February 2009

Commentary

I’ve always read this chapter as describing my ‘original nature’ (i.e., subjective, personal, mysterious). While still mysterious, today I see it describing everyone’s ‘original nature’. Not that I ever thought otherwise really, I just never put the two together on the same page. Probably the phrase ‘of old he who was well verse in the way‘ pointed me in that subjective, personal direction. After all, I’ve been ‘versing’ myself in the way as long as I can remember. Not that I actually practice what I preach, mind you. Alas, it is often easy to confuse where we are with where we see ourselves going. Nevertheless, I felt I was hopefully (and truly) on the way there. Finally, I’ve come to feel that we myriad creatures, one and all, are there, here! Now, that’s a mouthful of mysterious sameness.

It is natural to take a purely subjective view, as I use to do. On the other hand, it would be just as easy to take an opposite, purely objective view of this too. From that vantage point it could appear to describe someone ‘over there’ and certainly beyond normal experience. It is easy to see things either subjectively or objectively. Seeing outside (or is it inside?) those two boxes is more difficult.

If everyone ‘is minutely subtle, open and deep beyond knowledge, cannot be known’, etc., why don’t we act (prepare, blend, honest, allow) like it in the ‘real world’? Precisely because our ‘original self’ feels so utterly deep beyond knowledge‘. We are instinctively driven to work around (contend, mask) the sense of weakness this causes. Life must resist entropy (the essence of weakness) to live. Life must work. The difficulty: how does one work and yet be vanishing like ice that melts away? Another irony here: Weakness is the means the way employs. Oh my word, circular[1] as if without end certainly describes it. It helps to stand back far enough from the circle to see how it stands alone and does not change, goes round and does not weary. And then, get back to work.

[1] This character is missing from the original so I had to use my poetic license:  圆 yuan = round; circular; spherical.

Translation

Of old, the adept student was minutely subtle, open and deep beyond knowledge.
He alone cannot be known, hence his strength lies in allowing.
He prepares as if fording a river in winter; as if like in fear of neighbors;
Solemn that seems to allow; vanishing like ice that melts away;
Honest that is like simple; broad that is like a valley;
Blending that is like muddy water; tranquil that is like the sea.
Circular[1] as if without end.
Who can be muddy as well as still to gently clarify.
Who can be calm as well as aroused to gently live.
Keeping to this way, he desires not to be full.
Therefore, only he who is not full can conceal and yet newly become.

ancient of good (be good at) do (act; serve as; be; mean) bachelor (scholar), minute (tiny) wonderful (subtle) black (dark; profound) open (through; connect; whole), deep (difficult; profound) cannot (should not; must not) know (knowledge).

husband (man) only (alone) cannot (should not; must not) know (knowledge), reason (cause; hence) stubborn (unyielding) do (act; serve as; be; mean) of hold (permit; allow).

beforehand (prepare) like (seem; as if) winter wade (ford; experience) river; just as (like; still) like (seem; as if) fear (respect) four neighbor;

majestic (solemn; dignified) his (its; that; such) like (seem; as if) hold (permit; allow); melt (vanish) like (seem; as if) ice (put on the ice; feel cold) of support (bring; handle) explain (dispel; let go);

honest (sincere) his (its; that; such) like (seem; as if) simple (plain); vast (spacious; free from petty ideas) his (its; that; such) like (seem; as if) valley;

mix (confuse; pass for) his (its; that; such) like (seem; as if) turbid (muddy; deep and thick); tranquil (placid, quiet) his (its; that; such) like (seem; as if) sea (extra large);

round (circular; spherical)[1] like (seem; as if) nothing (nil; without) stop (to; till; only).

who (which; what) ability (capability; skill; able) turbid (muddy; deep and thick) use (take; because of; so as to, as well as) still (quiet; calm) of slowly (gently) unmixed (clear; distinct; settle).

who (which; what) ability (capability; skill; able) peaceful (quiet; tranquil; calm) use (take; because of; so as to, as well as) move (stir; change; arouse) of slowly (gently) give birth to (bear; grow; life).

protect (maintain; preserve) this road (way, speak; think) not desire (longing; about to) be full of (have a surplus of).

husband (man) only (alone) not be full of (have a surplus of) reason (cause; hence) ability (capability; skill; able) cover (shelter; hide) and (as well as, yet not) new (fresh) accomplish (become; fully grown).

[1] This character is missing from the original so I had to use my poetic license:  圆 yuan = round; circular; spherical

Original

古之善为士者，
微妙玄通，
深不可识。
夫唯不可识，
故强为之容。
豫兮若冬涉川；
犹兮若畏四邻；
俨兮其若容；
涣兮若冰之将释；
敦兮其若朴；
旷兮其若谷；
混兮其若浊；
澹兮其若海；
□兮若无止。
孰能浊以静之徐清。
孰能安以动之徐生。
保此道者不欲盈。
夫唯不盈
故能蔽而新成。