Verse 77: Drawing the Bow

Verse Seventy-Seven
The way of tian is like archers drawing their bows.
To hit something high in the air, they pull the string downward;
To hit something lower, they pull the string upward.
When they draw the string too far back, they let some go,
And when they have not drawn it far enough, they pull harder.

The way of tian is also to let some go where there is excess
And to augment where there is not enough.

The way of human beings on the other hand is not like this at all.
It is instead to take away from those who do not have enough
In order to give more to those who already have too much.

Who then in having too much is able to draw on this excess to make
an offering to the world?
Perhaps only those who are way-making (dao).

It is thus that sages act on behalf of things but do not make any claim on them,
They see things through to fruition but do not take credit for them.
It is in such a way that they refrain from making a display of their worth.
~ Roger Ames and David Hall translation ~

Both today's and tomorrow's verses return again to the idea of the apparent contradictions that are manifested in philosophical Taoism. As today's translation highlights, to hit something high, you must pull the drawstring low and to hit something low, you must pull the string up.

As John Lash sees it, this principle of opposites offers a strong commentary on humans within society.

Those who seek to be high with fame and money are violating the principles of the Tao and will never find Oneness, peace, and harmony. Those who live a life of humility and who are moving towards Oneness with all things will succeed because the universe is with them. Thus they achieve the highest pinnacle of human existence.

When a person seeks material and emotional baubles, enough is never enough. No matter how much you have, you always want a little bit more. You work to reach this platform only to find that your desire has now moved higher. So, your life becomes one lived on a treadmill. Since enough is never enough AND you're always worried that you will lose what you've previously gained, you can never be at peace. Your life will be marked by constant stress and tension.

The person who lives a life of simplicity has far less needs and so can more easily accept what they have. If more comes or does not come their way, they are content. There is little within them to generate stress and tension. So, they find peace.

What characterizes the human condition is that we each try to complicate our lives in our pursuit of balance and harmony, when, in truth, the simple and humble life is what will bring us what we crave most.

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