Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver.By their actions, God declares that the Israelites have become scum in his eyes.
~ King James version ~
Empty yourself of everything.
Let the mind become still.
The ten thousand things rise and fall while the Self watches their return.
They grow and flourish and then return to the source.
~ from Verse 16 of the Tao Te Ching ~
If all things come from the One, how could they ever lose their essential oneness? Tao views the ten thousands things as "straw dogs," neither treating some like royalty or others like dross.
If you're interested in reading more from this experimental series, go to the Tao Bible Index page.
I think it's interesting that "Straw Dogs" are ritual object in some older Chinese religious forms. They are used during the ritual and then discarded. To me this suggests that value and use do exists but that they are transitory. If nothing last forever, then its value can't last either.
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to cling to things. Can we learn to let go as easily?
Thanks for your post. I found the bible comparison very interesting.
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