December 2009

Commentary

No matter how strong and active life is, it always ends in weakness and stillness (death). That is why we say, the submissive and weak will overcome the hard and strong. Yet, even at the everyday level, weakness is profoundly useful. It is the ‘power’ of the mysterious female. I see this linkage between ‘power’ and weakness as a  co-generating principle of nature.

This co-generating principle is obvious in how before and after follow each other. Likewise, but perhaps less obvious, selfish and selfless complement each other, life and death harmonize with each other, right and wrong produce each other, and so on. We make life more difficult than need-be by favoring one side at the expense of the other. Although, this is  just the way nature (instinct) intends it to be, I might add. Why? Let’s just say such hoodwinking serves interaction and evolution. Curiously, defying this instinct and doing my utmost to attain emptiness, allows the weak to get the better of the unyielding. This breaks up any ‘emotional log jams’ and helps bring on a resurgence of effort to move forward.

Feeling the importance of moving forward in life is universal. We must move forward and persevere (or at least feel we are) to feel Right with life. Fundamentally, life meaning lies in movement. When we feel stuck, movement becomes impossible. The way of addressing this ‘movement issue’ is what differentiates Taoism from ‘common sense’. For example, pushing for movement can often produces its opposite – feeling even more stuck. Rather than push even harder, the Taoist way does not contend with the ‘emotional log jam’, but rather becomes one with it. Curiously, this allows life’s movement to return naturally and effortlessly. In short, the easiest way to bring about the side desired is to return to the other. Put another way, we can only truly have what we let go of. (That such going against natural inclinations works so well probably accounts for the continuous state of irony I feel.)

I translate / interpret the end of this chapter quite differently than D.C. Lau. First, I reckon it is not that ‘the fish must not be allowed to leave the deep‘. Rather, fish can’t escape from the deep. The implication of the former is that we have a choice in the matter. The later offers a view of   ‘that which is naturally so‘. Next, how can one reveal ‘the instruments of power’, even if one wanted too? After all, ‘my words are easy to understand...’.More realistic, if still somewhat obscure, is the idea that a state’s weapons can’t instruct the people. Although it does parallel my sense that true learning can only arise from within. True ignorance can’t be un-taught through external measures like ‘education’. Nuts, that’s not what we want to hear!

Translation

In desiring to inhale through the nose, one must first open up.
In desiring a little less, one must first make an effort.
In desiring to let go, one must first begin.
In desiring to take, one must first give.
This saying is little understood.
The weak gets the better of the unyielding
Fish can’t escape from the deep,
A state’s weapons can’t instruct the people.

support (bring; handle, will>lead, command) desire (longing; wish; want; about to) inhale through the nose of certainly (must) solid (firm; <formal>in the first place) open (spread; stretch) of.^(*)

support (bring; handle, will>lead, command) desire (longing; wish; want; about to) weak (inferior; <formal> a little less) of certainly (must) solid (firm; <formal>in the first place) strive (make an effort; powerful) of.

support (bring; handle, will>lead, command) desire (longing; wish; want; about to) give up (abandon; waste) of, certainly (must) solid (firm; <formal>in the first place) prosper (begin; encourage > get up) of.

support (bring; handle, will>lead, command) desire (longing; wish; want; about to) take (get; seek) of, certainly (must) solid (firm; <formal>in the first place) give (participate in) of .

<grm>is (<formal> this; that) say (call; name; meaning; sense) minute (tiny) bright (clear; honest; know).

weak (delicate) victory (success; surpass; be superior to) firm (staunch; unyielding).

fish no can take off (cast off; escape from > neglect> if) at (in) deep pool (deep),

country (state; of our country) of sharp weapon (good tool) no can show (notify; instruct) man (person; people).

^(*) of [?] connects modifier and word modified.

Original

将欲歙之，必固张之。
将欲弱之，必固强之。
将欲废之，必固兴之。
将欲取之，必固与之。
是谓微明。
柔弱胜刚强。
鱼不可脱于渊，
国之利器
不可以示人。