June 2009

Commentary

Infrequent speech is natural. Okay, so what pray tell is not natural? Frequent speech? We commonly think of natural as pertaining to nature. If nature is natural and our species are part of nature, how can we say some human activity isn’t natural? The natural inconsistency in saying some human activity isn’t natural resolves itself a little if we consider the concept of natural, especially via the Chinese translation.

Natural is translated as zìrán (自然): natural world; nature; naturally; in the ordinary course of events; of course; naturally. This word is made from two characters, zì (自): self; oneself; one’s own; certainly; of course; from; since, and rán (然): right; correct; so; like that. Combining these we get the following: self right; one’s own so; certainly so; self so; certainly right, and so on.

To me this all adds up to say natural is how things are, just so, unqualified and without judgment. One primary purpose of language ( words and names) is to qualify and judge things. So, in this sense, ‘Infrequent speech is natural’ is consistent with the larger meaning of natural. Moreover, words are not the thing, but rather symbolic shorthand for the thing. As a result, words break the connection between what is ‘out there’ and what is perceived ‘in here’. Ironically, words and names are not what they pretend to be. (Of course, this is impossible to notice if you believe words and names real, e.g., “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. )

‘Together in virtue, virtue happily satisfies‘ (or, he who conforms to virtue is gladly accepted by virtue) parallels my sense that what we see is what we want to see. Our experience of life is a reflection of what we want (or don’t want) from life. One ‘matches’ the other. I suppose it is an identity thing, as some would say. The down side: What we identify with happily satisfies us and eventually ‘takes over’. Identity with what can be named allows us to cling to it. And as Buddha said, The illusion of self originates and manifests itself in a cleaving (cling, adhere or stick fast) to things. Another way to put this: Our hates originate and manifest themselves in our loves.

This makes the idea of being ‘together in the way‘ liberating. After all, the way that can be spoken of is not the constant way. Taking this to heart (trusting it completely) pulls me to notice ‘the thread running through the way’. Each moment of experience shares an essence with past and future moments. Trusting this, I can become the same as the way. However, this trust is either here or it’s not. When it isn’t, all I can do is shut up and listen for it again.

Translation

Infrequent speech is natural.
Fluttering breezes change direction, sudden showers can’t last the day.
What does this? Heaven and earth.
Even heaven and earth unable to long continue,
And so what about people?
Hence, following the way is the same as the way.
Following virtue is the same as virtue, Following loss is the same as loss.
Together in the way, the way happily satisfies;
Together in virtue, virtue happily satisfies;
Together in loss, loss happily satisfies;
When trust is not sufficient herein, there exists no trust herein.

hope (rare; scarce; uncommon) speech (word; say; talk) at ease (natural; free from affectation).

hence flutter wind not end (death; after all) facing (towards), sudden (abrupt) rain not end (death; after all) sun (day; time).

who (which; what) do (act; act as; serve as; become; be; mean) this? heaven and earth (world; universe; field of activity).

heaven and earth (world; universe; field of activity) still (yet; set great store by) not can (be able to) for a long time (long),

and (but, yet <conj.) condition (situation; compare;> moreover; besides) at (in) people?

hence from (through; follow) at (in) road (way, principle; speak; think), same (similar; together) at (in) road (way, principle; speak; think).

virtue (moral character; heart) same (similar; together) at (in) virtue (moral character; heart).

lose (miss; fail; mistake) same (similar; together) at (in) lose (miss; fail; mistake).

same (similar; together) at (in) road (way, principle; speak; think) road (way, principle; speak; think) also happy (cheerful; enjoy) get (result in; satisfied_need; must) of;

same (similar; together) at (in) virtue (moral character; heart) virtue (moral character; heart) also happy (cheerful; enjoy) get (result in; satisfied_need; must) of;

same (similar; together) at (in)lose (miss; fail; mistake) ?lose (miss; fail; mistake) ) at (in) happy (cheerful; enjoy) get (result in; satisfied_need; must) of.

true (trust; believe) not foot (sufficient; as much as) here (herein; how; why) have (there is; exist) not true (trust; believe) here (herein; how; why).

Original

希言自然。
故飘风不终朝，
骤雨不终日。
孰为此者？天地。
天地尚不能久，
而况于人乎？
故从事于道者，
同于道。
德者同于德。
失者同于失。
同于道者道亦乐得之；
同于德者德亦乐得之；
同于失者失于乐得之。
信不足焉有不信焉。