March 2009

Commentary

I’m departing a bit from the traditional interpretation again. There is a cultural tendency to ‘follow the leader’. Because we’ve ‘always seen’ something a certain way in the past drives us to maintain that tradition going forward. While that’s often wise, if one wishes to see ‘outside the box’, it helps to be not religiously bound to the view ‘always seen’ from inside the box. Each time I return to a chapter, I attempt to see what I’ve not seen before – to set ‘always’ aside and read between the lines. I feel the following translation /interpretation is faithful to the core meaning, though not in the traditional way. It is a matter of perspective. Anyway, you be the judge…

In Lau’s version, best of all rulers is but another word for God, in my view. Love, praise, fear, and take liberties (bullying) are various ways people treat ‘God’. On a personal level, this describes the various ways ‘I’ can manage ‘my’ life. I use ‘I’ and ‘my’ tenuously for these are nonsensical at their core (but, then what isn’t?). How one manages life hinges on one’s sense of responsibility, guilt, morality, desires, pride, fear, etc. This results in two sides of a mysterious coin: some equate God (the greatest heights) with ’self’ (’God-self’), while others see ’self’ (ego) as an impediment to the greatest heights.

Lau’s version talks of ‘when his task is accomplished‘. Accomplish what? Letting life’s ‘accomplishments‘ happen naturally means giving up responsibility; I can’t take credit, nor can I receive blame. I become an integral part of whatever happens no matter what I ‘do’. I can do nothing, or rush about and meddle in everything. Yet, neither makes a difference when viewed from the greatest heights. What is different, however, is how I end up feeling as time unwinds events before me. Realizing that I can’t truly decide (i.e., free will) is very peaceful. Indeed, I always end up doing what needs doing anyway, regardless. I only lose this fulfilling sense of meritorious accomplishment when I forget what I realize to be so. Why do I forget something so integral to knowing contentment? Nature can’t allow living beings to feel that content. After all, life must push back on entropy to survive.

This chapter gives good guidance for parenting, and for encounters with wild animals. Being a shadowy presence (lying below what we realize) works wonders. Many would probably wonder how this keeps the kids and wild animals in line? Why do they not take liberties? Kids and animals alike are able to see past cultural pretence into one’s core nature. It instills respect (praise and fear) when all they see is a ‘shadowy presence‘ (i.e., the below what we realize). Otherwise, they simply respond to what they see; this is often the duplicity of conflicting needs and fears we of less maturity struggle to maintain.

Translation

The greatest heights lie below what we realize,
Next comes what we praise.
Next comes what we fear.
Next comes what we bully.
When trust is lacking, there is no trust.
Long drawn out speech is noble,
Meritorious accomplishment is fulfilling,
The people all say, “I am natural”.

highest (greatest; excessively; too) upper (higher; superior; better), below (under; lower; inferior) know (realize; notify) have (exist) of.

his (her; its; their; that; such) order (sequence; next) parent (relative; intimate) and reputation (fame; praise) of.

his (her; its; their; that; such) order (sequence; next) fear (respect) of.

his (her; its; their; that; such) order (sequence; next) insult (bully) of.

true (confidence; trust; faith; believe in) not foot (enough; ample) here (herein; how; why), have (exist) not true (confidence; trust; faith; believe in) here (herein; how; why).

long-drawn-out (leisurely) his (her; its; their; that; such) expensive (precious; noble) speech (word; say; speak),

merit (achievement; skill; work) accomplish (succeed; become) thing (business; trouble) satisfy (fulfil),

the common people all (each and every) say (call; name; meaning; sense) I at ease (natural; free from affectation).

Original

太上，
下知有之。
其次亲而誉之。
其次畏之。
其次侮之。
信不足焉，
有不信焉。
悠兮其贵言，
功成事遂，
百姓皆谓我自然。