Daodejing, Verse 73

Daodejing - Other Voices

Heaven's Net
If you are brave enough to do, you don't live.
If you are brave enough not to do, you live.
Of the two, one is merit and the other is demerit.
Who knows why heaven doesn't like what it hates.

Heaven's Tao doesn't compete and wins well.
It doesn't say and responds well.
It doesn't call any, but they come somehow.
It is relaxing and plans well.
Heaven's net is vast. Its mesh is not fine, but it doesn't lose any.

Rapid Decoded
True life is not in your hologram. If you act directly on the latter, you will be stuck there. You are not truly living.

"If you are brave" and wise enough not to act on your hologram (=the world) and leave it alone, you are one with Tao. You are truly living.

Don't be misled by the word "merit" and "demerit". The two are both sides of a coin. There is no discernment in Tao.

"Heaven" indicates your hologram (=the world). There is no reason behind when people seem to hate something. You are just projecting your interpretation.

True You are Tao, and omnipresent. Don't compete, and you will always "win" because there is neither win nor defeat. There is only your judgement. Don't judge.

You don't have to say anything. What you think is completely listened to. The world will respond to your thought consequently.

You don't have to act on any. Since your hologram (=the world) is created in the mind, everything comes to form itself as you like.

Don't be annoyed if your wish is not granted immediately. Tao's wisdom (=your true wisdom) is far more thoughtful than your superficial intelligence. In the long run, what is taking place will be the best for you.

"Heaven's net" suggests Tao. Tao is vast and omnipresent. It reigns over all your hologram (=the world). Just trust it.
~ from Tao by Matsumoto, author Naoto Matsumoto, original post date: not listed ~

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