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Each week we address one chapter of the Tao Te Ching. 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 61
A large state is the lower reaches of a river-
The place where all the streams of the world unite.
In the union of the world,
The female always gets the better of the male by stillness.
Being still, she takes the lower position.Hence the large state, by taking the lower position, annexes the small state;
The small state, by taking the lower position, affiliates itself with the large state.Thus the one, by taking the lower position, annexes;
The other, by taking the lower position, is annexed.
All that the large state wants is to take the other under its wing;
All that the small state wants is to have its services accepted by the other.
If each of the two wants to find its proper place,
It is meet that the large should take the lower position.Read commentary previously posted for this chapter.
Read notes on translations
Now, do it too at Wengu! -
[Note: I italicize phrases I borrow from the chapter, and link to phrases I borrow from other chapters to help tie chapters together. While making it more tedious to read,
the Tao Te Ching is best pondered in the context of the whole.]Taking the lower position sums up the incredible power and courage of humility. I say courage because it goes against our strong ‘pecking order’ instincts (hierarchy) to be ‘somebody’… pride, status, name. Taking the lower position is different from being in the lower position by default through fear, insecurity or desire, (i.e., ulterior motives, curry favor). These all have some thought of self pulling our emotional strings. Taking the lower position is more akin to facing the death of ego. And what is death really but the ultimate stillness and the place where all the streams of the world unite.
Correlating the essential meaning behind words like stillness, humility, peace, unite, death allows me to confront the tendency to want it both ways. Meaning, I want stillness, but too much stillness feels like death. Peace and unity sound good until that means giving up stimulating activity and variety. It seems there is an innate tendency to want to have it ‘just perfect’, not to much either way. This wish is futile ideal which may account for why those who seek it most are probably the most neurotic. Nature is not the spotless perfection we desire; Nature just flows this way and that.
This is a bit odd in spots and blurry perhaps, but that’s all for the better, right?
The large spreads lower where all under heaven meet.
Of all under heaven, the female always overcomes the male.
Using stillness she becomes the lower.
Therefore, the large, in using the lower, takes in the small,
The small, in using the lower, takes in the large.
Therefore, perhaps because of using the lower, it takes in,
Perhaps lower, yet it takes in.
The large only desires to concurrently raise the people.
The small only desires to join in the affairs of the people.
Both each getting the position they desire.
The big should serve as the lower.I bolded the main literal meaning of each character this time. Is this helpful I wonder?
big country below (down; lower) flow (drifting; spread), heaven below (down; lower) of hand over (meet; mutual).
heaven below (down; lower) of female.
female always (ordinary; normal; constant) victory (success; surpass; be superior to) male.
use (take; because of; so as to) still (quiet; calm) do (act; serve as; become; be) below (down; lower).
therefore, big country use (take; because of; so as to) below (down; lower) small country,
standard(norm; criterion; rule; regulation> imitate; follow) take (get; aim at; adopt; choose) small country.
small country use (take; because of; so as to) below (down; lower) big country,
standard(norm; criterion; rule; regulation> imitate; follow) take (get; aim at; adopt; choose) big country.
therefore, perhaps (maybe; probably; or; either...or...) below (down; lower) use (take; because of; so as to) take (get; aim at; adopt; choose) ,
perhaps (maybe; probably; or; either...or...) below (down; lower) yet take (get; aim at; adopt; choose).
big country not cross (pass through; exceed) desire (longing; wish; want) double (twice; simultaneously; concurrently) raise people.
small country not cross (pass through; exceed) desire (longing; wish; want) enter (join; agree with) matter (affair; trouble) people.
man both each (every; various; different) get (obtain, result in > satisfied, need; have to) place desire (longing; wish; want).
big suitable (appropriate; fitting; should) do (act; serve as; become; be) below (down; lower)
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