awareness, not denial.

This chapter is especially important for modern martial artists because we live in an age of endless stimulation. Our minds are constantly under attack from notifications, advertising, social media, noise, politics, outrage, entertainment, and distraction. We are overstimulated but under-centered.

The ancient sages understood something science is now rediscovering: when the senses are constantly overloaded, the mind becomes restless and unfocused.

For the martial artist, this matters deeply.

A distracted mind reacts poorly.
A restless spirit cannot hear intuition.
An overstimulated student struggles to develop inner peace.

In many ways, this chapter may be even more relevant today than it was thousands of years ago.

The Modern Battlefield of Attention

Today’s world profits from distraction. Entire industries compete for your attention. Bright colors, loud sounds, fast edits, emotional headlines, addictive scrolling—modern technology is designed to keep the nervous system constantly activated.

The result?

Many people can no longer sit quietly with their own thoughts.

This is one reason meditation feels difficult for beginners. The mind has become conditioned to constant stimulation. Silence almost feels uncomfortable.

But in martial arts, silence is important.

In Tang Soo Do, we bow before entering the dojo/dojang not merely as tradition, but as a symbolic act of leaving the chaos of the outside world behind. The training hall becomes a place where the mind can sharpen instead of scatter.

A student who constantly chases stimulation often struggles with patience in training. They may jump from technique to technique, seek shortcuts, or become frustrated when progress is slow. But true mastery requires the opposite mindset.

Stillness.
Repetition.
Awareness.

The sage “chooses this.”

The Hidden Cost of Overstimulation

There is an interesting paradox hidden in this chapter.

The more stimulation people consume, the less sensitive they often become.

Too much noise dulls hearing.
Too much excitement dulls appreciation.
Too much entertainment dulls attention span.

Even food reflects this principle. Highly processed foods overloaded with sugar, salt, and artificial flavoring can desensitize natural taste. In the same way, constant emotional stimulation can desensitize the mind.

This may explain why some people constantly seek stronger and stronger forms of stimulation just to feel engaged.

The Tao warns us that this path leads away from inner harmony.

Martial arts training can serve as a counterbalance.

Deep breathing.
Forms practice.
Meditation.
Controlled movement.
Focus drills.

These practices retrain the nervous system to become calm, observant, and internally grounded.

Ironically, when we reduce unnecessary stimulation, we often begin appreciating life more deeply again.

A simple sunset becomes beautiful.
A quiet walk becomes peaceful.
A single technique practiced sincerely becomes meaningful.

The mind regains clarity.

“Guided by What He Feels”

One of the most profound lines in this chapter says:

“The sage is guided by what he feels and not by what he sees.”

This does not mean ignoring the eyes literally. It points toward developing inner awareness rather than being controlled by external appearances.

In martial arts, appearances can be deceptive.

A flashy technique may look impressive but lack effectiveness.
A loud, aggressive person may actually be emotionally weak.
A humble practitioner may possess tremendous skill and discipline.

Modern society often rewards appearance over substance. Social media especially encourages projection instead of authenticity. Many people are building images instead of building character.

The Tao reminds us to look deeper.

True martial arts were never merely about appearances. They were designed to develop the human being as a whole—mind, body, and spirit.

This is why internal development matters.

A calm mind sees more clearly.
A disciplined spirit makes wiser choices.
A centered person is harder to manipulate emotionally.

The Warrior and Simplicity

There is tremendous power in simplicity.

Many martial artists eventually discover that the basics contain the deepest truths. A simple punch executed with precision, timing, relaxation, and intent can become extraordinarily powerful.

The same is true in life.

A simple routine.
Simple habits.
Simple discipline.

The Tao repeatedly teaches that clarity emerges when excess is removed.

This does not mean abandoning technology, fun, or possessions. It means not becoming enslaved by them.

The warrior should own things—not be owned by them.

A student who cannot put down their phone for five minutes may discover that their attention has become fragmented. A mind constantly pulled outward struggles to cultivate inward strength.

The ancient masters understood that peace is not found by endlessly adding more stimulation to life. Often it is found by subtracting distraction.