Monthly Chapter-61

The larger spreads below where all under heaven meet.
Of all under heaven,
… The female normally uses stillness to overcome the male.
Using stillness she supports the lower position.
For this reason, the larger, using the lower position,
… normally takes in the smaller,
The smaller, using the lower position,
… normally takes in the larger.
Hence, perhaps the low takes in, perhaps the low yet taken in.
The larger only wishes concurrently to raise the people.
The smaller only wishes to join in the affairs of the people.
Both each satisfying the position they want,
The larger fittingly serves the lower position.
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Limits: Translations, even my nearly literal one above, invariably lose some of the ancient ‘original intention’ due to the modern cultural context we bring to our language’s words… our ‘education’. Studying the Word-for-Word translation of the Chinese character’s many synonym-like meanings helps mitigate this. (Click graphic at right for on-line Word-for-Word.)

Third Pass: Chapter of the Month 11/14/2014

Archive: Characters and past commentary

Reflections:

I’ve long found these three lines to be excellent advice, and when I can serve the lower position, it works like a charm. Of course, emotion is always ready to stir things up.

Of all under heaven,
… The female normally uses stillness to overcome the male.
Using stillness she supports the lower position.
The larger fittingly serves the lower position.

Over the years, I’ve found that as I reach deeper levels of that lower position I become aware of the flailing about of those at positions above me. Fear and insecurity are what keep us flailing about at ‘upper’ levels, and these emotions blind us to what lies below. I feel this is counts as one of the great ironies of life. Our fears drive us to reach for the ‘upper’ position, where we are all-the-more insecure and unstable. The peace we seek lies in serving the lower position, but the bio-hoodwink insistently tells us we will find peace only after we have control, reach the top, and succeed.

Chapter 37 just came to mind and fits very well with this chapter, although I suppose that can be said for many other chapters as well.

The way normally does nothing, yet there is nothing not done.
If kings and noblemen will abide by this,
Everything will self transform.
Transform yet desire rises;
Press it down using nameless simplicity.
Of nameless simplicity, man also supports without desire.
No desire and still, all under heaven will settle themselves.

This chapter also depicts the overall linkage in nature—the big picture. The odd thing is how small things can seem large and large things can seem small, on the surface… at first glance. That is because what we need (or fear) to see plays such a major role in perception, or rather what we think we see. This is where the symptoms point of view comes in handy. It gives you an opportunity to use stillness to overcome the male, plumb and ponder deeper waters than your initial surface impressions. Taking this vast web of interconnectivity into account leads the mind into a peaceful blank… or to terrible uncertainty. 😉

Speaking of “a peaceful blank”, chapter 64 comes to mind now.

Its peace easily manages, Its presence easily plans,
Its fragility easily melts, Its timeliness easily scatters,
Acts without existing, Governs without disorder.
A tree barely embraceable grows from a fine tip.
A terrace nine layers high rises from piled earth.
A thousand mile journey begins below the feet.
Of doing we fail, Of holding on we lose.

Taking this, the wise do nothing, hence never fail,
Hold nothing, hence never lose.
People in their affairs always accomplish some, yet fail.
Being as careful at the end as the beginning as a rule never fails.
Taking this, the wise person desires non desire,
And does not value difficult to obtain goods.
Learns non learning and turns around people’s excesses,
As well as assists all things naturally, and never boldly act.

The relationship of baby and mother offers a useful way to consider this dynamic in a very down to earth way. As people mature, they gradually shift from the smaller to the larger. Maturity is the larger, and serves the lower position. Much of life is spend running away from the lower position, but in the end, it is everyone’s destiny. Of course, we must all begin at the beginning and work our way toward that end. Chapter 36’s first six lines describe the process succinctly…

In desiring to inhale, one must first open up.
In desiring weakness, one must first strive.
In desiring to let go, one must first begin.
In desiring to get, one must first give.
This saying is little understood.
Weakness is superior to strength…