Thursday, April 21, 2011

Line by Line - Verse 28, Line 9

The pattern of humility displayed,
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

Be an example to the world!
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

Be the standard of the world
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

you are an example to others.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~
We live in a world in which there are sooo many people who will tell others what they should think and feel, but they don't practice what they preach!! A good deal of these folks want to SELL you and me their secrets to happiness, wealth or immortality.

Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu offer up an altogether different notion. Words mean next too nothing; it's how we choose to comport ourselves in this life that matters.

If someone feels the need to announce that they've got things all figured out, this should tell you right off the bat that they don't. The sage who has figured out more things than most people doesn't announce it with bells and whistles.

The sage simply lives it.

To view the Index page for this series to see what you may have missed or would like to read again, go here.

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