October 2009

Commentary

This chapter points out what ’should’ be obvious, namely that no one in the world dare claim its allegiance. If anyone truly had The Answer, The Secret, or the ‘ear of God’, human history would not be the record of chaotic stumbling missteps that it is. Our ability to ignore history and cling faithfully to our ideals is as remarkable as it is irrational. Clearly, claiming ourselves to be a rational species (homo sapiens) is more a reflection of wishful thinking than fact. Separating our wishes and ideals from what actuality is perhaps biologically impossible.

For example, long ago I realized and ‘accepted’ the irrationality of human nature, and yet I continue to be surprised by actions which reflect irrationality. The fact that I never seem to get used to the irrationality is a little surprising, frankly. Obviously I accept it as a fact, yet can’t accept it emotionally. Doesn’t this show just how irrational I am in some underlying innate hope for rationality?

Nevertheless, I can be free from danger as long as I remember that any judgments I make stem from what I irrationally feel ’should’ be. ‘Names already exist’ is another way of saying that we are all trapped by words and names from infancy onward. While feeling a need for some things to be otherwise is innate (biological), linking words and names to that only serve to trap me there. Thus, ‘man handles the realization to stop. Knowing to stop [he] can be without danger’. If I stop needy feelings from driving what I think, I can be without danger, i.e., I can avoid the ‘to think that one knows’ problem.

Admittedly, that is a tall order! Alas, emotion drives thought. Nevertheless, improvement is possible as long as I remember!… remember!… remember! what I know! Then contentment becomes possible. I should add here that by ‘remember’ I don’t mean repeating a string of words. Remembering what I know is an intuitive experience along the lines of Buddha’s Right Understanding, Right Mindfulness, Right Attentiveness, and Right Concentration.

I think I once saw the idea of knowing when to stop, as a warning to stop using words. That is reinforced, naturally, by other passages, such as one who speaks does not know… Today I see this as saying, that yes, the nameless uncarved block is restricted by names, and yes, we can’t turn back that clock. Nevertheless, it is possible to avoid making mountains out of molehills if we realize and remember that names and words are never the reality they appear to represent. Then it is possible to know yet to think that one does not know.

Taking myself less seriously means taking my thoughts less seriously. Recognizing that names and words are a means of social connection – communication – and don’t actually mirror reality ‘out there’ helps calm mind and heart greatly. At best, word and names reflect the ‘in here’ of who I am, my desires and fears. Accepting that simple view can avoid much misunderstanding. Of course, one could argue that part of the underlying purpose of communication is actually misunderstanding via miscommunication. This helps keep the social pot stirred, so to speak. Otherwise, Heaven and earth would join and let [too much] sweet dew fall. Ah, but that’s another story.

Translation

The way constant is without name.
Simple though small,
Nothing under heaven can subjugate it either.
Great men, if able to abide by it,
All things would take the role of guest.
Heaven and earth would join and let sweet dew fall,
The people, not ordered and yet self equal.
Only when restricted, are there names.
Names already exist,
Man handles the realization to stop
Knowing to stop [he] can be without danger.
Just as the way exists under heaven,
The river of a valley flows to the great river and the sea.

road (way, principle; speak; think) ordinary (normal; constant; often) nothing (without; not) name (fame; reputation).

simple (plain) though (even if) small (young) land under heaven no one (nothing; no; don’t) can (be able to) official (subject) also (either).

a high official king ( <formal> great) like (seem; as if > you) can (be able to) guard (observe; abide by) of,

ten thousand (myriad) matter (the outside world) support (take; bring; handle; be going to) self (oneself; certainly) guest.

heaven and earth (universe) appearance (mutually) shut (join; combine) use (take; so as to_and; as well as) fall (drop; lower) surrender sweet dew (manna),

the people (civilian) no one (nothing; none; no) of command (decree; make; cause) <conj.> self (oneself; certainly) equal (even; without exception; all).

beginning (start; only then) make (formulate; restrict; control) have (there is; exist) name (fame; reputation),

name (fame; reputation) also (too) already (since; as; now that; > both…and; as well as) have (there is; exist),

husband (man) also (too) support (take; bring; take care of; do something; handle) know (realize; tell) stop (to; till; only),

know (realize; tell) stop (to; till; only) can (may) no danger (nearly almost).

example (analogy) road (way, principle; speak; think) of exist (be living) land under heaven,

just as (like; still) river (plain) valley (gorge; cereal; grain) of at (in) river sea (big lake).

Original

道常无名。
朴虽小天下莫能臣也。
侯王若能守之，
万物将自宾。
天地相合以降甘露，
民莫之令而自均。
始制有名，
名亦既有，
夫亦将知止，
知止可以不殆。
譬道之在天下，
犹川谷之于江海。