from Verse Ninety-FourThe power of metal overcomes wood, but a single blade cannot cut down a whole forest. The power of earth overcomes water, but a handful of dirt cannot dam a river. The power of water overcomes fire, but a cup of water cannot put out a carload of kindling.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~
In Part IV of this verse, I mentioned that for a tree to grow, a seed must first be planted. In response, The Drifting Jester pointed out that "Laying the groundwork does not make the endeavor a success...but rather it greatly increases the chances of any endeavor resulting in a favorable outcome."
One thing that frequently tends to thwart many of us in pursuing a successful outcome is overestimating some aspect of a situation. Often, the thing overestimated is ourselves. We think a little of our smarts, savvy, speed or strength will carry us a long way and so we try to skate by without investing ourselves completely in the endeavor. How surprised we are when we come up short!
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
One thing that frequently tends to thwart many of us in pursuing a successful outcome is overestimating some aspect of a situation. Often, the thing overestimated is ourselves. We think a little of our smarts, savvy, speed or strength will carry us a long way and so we try to skate by without investing ourselves completely in the endeavor. How surprised we are when we come up short!
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
Clearly a reference to the regulating cycle in 5 element theory.
ReplyDeleteInteresting interpretation. Overestimation is being out of balance.
Exactly so.
ReplyDeleteOverestimating our own ability to get it right can have laughable results.
Lao Tzu claims confusion is sown by those "who think they know".
Western "taoists" so often take this to mean that one must never "appear" to know anything. While at the same time believing that they do know.
If a child "thinks" he knows how to repair a watch, he may not know.
If a watchmaker "knows" how to repair a watch, then he probably does.
Thinking you know does not mean that you know.
Knowing has very little to do with thinking.
And appearances have nothing whatsoever to do with it.
Western "taoists" so often take this to mean that one must never "appear" to know anything. While at the same time believing that they do know.
ReplyDeleteI would disagree. This western Taoist thinks that one should simply understand that, no matter how much one knows, there is far more that one doesn't know.
A watchmaker may know how to fix a watch, but it doesn't mean he knows anything about the nature of "time."
ReplyDelete>"...one should simply understand that, no matter how much one knows, there is far more that one doesn't know".
ReplyDeleteIs there really anyone, that knowing some things, would assume that meant they knew everything?
Intellect can seriously handicap the process of knowing. It stuns me, again and again, to witness that, no matter how well, or how clearly I put words, still they are seen to be something entirely different from what they are.
It amazes me that, no matter how clear my intent is, that my intent - when interpreted by others - is almost never clear.
Lao Tzu himself suffers still from this very phenomenon.
His words are almost always seen from one perspective only. And in never questioning Lao Tzu's words - since he is the great Lao Tzu - one also fails to question one's own perspective in their interpretation.
Clearly, nothing is clear to anybody.
Many humans will seemingly go to any lengths to take another man's wisdom and transform it into dogma.
Baroness,
ReplyDeleteThat was VERY WELL stated!
Crow,
It stuns me, again and again, to witness that, no matter how well, or how clearly I put words, still they are seen to be something entirely different from what they are. It amazes me that, no matter how clear my intent is, that my intent - when interpreted by others - is almost never clear.
I have this problem too. I write or say things with the intent of conveying a particular meaning, yet no one else seems to see or hear it the way I meant. I used to take this to mean that the world is filled with crazy people! I now understand that my autistic brain simply interprets information differently than most.
Lao Tzu himself suffers still from this very phenomenon. His words are almost always seen from one perspective only.
I don't find this to be true at all. In some of my posts throughout this series and the previous ones, I've noted different themes within the same passage.
In addition, if you look back through my archives, I have utilized the same verse on more than one occasion and have drawn different interpretations of such.