Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Verse 27: Community

Verse Twenty-Seven
Good traveling does not leave tracks
Good speech does not seek faults
Good reckoning does not use counters
Good closure needs no bar and yet cannot be opened
Good knot needs no rope and yet cannot be untied

Therefore sages often save others
And so do not abandon anyone
They often save things
And so do not abandon anything
This is called following enlightenment

Therefore the good person is the teacher of the bad person
The bad person is the resource of the good person
Those who do not value their teachers
And do not love their resources
Although intelligent, they are greatly confused
This is called the essential wonder

~ Derek Lin translation ~
Verse 27 was the featured lesson this past Sunday at the online meeting at True Tao. Derek Lin, whose translation is shown above, told those assembled in the temple and online that one of the important aspects of this verse centers on the concept of community. Below are some of the notes I took.

Good Traveling
Act in seamless ways -- there is no need to display the self.

Good Speech
Emphasize the positive -- there is no need to fix blame

Good Reckoning
Have faith in karma -- there is no need to keep score

Good Closure
Attract others naturally to your cause

Good Knot
Form powerful bonds with kindred spirits

When we get right down to it, we humans are social creatures. When the world is viewed as a web of interconnections, it means that we are not only tied to every creation under heaven but to each other as well. Consequently, while much of the TTC concerns our own personal development in line with Tao, it also emphasizes our development in society as well.

If we look at Lin's brief outline, it points the way toward a style of interpersonal relationships that accentuates the positive and builds cohesion within the community. When the sense of self and ego is dampened, then it's much easier to learn to trust others. More importantly, when the community is placed first, there is much greater opportunity for peace, justice and respect.

This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.

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