December 2008

Commentary

Why do we feel the need to hold surplus, maintain a fighting spirit (vigor), keep treasures to fill a room, and chalk up meritorious deeds? All these fit a common m.o. (modus operandi) – an unremitting quest for perfection. Why? It is as though we are driven to fill an essentially bottomless pit; a void we don’t feel is bottomless. On the other hand, when we feel the full emptiness of the ‘perfect’ moment there is nothing left to do or get, and no where to go. We are content; the ‘task is accomplished‘.

So, holding on (and the rest) appears to be symptomatic of what we currently feel missing. Many are the ways to fill this personal void: food, sex, work, rest, friends, enemies, music, silence, art, collecting, sports, travel. Rather than saying, ‘idle hands are the devil’s workshop’, we should say ‘empty hands are the devil’s workshop’. The deeper the emptiness feels, the stronger  the drive to fill it. Ironically, the more that emptiness is integrated in our life, the less driven to fill it we feel. I suppose you could say, you become the emptiness. To paraphrase Tat Tvam Asi (That Thou Art), ‘I am the void; the void is I’.

Personally, it helps knowing that this process is natural and no part needs fixing. It is the way of nature. Also, it helps knowing that all the myriad creatures in the world are in this ‘ordeal of life’ together. Whoopee, it’s the party of life and everything is invited! Like any party, it has its high points and low ones. As I realize that, ‘better to have stopped in time‘ seems to become easier. Although, I’m not really sure it has anything to do with realization. After all, the same preference for stillness occurs in all animals as they age.

Translation

Holding a surplus is not in harmony with oneself;
Carrying a fighting spirit cannot be long maintained;
Treasures fill a room which no one is able to keep;
Wealth and pride, one’s gift to one’s blame.
Meritorious deeds that satisfy oneself recede,
This is the way of nature.

hold (grasp; support) and be full of no in compliance with (like; as; if) his (her; its; that; such) oneself (personal);

estimate (conjecture) and sharp (keen) of no can (need doing, able> but; yet) long (steadily, older; chief; grow) protect (keep; preserve);

gold and jade (treasures) full (reach the limit) room no one (nothing) of ability (skill) guard (defend; keep watch);

rich (wealthy) expensive (valuable) and proud (arrogant; conceited),

self (one’s own; certainly) offer as a gift (make a present of something) his (its; he, it, that; such)  fault (blame; punish).

meritorious service (merit; work) satisfy (fulfil) body (oneself)  move back (withdraw; quit; recede; ebb; return),

sky (heaven; day; nature) of road (way, path;  principle; speak; think).

Original

持而盈之不如其己；
揣而锐之不可长保；
金玉满堂莫之能守；
富贵而骄，
自遗其咎。
功遂身退，
天之道。