Wen Tzu - Verse 10, Part III

from Verse Ten

The formless is great, the formed is small; the formless is much, the formed is little. The formless is powerful, the formed is weak; the formless is substantial, the formed is empty. The formed accomplishes work, the formless initiates beginnings. That which accomplishes work makes tools, that which initiates beginnings is unspoiled. What has form has sound; what has no form has no sound. The formed is born from the formless, so the formless is the beginning of the formed.

~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~

Another way to phrase the above passage could be to substitute the word infinite for formless and finite for formed. However, whichever set of words one prefers, I think the overall gist of this paragraph is very powerful; it aptly illustrates the differences between Tao and each of us.

That which is formed or finite is born, lives and dies. That which is formless or infinite simply is. So, part of us -- the body and the self-conscious ego -- constitutes the former, while our spirit or essence of being constitutes the latter.

In another sense, however, this passage offers a key element to the contented life. In this vein, we could substitute the word closed for formed and open for formless. When our hearts and minds are closed, we confine and limit the bounds of consciousness. When our hearts and minds are open, there are no boundaries whatsoever.

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