January 2010

Commentary

Much of this chapter supports my so-called ’symptoms’ theory of reality. Briefly stated: What we see and think are real in the world are actually symptoms (effects) of underlying – normally opposite – causes⁽¹⁾. So, for example, the reason a man of the lowest virtue never strays from virtue [is because ] he is without virtue. The whole sequence below shows a descending chain of causation: Virtue follows loss of way; Benevolence follows loss of virtue; Justice follow loss of benevolence; Ritual follows loss of justice. We are biologically ‘hoodwinked’ to deal with external symptoms and overlook underlying causes. Our innate incentive to ponder causation and watch these teaming creatures return to their separate roots is fairly weak. All in all, life is easier to manage when I know (remember) I’m seeing symptoms, and not ‘the real thing’. Whenever I lose sight of this ’secret’ I am led off onto one wild goose chases after another (i.e., those by-paths people prefer). Needless to say, I treasure being as mindful of this as possible.

‘Abiding in the fruit not in the flower‘ describes one of the more tragic sides of life. We have the greatest difficulty appreciating the fruit of this moment. Instead, we hold out for tomorrow’s fruit promised in the flowers of our dreams. Naturally, instinct drives all life to keep looking ahead in the scramble for survival. The hunter gatherer has to always be searching for his next meal. Our difficulty lies in our ability to move out of ‘now’ into a foreknowledge of tomorrow. Our mind easily dwells in the thin, whereas non-thinking animals have no alternative but to be grounded, dwelling in the thick of the present. Turning back to be in the thick of it all is essential for apes who think.

⁽¹⁾ Confounding our perception are also the projections of our own needs and fears into our thinking. What a messy affair! The best way I’ve found, so far, to untangle this is through correlations.

Note: The term ‘without doing‘ (wu wei) used below is a core Taoist view of human conduct that lets things takes their own natural course, e.g., One does less and less until one does nothing at all, and when one does nothing at all there is nothing that is undone.

Translation

Superior virtue is not virtuous, and so has virtue.
Inferior virtue never deviates from virtue, and so is without virtue.
Superior virtue: without doing, and without believing.
Inferior virtue: without doing, yet believing.
Superior benevolence: doing, yet without believing.
Superior justice: doing and believing.
Superior ritual: doing and when none respond,
Normally roles up sleeves and throws.

Hence, virtue follows loss of way.
Benevolence follows loss of virtue.
Justice follow loss of benevolence.
Ritual follows loss of justice.
Ways of chaos follow loss of loyalty and thinning faith in ritual.
Foreknowledge of the way, magnificent yet a beginning of folly.
The great man dwells in the thick, not in the thin.
Dwells in the true, not in the magnificent.
Hence, he leave that and takes this.

upper (higher; superior) virtue (moral character; heart) no virtue (moral character; heart) <grm> is (<formal> this; that) use (take; so as to_and; as well as) have (exist) virtue (moral character; heart).

below (down; inferior) virtue (moral character; heart) no lose (deviate from the normal) virtue (moral character; heart) <grm>is <formal> this; that) use (take; so as to_and; as well as) nothing (without) virtue (moral character; heart).

upper (higher; superior) virtue (moral character; heart) nothing (without; not) do (act as; be, mean; support) <conj.>) nothing (without) think (believe; consider).

below (down; under; inferior; next) virtue (moral character; heart) nothing (without) do (act as; be, mean; support) <conj.>) have (exist) think (believe; consider).

upper (higher; superior) benevolence (kindheartedness; humanity; sensitive) do (act as; be, mean; support) of <conj.> nothing (without) think (believe; consider).

upper (higher; superior) justice (righteous; equitable; relationship; meaning)do (act as; be, mean; support) of <conj.> have (exist) think (believe; consider).

upper (higher; superior) ceremony (rite; courtesy; etiquette) do (act as; be, mean; support) of <conj.> no one (nothing; none; no) of use (take; so as to_and; as well as) answer (respond; agree (to do sth.); should),

standard (norm; rule > imitate; follow) push up one’s sleeves and bare one’s arms (in excitement or agitation) <conj.> throw (toss; cast; throw away; cast aside) of .

hence (therefore; consequently) lose (let slip; deviate from the normal) road (way, principle; speak; think) <conj.> after that (then).

lose (deviate from the normal) virtue (moral character; heart) <conj.> after that (then) benevolence (kindheartedness; humanity; sensitive).

lose (deviate from the normal) benevolence (kindheartedness; humanity; sensitive) <conj.> after that (then) justice (righteous; equitable; relationship; meaning).

lose (deviate from the normal) justice (righteous; equitable; relationship; meaning) <conj.> after that (then) ceremony (rite; courtesy; etiquette).

lose (deviate from the normal) husband (man) ceremony (rite; courtesy; etiquette) ? loyal (honest) true (confidence; trust; faith; believe) of thin (weak; infertile; poor) <conj.> in a mess (disorder; chaos) of road (way, principle; speak; think).

front (forward; before) know (knowledge)?, road (way, principle; speak; think) of magnificent (prosperous; flourishing; best part) <conj.> foolish (stupid; make a fool of; fool) of beginning (start;> only then).

<grm>is (<formal> this; that) use (take; so as to_and; as well as) big (great) man (husband), get along (manage; > dwell; live) his (its, he, it, that; such) thick (deep; kind), no dwell (live; store up) his (its, he, it, that; such) thin (flimsy; weak).

get along (manage; > dwell; live) his (its, he, it, that; such) true (real; honest;fact), no dwell (live; store up) his (its, he, it, that; such) magnificent (prosperous; flourishing; best part).

hence (therefore; consequently) go (remove) that (those; the other; another) take (get; aim at; seek; assume) this.

Original

上德不德是以有德。
下德不失德是以无德。
上德无为而无以为。
下德无为而有以为。
上仁为之而无以为。
上义为之而有以为。
上礼为之而莫之以应，
则攘臂而扔之。
故失道而后德。
失德而后仁。
失仁而后义。
失义而后礼。
夫礼者忠信之薄而乱之首。
前识者，
道之华而愚之始。
是以大丈夫，
处其厚，不居其薄。
处其实，不居其华。
故去彼取此。