Trey Smith
Ts'ui Chu was questioning Lao Tan. "If you do not govern the world, then how can you improve men's minds?"When we force our views on others, the only thing we teach them is that power rules. We don't allow them the opportunity to experience our understanding of things and the reason we don't allow them this opportunity is the fear that they will experience it differently!
Lao Tan said, "Be careful - don't meddle with men's minds! Men's minds can be forced down or boosted up, but this downing and upping imprisons and brings death to the mind. Gentle and shy, the mind can bend the hard and strong; it can chisel and cut away, carve and polish. Its heat is that of burning fire, its coldness that of solid ice, its swiftness such that, in the time it takes to lift and lower the head, it has twice swept over the four seas and beyond. At rest, it is deep-fathomed and still; in movement, it is far-flung as the heavens, racing and galloping out of reach of all bonds. This indeed is the mind of man!"
~ Burton Watson translation ~
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