from Verse One Hundred Fifty-FiveThe Way is such that it is possible to go ahead by retreating, possible to be honored by maintaining flexibility, possible to be elevated by lowering oneself, possible to be fulfilled by diminishing oneself, possible to be complete by faulting oneself, possible to be new and fresh by being obscure and ignominious, possible to be good by seeing one's lack. The Way contrives nothing, but there is nothing it does not do.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~
It's impossible for any of us to wrap our brains around Tao. When we try to chart a course to it as our destination, the very process of drawing the map insures that we will not reach it. The harder we try to grasp it, the more it slips out of our grip.
While it may sound like the ultimate contradiction, the best way to live the Tao is not to try to live it all.
As the passages in this one long verse have pointed to again and again, it is our striving that serves as our greatest stumbling block. When we strive, we leave behind the center and stretch for the extremes. When we stretch toward the extreme, we lose our sense of balance and are far more likely to fall. And when we fall, we too often lose sight of the vision of harmony within ourselves.
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
While it may sound like the ultimate contradiction, the best way to live the Tao is not to try to live it all.
As the passages in this one long verse have pointed to again and again, it is our striving that serves as our greatest stumbling block. When we strive, we leave behind the center and stretch for the extremes. When we stretch toward the extreme, we lose our sense of balance and are far more likely to fall. And when we fall, we too often lose sight of the vision of harmony within ourselves.
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
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