Undistinguished and yet needed for use—
Such are things.
Low and yet to be relied upon—
Such are people.
Hidden and yet necessary to be set forth—
Such are the laws.
Remote and yet necessary to hold within-–
Such is righteousness.
Near and yet necessary to extend widely—
Such is benevolence.
Restrictive and yet necessary to be applied broadly—
Such are ceremonies.

Placed in the center and yet requiring to be elevated—
Such is virtue.
Steadfastly one and yet requiring to be modified—
Such is the Tao.
Spirit-like and yet engaging in action—
Such is heaven.

Zhuangzi, trans. by Hyun Hochmann and Yang Guorong, Letting Be and Letting Stand

The passage offers a layered image of society. Life-together is engagement with institutions and practices which order a civil society. These are descriptions of Chinese society circa 200 BCE.

Little imagination is needed to recognize a similarity between these and Batavia or many small towns in our 21st Century.

In every area of endeavor a collection of tools, mundane, ordinary, are still important for use. Could the dentist do without the stainless steel probe? Or the tire technician the compressed air wrench? Life as we now live depends upon innumerable tools.  

This room is comfortably settled with patrons. Most of those present are strangers to me. A few I have spoken with before, exchange of “pleasantries” and thus I know them superficially. Two or three who were here today, I consider to be friends. All of us, we ordinary townspeople living in Batavia and Geneva, are important because we’re relied upon to support the emotional, and social fabric of this Starbucks!

And there are laws… Taxes, — it is imperative to collect taxes. Roads with potholes wait to be filled. Children deserve educating. The overhead of society! Tax payments have deadlines attached. If you operate a small business these are quarterly. Laws are hidden, that agreed upon framework to be relied upon. Seeming to be remote and yet essential are laws.

Righteousness and benevolence, translations into English which point to an intention to do the right thing. Beyond simply meeting the obligation to not “take advantage”, to not cheat your fellows, there’s the admonition to simply be kind to everyone. Don’t be a jerk. Be more. Benevolence extended widely…

Suggested as an umbrella permeating the ordinary elements just noted: the ongoing cultivation of personal virtue; then the cosmic Tao, dynamic, always adapting and transforming; and to sum up – a practitioner who is spirit-like, nonetheless 100% engaged…

There is no world, and no nature without humanity. The language enabled mammal species, that learns to “abide” while being fully involved with all of the processes mentioned. You are essential. There has never been a “you”! Nor will another ever be!

Nothing whatsoever is on the outside of the cosmic way-making-Tao.

And arguably most all of it remains invisible, escaping our notice…

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Time enough for a tune. In all things is there not a cosmic flame? Even in each of us. The point is captured by the lyric of The Flame by Cheap Trick. The words of this anthem are absolutely delicious…