August 2009

Commentary

We are able to cleverly overcome nature through an awareness of past, future and the apparent cause and effect relationship between the two. Furthermore, our survival biology drives us to climb, reach for and achieve meaning, position, honor, to ‘be somebody’ seemingly without end. We have an innate gut sense that ‘more is better’, even when wisdom tells us otherwise. Obviously, the higher up one climbs, the further down one has to fall. The further out on a limb one reaches, the more separated from the trunk one feels.

What natural mechanisms are in place to push back against the impulse for more and more ‘progress’? Certainly, other creatures also struggle for all they can get, (which usually means eat). However, natural conditions limit their success. That was once true of us, before our brain evolved enough to map out clever by-paths around those natural limits. Hooray! Nothing can stop us now. The world… uh, er… no, the universe is our ouster.

Well, it doesn’t always work out that way, now does it? We are also able to see how success is empty in the long run. We can see death’s doorway. Nuts! The brain that brings us success also see the failure that lurks ahead, behind, and all around. This began turning more problematic as civilization and the agricultural revolution took hold. With that came the blossoming of religion. Religion is undoubtedly humanity’s way of coping with a thinking mind that ‘knows’ too much for its own sanity.

Does religion work? I don’t suppose it really does. Religion is a symptom of a deeper disconnection; since when do symptoms cure causes? At best, religion is a palliative. For a ‘cure’, each mind must dig deep within its psyche until discernment penetrates the four quarters. Then it can feel the teaching that uses no words, the benefit of resorting to no action. Thus then, being a valley for all under heaven, constant virtue will be sufficient, and one can again return to simplicity (i.e., being the uncarved block).

Returning to simplicity, to the extent possible, fosters within me a sense of mysterious sameness wherein even the greatest cutting does not sever. In other words, it may not be perfect, but it will do.

Translation

Know its male, abide by its female, and be a small stream for all under heaven.
Being a small stream for all under heaven, constant virtue will never leave you,
And you will again return to infancy.
Know its white, abide by its black, and be a pattern for all under heaven.
Being a pattern for all under heaven, constant virtue will never be in error,
And you will again return to moderation.
Know its honor,  abide by its disgrace, and be a valley for all under heaven.
Being a valley for all under heaven, constant virtue will be sufficient,
And you will again return to simplicity.
Simplicity loosens the standard and allows a wise person to be a public elder.
This is how even the greatest control never cuts.

know its male (powerful, imposing), defend (observe, abide by, close to) its female, serve as (be, mean) heaven under small stream.

serve as (be, mean) heaven under small stream, always virtue (integrity) not leave,

duplicate (again) return in (at, to, from, by, than, out of) baby.

know its white (pure, clear), defend (observe, abide by, close to) its black, serve as (be, mean) heaven under type (style, pattern)

serve as (be, mean) heaven under type (style, pattern), always virtue (integrity) not error (mistake),

duplicate (again) return in (at, to, from, by, than, out of) without extreme.

know its flourish (honor, glory), defend (observe, abide by, close to) its disgrace (dishonor), serve as (be, mean) heaven under valley.

serve as (be, mean) heaven under valley,  always virtue (integrity)  be (therefore, only then, your) foot (sufficient;, full),

duplicate (again) return in (at, to, from, by, than, out of) simple (plain).

simple (plain) break-up (come loose) standard (norm, rule) serve as (be, mean) implement (capacity, talent), wise person use of standard (norm) serves as (be, mean) public elder (senior, chief, head).

incident (happening, cause, intentionally, therefore) big make (control, regulate, system) not cut.

Original

知其雄，
守其雌，
为天下溪。
为天下溪，
常德不离，
复归于婴儿。
知其白，
守其黑，
为天下式。
为天下式，
常德不忒，
复归于无极。
知其荣，
守其辱，
为天下谷。
为天下谷，
常德乃足，
复归于朴。
朴散则为器，
圣人用之则为官长。
故大制不割。