November 2008

Commentary

I suppose the phrase The way flushes is another way to express the idea of ‘letting go’. It is good to have another way to say that. ‘Let go’ has become a little worn out – in my mind anyway. Besides that, what a beautiful way to put it! Flush it!

When did the idea of ‘less is more’ come into popular usage? Probably as our culture became cluttered and full to the brim by with material (i.e., things as well as knowledges).

Subdue that sharpness,… etc., speaks to me about dealing with the ‘death hold’ life places on  consciousness. Biology needs us to be sharp enough to differential this dust from that dust. The downside of that is becoming trapped in the differences – this is good dust, that is bad dust. Yet, to paraphrase Shakespeare, dust by any other name is still dust (although, I doubt that is what he was driving at). Note: The same as that dust here is also known as mysterious sameness.

Finally, there is a hint here about something I’ve come to take very seriously. Namely, not to trust anything I think that I know. In tracing back the cause and effect of anything of which I’m aware, I ultimately end in an image that is without substance. I cherish the freedom of not knowing anything. Although, I admit it feels a little weird. I suspect my biology want it otherwise. Well, it has had decades to have its way, now it is ‘my’ turn. Whose turn?

Translation

The way flushes and employs the virtue of ‘less’.
Deep like the ancestor of every-thing.
Subdue that sharpness, separate that confusion,
Soften that brightness, be the same as that dust.
Deep and clear, it appears to exist.
I don’t know of whose child it is,
It resembles the ancestor of the Supreme Being.

road (way, doctrine; speak) rinse (flush) and use (employ; hence) of perhaps (probably; or) not be full (have a surplus).

deep (deep pool) similar (like) ten thousand thing (matter) of ancestor (clan; purpose).

defeat (subdue; lower) his (her; its; their; that; such) sharp (keen; acute; vigor) separate (divide; untie) his (her; its; their) confused (tangled; disorderly),

gentle (peace, and, blend, mix) his (her; its; their; that; such) light (ray; brightness… naked; alone),

same (alike; similar; be the same as; together; in common) his (her; its; their; that; such) dust (dirt; this world),

profound (deep; crystal clear) similar (like; seem; appear) perhaps (probably; or) exist (live; store; keep).

I (we) not know (realize; be aware of; tell) who (someone; anyone) of son (child; person; seed),

appearance (shape; image; resemble) the Supreme Being (emperor) of earlier (before; first; ancestor).

Original

道冲而用之或不盈。

渊兮似万物之宗。

挫其锐

解其纷，

和其光，

同其尘，

湛兮似或存。

吾不知谁之子，

象帝之先。