二十九

The world is a spiritual vessel, which can't be controlled

Duality of VIIII

the Hermit

二十九

二是九

Spiritual enlightenment, soul searching, self-reflection, introspection, contemplation, inner guidance, solitude

versus

Loneliness, paranoia, isolation, bring reclusive, withdrawal, anti-social, restrictive, paralysed by fear.

道德經第二十九章

將欲取天下而為之，吾見其不得已。

天下神器，不可為也，為者敗之，執者失之。

故物或行或隨；或歔或吹；或強或羸；或挫或隳。

是以聖人去甚，去奢，去泰。

Dao De Jing Chapter 29 ― A. Charles Muller

29. If you want to grab the world and run it...

If you want to grab the world and run it

I can see that you will not succeed.

The world is a spiritual vessel, which can't be controlled.

Manipulators mess things up.

Grabbers lose it. Therefore:

• Sometimes you lead
• Sometimes you follow
• Sometimes you are stifled
• Sometimes you breathe easy
• Sometimes you are strong
• Sometimes you are weak
• Sometimes you destroy
• And sometimes you are destroyed.

Hence, the sage:

• Shuns excess
• Shuns grandiosity
• Shuns arrogance.

29 (Taking no action) James Legge

If anyone should wish to get the kingdom for himself and to effect this by what he does, I see that he will not succeed. The kingdom is a spirit-like thing, and cannot be got by active doing. He who would so win it destroys it; he who would hold it in his grasp loses it.

• The course and nature of things is such that
• What was in front is now behind;
• What warmed anon we freezing find.
• Strength is of weakness oft the spoil;
• The store in ruins mocks our toil.

Hence the sage puts away excessive effort, extravagance, and easy indulgence.

29 ― Arthur Waley

Those that would gain what is under heaven by tampering with it ―

I have seen that they do not succeed.

For that which is under heaven is like a holy vessel, dangerous to tamper with.

Those that tamper with it, harm it.

Those that grab at it, lose it.

For among the creatures of the world some go in front, some follow;

Some blow hot when others would be blowing cold.

Some are feeling vigorous just when others are worn out.

Therefore the Sage “discards the absolute, the all-inclusive, the extreme”.