Friday, July 2

"What is destiny?

The sooner a soul seeks it, the sooner a soul finds it.

The soul who practices every day that which is known can sooner connect itself to that which IS hope and peace and happiness and love and joy on earth." 



(ECRL 262-77)

道德經第二十八章

知其雄，守其雌，為天下谿。

為天下谿，常德不離，復歸於嬰兒。

知其白，守其黑，為天下式。

為天下式，常德不忒，復歸於無極。

知其榮，守其辱，為天下谷。

為天下谷，常德乃足，復歸於樸。

樸散則為器，聖人用之，則為官長，故大制不割。

Dao De Jing Chapter 28 ―  A. Charles Muller

28. Know the Masculine, cleave to the Feminine...

Know the Masculine, cleave to the Feminine

Be the valley for everyone.

Being the valley for everyone

You are always in virtue without lapse

And you return to infancy.

Know the White, cleave to the Black

Be a model for everyone.

Being the model for everyone

You are always in virtue and free from error

You return to limitlessness.

Know Glory but cleave to Humiliation

Be the valley for everyone.

When your constancy in virtue is complete

You return to the state of the "uncarved block."

The block is cut into implements.

The sage uses them to fulfil roles.

Therefore the great tailor does not cut.

28 ― Returning to simplicity ― James Legge

Who knows his manhood's strength,

Yet still, his female feebleness maintains;

As to one channel flow the many drains,

All come to him, yea, all beneath the sky.

Thus he the constant excellence retains;

The simple child again, free from all stains.

Who knows how white attracts,

Yet always keeps himself within black's shade,

The pattern of humility displayed,

Displayed in view of all beneath the sky;

He is the unchanging excellence arrayed,

Endless return to man's first state has made.

Who knows how glory shines,

Yet loves disgrace, nor ever for it is pale;

Behold his presence in a spacious vale,

To which men come from all beneath the sky.

The unchanging excellence completes its tale;

The simple infant man in him we hail.

The unwrought material, when divided and distributed, forms vessels. The sage, when employed, becomes the Head of all the Officers (of government); and in his greatest regulations, he employs no violent measures.

28 ― Arthur Waley

“He who knows the males yet cleaves to what is female

Because like a ravine, receiving all things under heaven,”

And being such a ravine

He knows all the time a power that he never calls upon in vain.

This is returning to the state of infancy.

He who knows the white, (yet cleaves to the black

Becomes the standard by which all things are tested;

And being such a standard

He has all the time a power that never errs,

He returns to the Limitless.

He who knows glory,) yet cleaves to ignominy

Become like a valley that receives into it all things under heaven,

And being such a valley

He has all the time a power that suffices;

He returns to the state of the Uncarved Block.

Now when a block is sawed up it is made into implements;

But when the Sage uses it, it becomes Chief of all Ministers.

Truly, “The greatest carver does the least cutting”.