When has one written or said enough? That is, said enough, leaving space for the reader, room enough for freedom of reflection, allowing a companion to the conversation to “make up” their own mind. It is always a judgment call. One additional thought rattles around my mind. The crux of my reaction, my aversion…
In ancient times Kieh killed Kwan Lung fang, and Kâu killed the prince Pî kan. Both of these cultivated their persons, bending down in sympathy with the lower people to comfort, to relieve suffering (as they did) from their oppressors, and on their account opposing their superiors. On this account, because of their moral…
When we toil our spirits and intelligence,obstinately determined (to establish our own view),and do not know the agreement(which underlies it and the views of others),we have what is called‘In the morning three.’ What is meant by that ‘In the morning three?’ A keeper of monkeys,in giving them out their acorns, (once) said,‘In the morning…
80 Ifa country is governed wisely,its inhabitants will be content.They enjoy the labor of their handsand don’t waste time inventinglabor-saving machines. Since they dearly love their homes,they aren’t interested in travel.There may be a few wagons and boats,but these don’t go anywhere.There may be an arsenal of weapons,but nobody ever uses them. People enjoy…
79 Failure is an opportunity. If you blame someone else, there is no end to the blame. Therefore the Master fulfills her own obligations and corrects her own mistakes. She does what she needs to do and demands nothing of others. Tao Te Ching by Lao-tsu, trans. by Stephen Mitchell These lines, verse 79…
78 Nothing in the worldis as soft and yielding as water.Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible,nothing can surpass it. The soft overcomes the hard;the gentle overcomes the rigid.Everyone knows this is true,but few can put it into practice. Therefore the Master remainsserene in the midst of sorrow.Evil cannot enter his heart.Because he has…
69 The generals have a saying:“Rather than make the first moveit is better to wait and see.Rather than advance an inchit is better to retreat a yard.” This is calledgoing forward without advancing,pushing back without using weapons. There is no greater misfortunethan underestimating your enemy.Underestimating your enemymeans thinking that he is evil.Thus you destroy…
48 In the pursuit of knowledge,every day something is added. In the practice of the Tao,every day something is dropped.Less and less do you need to force things,until finally you arrive at non-action.When nothing is done,nothing is left undone. True mastery can be gainedby letting things go their own way.It can’t be gained by…
38 The Master doesn’t try to be powerful; thus he is truly powerful. The ordinary man keeps reaching for power; thus he never has enough. The Master does nothing, yet he leaves nothing undone. The ordinary man is always doing things, yet many more are left to be done. The kind man does something,…
31 Weapons are the tools of violence;all decent men detest them. Weapons are the tools of fear;a decent man will avoid themexcept in the direst necessityand, if compelled, will use themonly with the utmost restraint.Peace is his highest value.If the peace has been shattered,how can he be content?His enemies are not demons,but human beings…
