Tao Te Wednesday

11/9/2011

True Perfection seems imperfect,
yet it is perfectly itself.
True fullness seems empty,
yet it is fully present.

True straightness seems crooked.
True wisdom seems foolish.
True art seems artless.

The Master allows things to happen.
She shapes events as they come.
She steps out of the way
and lets the Tao speak for itself.
Verse 45 Stephen Mitchell version

V ictoria link

11/9/2011 03:16:36 am

Confusing but lovely.

mistah charley, ph.d. link

11/9/2011 03:42:28 am

Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu - chapter 45

Great accomplishment seems imperfect,
Yet it does not outlive its usefulness.
Great fullness seems empty,
Yet it cannot be exhausted.

Great straightness seems twisted.
Great intelligence seems stupid.
Great eloquence seems awkward.

Movement overcomes cold.
Stillness overcomes heat.
Stillness and tranquility set things in order in the universe.

(translation by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English)

Ottoline

11/9/2011 04:20:00 am

How fascinating to have the two versions. I have a better toehold on understanding by going between the two. Thank you!

"Great intelligence seems stupid" seems so well illustrated by Einstein's simple way of speaking, and my father's words: that the really smart person can say it simply, however complex the issue. It prob also explains why Einstein did not speak until he was 4 or 5, and then said something like "this soup is cold."

I am working on minimalism in my life. It's really hard for me. I want to start by delete many possession that have great sentimental value to me, but will prob go into the dumpster upon my death. Why not pare down now, instead? Very hard. I could try to be a little less long-winded, too.

Conscious at last!

11/9/2011 04:35:17 am

Ahhhh...... : ))

It feels so good to read the Tao...

Laura Novak

11/9/2011 04:57:39 am

Yes indeed, thank you for that comparison. Fascinating to see how differently scholars have interpreted and translated the Tao.

I chose this one this week because of recent events in my life. And a need to stop fighting fate and step out of the way. "The Way" might have other things in store for me.

I know what you mean, Ottoline, about paring down, finding some simplicity in our lives. I cleaned out drawers after Jeevsie's death. There was something cathartic about it.

curiouser

11/9/2011 06:56:12 am

"True fullness seems empty,
yet it is fully present."

Getting the negative aspects of ego out of the way and being truly present is bliss. I'm working toward it. The closer I get, the farther away it seems to be.

Lynn

11/9/2011 07:59:41 am

Thanks for this. I turned 50 last week, and had a sort of delayed reaction- not fussing about it, just needing to be in the present. This helps!

Also, love dropping by here without thinking for a second about.....never mind!

11/9/2011 07:46:35 pm

Lovely.

suzanne

11/9/2011 08:26:33 pm

Namaste.

Laura Novak

11/10/2011 02:39:20 am

Happy Birthday, Lynn. I find that passages of the Tao help me a lot at different times. This one about fullness and emptiness was particularly timely. And about stepping out of the way of events. Turning 50 is a blessing and I hope you have another half century of the gift of living.

And yes, how nice to not think about "that." :-)

Namaste to you all. Now, on to the ugly story out of State College, Pa.

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Laura Novak

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