Tao Tuesdays – Chapter 39
Every Tuesday Amy Putkonen posts a chapter from her version of the Tao Te Ching (my favorite) and invites other bloggers to comment. I like to think about the chapter on my own, write the commentary, then go back to http://taotechingdaily.com/tao-tuesdays-chapter-39/ and read Amy’s commentary and the others that are linked there to expand that initial understanding. You are welcome to participate. Simply post your commentary, link to the chapter page above in you your post, then go there to link to your post (so we can all find it and read it too)
Sages have achieved oneness
since ancient times.
Sky is in harmony with Tao
and becomes pure.
Earth is in harmony with Tao
and becomes tranquil.
Spirits are in harmony with Tao
and become inspired.
Valleys are in harmony with Tao
and become replenished.
The Ten Thousand Things
are in harmony with Tao and live fully.
Leaders
are in harmony with Tao and become pure action.
If sky were not pure, it might split open.
If earth were not tranquil, it might crumble.
If spirits were not inspired, they might dissolve.
If valleys were not replenished, they may be exhausted.
If the Ten Thousand Things did not live fully,
they might become extinct.
If leaders do not have purity in action, they may fall.
Therefore, the basis for honor is humility.
Sages take the low position.
For this reason, true leaders refer to themselves as alone, not worthy
because this is the root of humility.
The highest position requires no praise.
The highest position does not wish to sparkle like a gem,
But rather to be humble like a stone.
All things are part of one greater whole. While things and peoples may seem separate, there is a great connectedness to the Tao, to the all-that-is-everything. Remembering our connection to the Tao is a bit like that quote from Walt Whitman’s “Oh Me, Oh Life (recently made popular by an Apple TV ad) – “The powerful play goes on And you may contribute a verse”. When Nature contributes its verse, all is most purely itself. All functions according to its nature, all is accomplished. Authenticity of this magnitude is at the core of the Tao Te Ching, as I see it. If Earth, Sky, Spirit – People – do not contribute their verse (forget our connection to the Tao) or pretend to be other than what we are, then things fracture, crumble, and dissolve into fear, anger or pain.
The gem and the stone are a lovely example. Both diamond and sandstone have their own kind of form, function, and beauty. Things only become disjointed when the diamond is told not to sparkle or the sandstone aspires to cut glass. Things become contentious and disfunctional when the gem is flaunted and praised over the stone. A sage or good leader wants things to be harmonious. In other words, they want things to get along, to function…to work. In order to do that, sages and leaders allow themselves to be humble so everyone, gems and stones alike, may contribute their verse.
