Friday, June 14, 2013

20130615-002

14.
Look, it cannot be seen - it is beyond form
Listen, it cannot be heard - it is beyond sound
Grasp, it cannot be held - it is intangible
These three are indefinable
Therefore they are joined in one

From above it is not bright;
Fro below it is not dark;
An unbroken thread beyond description
It return to nothingness
The form of the formless,
The image of imageless,
It is called indefinable and beyond imagination

Stand before it and there is no beginning
Follow it and there is no end
Stay with the ancient Tao
Move with the present

Knowing the ancient beginning is the essence of Tao

20130615-001

13.
Accept disgrace willingly
Accept misfortune as the human condition

What do you mean by "Accept disgrace willingly" ?
Accept being unimportant
Do not be concerned with loss and gain
This is call "accepting disgrace willingly"

What do you mean by "Accept misfortune as the human condition" ?
Misfortune comes from having a body
Without a body, how could there be misfortune ?

Surrender yourself humbly;
then you can be trusted to care for all things
Love the world as your own self;
then you can truly care for all things

Monday, June 10, 2013

29139611-002

12.
The five colors blind the eye
The five tones deafen the ear
The five flavors dull the taste
Racing and hunying 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

20130611-001

11.
Thirty spokes share the wheel's hub;
It is the center hole that makes it useful
Shape clay into a vessel;
It is the space within that makes it useful
Cut doors and windows for a room;
It is the holes which make it useful
Therefore benefit comes from what is there;
Usefulness from what is not there

Sunday, June 9, 2013

20130610-001

10.
Carrying body and soul and embracing the one
Can you avoid separation ?
Attending fully and becoming supple,
Can you be as a newborn babe ?
Washing and cleansing the primal vision,
Can you be without stain ?
Loving all men and ruling the country,
Can you be without cleverness ?
Opening and closing the gates of heaven,
Can you play the role of woman ?
Understanding and being open to all things,
Are you able to do nothing ?
Giving birth and nourishing,
Bearing yet not possessing,
Working yet not taking credit,
Leading yet not dominating,
This is the Primal Virtue.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

20130609-001

9.
Better to stop short than fill to the brim
Oversharpen the blade and the edge will soon blunt
Amass a store of gold and jade, and no one can protect it
Claim wealth and titles, and  disaster will follow
Retire when the work is done
This is the way of heaven

Thursday, June 6, 2013

20130607-005

8.
The highest good is like water
Water gives life to ten thousand things and does not strive
It flows in places men reject and so is like the Tao

In dwelling, be close to the land
In meditation, go deep in the heart
In dealing with others, be gentle and kind
In speech, be true
In ruling, be just
In daily life, be competent
In action, be aware of the time and the season

No fight; No blame