Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Bit by Bit - Chapter 5, Part 1

Trey Smith


In Lu there was a man named Wang Tai who had had his foot cut off.' He had as many followers gathered around him as Confucius.

Ch'ang Chi asked Confucius, "This Wang T'ai who's lost a foot - how does he get to divide up Lu with you, Master, and make half of it his disciples? He doesn't stand up and teach, he doesn't sit down and discuss, yet they go to him empty and come home full. Does he really have some wordless teaching, some formless way of bringing the mind to completion? What sort of man is he?"

Confucius said, "This gentleman is a sage. It's just that I've been tardy and haven't gone to see him yet. But if I go to him as my teacher, how much more should those who are not my equals! Why only the state of Lu? I'll bring the whole world along and we'll all become his followers!"

~ Burton Watson translation ~
There are so many motivational speakers, life coaches and religious figures who lead opulent and luxurious lives!  They dress impeccably.  Their offices or churches are decked out in all manner of finery.  Their presentations seek to manipulate and, at times, emasculate  -- they ALWAYS seem to have their hand out.  Gimme, gimme, gimme.

This informs me what TRULY matters to them.

To view the Index page for this series, go here.

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