The works of humanity cannot compare to the works of nature. The works of civilization lack the balance and refinement of nature. Too many times, our accomplishments are tainted by impure motives: profit, hardship, desire for fame, simple greed. We achieve, be we cannot foresee the results because we are unable to place our actions into a greater context.~ from 365 Tao: Daily Meditations, Entry 268 ~
Nature is a conglomeration of contending forces, of tooth and claw, venom and perfume, mud and excrement, eggs and bones, lightening and lava. It seems chaotic. It seems terrible. And yet, for all its unfathomable workings, it far surpasses the business of our society.
Over the past year or so, I've featured many quotes from Taoist texts that extol the beauty of nature. On more than one occasion, Iktomi has left a comment to the effect that, while nature indeed can be beautiful, it can also be violent, ugly and brutish. This young woman is dead on correct!
However, as I wrote in response to one of her comments, I think the difference here is on focus. I believe she is focusing on each individual life within the tapestry of nature. From this perspective, she is correct in stating that nature isn't always beautiful. In the contest of survival, there are winners and losers. The losers often die in frightening and painful ways.
The Taoist sages, on the other hand, are looking at the topic from the broad view. The beauty they reference is in relation to the overall harmony of the system. Through millions upon millions of years, like a Timex watch, nature keeps on ticking. No matter what comes to pass, nature stays in balance and that balance is where its glorious beauty lies.
However, as I wrote in response to one of her comments, I think the difference here is on focus. I believe she is focusing on each individual life within the tapestry of nature. From this perspective, she is correct in stating that nature isn't always beautiful. In the contest of survival, there are winners and losers. The losers often die in frightening and painful ways.
The Taoist sages, on the other hand, are looking at the topic from the broad view. The beauty they reference is in relation to the overall harmony of the system. Through millions upon millions of years, like a Timex watch, nature keeps on ticking. No matter what comes to pass, nature stays in balance and that balance is where its glorious beauty lies.
Struggle and inequality are present even in beauty, and war for power and more power...How divinely vault and arches break through each other in a wrestling match; how they strive against each other with light and shade, the godlike strivers--with such assurance and beauty let us be enemies too, my friends! Let us strive against one another like gods.
ReplyDeleteThus spoke Zarathustra.
Zoroaster and Lao Tzu on the same page!
ReplyDeleteIndeed we live in interesting times :)
This was a beautiful post. (:
ReplyDeleteZoraster? I think not. Zarathustra was Nietzsche's imaginary version of him.
ReplyDelete