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- CommentAuthorLuke Abbott
- CommentTimeJul 18th 2004 edited
Each week we address one chapter of the Tao Te Ching. Chapter 28 was originally featured on the 3rd week in July, 2004.
Note: The Tao Te Ching can be obscure, especially if you think you're supposed to understand what it's saying! We find it easier and more instructive to simply contemplate how the chapter resonates with your personal experience. Becoming more aware at this fundamental level simplifies life. This approach conforms to the view that true knowing lies within ourselves. Thus, when a passage in the scripture resonates, you've found your inner truth. The same applies for when it evokes a question; questions are the grist for self realization.
Chapter 28
Know the male
But keep to the role of the female
And be a ravine to the empire.
If you are a ravine to the empire,
Then the constant virtue will not desert you
And you will again return to being a babe.
Know the white
But keep to the role of the black
And be a model to the empire.
If you are a model to the empire,
Then the constant virtue will not be wanting
And you will return to the infinite.
Know honour
But keep to the role of the disgraced
And be a valley to the empire.
If you are a valley to the empire,
Then the constant virtue will be sufficient
And you will return to being the uncarved block.When the uncarved block shatters it becomes vessels.
The sage makes use of these and becomes the lord over the officials.Therefore the greatest cutting
Does not sever. -
How is it that the greatest cutting does not sever? For me, it's takes place in my mind. Know the ... speaks to the role discernment plays in my life. So, when I shine the white light of my discriminating mind on the 'cosmic eternal oneness' or more simply put, the uncarved block, it shatters into a chaotic scene of myriad things - feelings, judgements, talents,... an unending flood of variety in all manner of things. Whew!
The only peace I've found from such knowing, is to approach life with as much tentative humility as I can settle down into. If knowing correlates to the male, white and honor, then the other 'side' is being, which is when I keep to the role of the black, female, disgrace and again return to being a babe.
Of course being and knowing are not truly severed from each other, just as life and death, good and bad, and - well you name it - aren't. My peace lies at the deepest level of perception where I can reconnect what I've see as separate and severed. In practical terms, continuously aiming to keep to the role of the black, female, disgrace (as I'm able to anyway) works as a counter balancing approach that helps compensate for my innate tendency to know and cut too much.
P.S. Now, if only I had free will my keeping to the role of ..., would truly be constant.
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