Each week we address one chapter of the Tao Te Ching. The Tao Te Ching can be obscure, especially if you think you're supposed to understand what it's saying! We find it easier and more instructive to simply contemplate how the chapter resonates with your personal experience. Becoming more aware at this fundamental level simplifies life. This approach conforms to the view that true knowing lies within ourselves. Thus, when a passage in the scripture resonates, you've found your inner truth. The same applies for when it evokes a question; questions are the grist for self realization.
Chapter 22
Bowed down then preserved;
Bent then straight;
Hollow then full;
Worn then new;
A little then benefitted;
A lot then perplexed.
Therefore the sage embraces the One and is a model for the empire.
He does not show himself, and so is conspicuous;
He does not consider himself right, and so is illustrious;
He does not brag, and so has merit;
He does not boast, and so endures.
It is because he does not contend that no one in the empire is in a position
to contend with him.
The way the ancients had it, 'Bowed down then preserved' is no empty saying.
Truly it enables one to be preserved to the end.
[Note: I italicize phrases I borrow from the chapter, and link to phrases I borrow from other chapters to help tie chapters together. While making it more tedious to read, :? the Tao Te Ching is best pondered in the context of the whole.]
It is because he does not contend that no one in the empire is in a position to contend with him. Great! Now all I need do is just convince my emotions. But, at least rationally knowing [chref=68]the virtue of non-contention[/chref] gets the ball rolling and begins the [chref=64]journey[/chref]. Especially useful to me is the 'moment to moment realization' (is there any other kind truly?) of the [chref=2]produce each other... follow each other[/chref] 'flow' of Nature(*). When I forget, I resist, [chref=73]contend[/chref], and eventually fail - naturally. Resistance is futile! On the other hand, [chref=53]the great way is [so] easy[/chref].
Excessive follows deluded (below) is curious. A little more to the point than 'a lot then perplexed', perhaps? In the early days I used to take the Lau's translation to say that a lot perplexes life. Not that it doesn't, of course! But the meaning here feels different. Saying excessive follows deluded is similar to saying 'folly follows ignorance'. Kind of reminds me of our involvement in Iraq. A prime similarity between Vietnam then, and Iraq now, is how they both arose out of our [chref=16]ignorance of the constant[/chref]. Alas, deluded inevitably follows believing our local paradigm true. As the Tao Te Ching so succinctly puts it: [chref=71]Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty [/chref].
The literal Chinese goes like this. Note the various forms of 'standard' and 'be bewildered'. I went with 'follow' and 'deluded'. bent standard (norm, rule, to imitate, to follow, then, principle) whole,
crooked (follow) straight, hollow follows filled, worn-out follows new.
few (lack, little) follows gain, excessive (more) follows be bewildered (delude, mislead,obfuscate).
right at (because) wise man hold one, become heaven under pattern (mood, mode, model).
not self see (become visible) consequently bright (clear, open, honest, know);
not self being consequently evident (manifest); not self cut down (attack) consequently have merit;
not self pity (self-important) consequently of long duration;
man alone not contend, consequently heaven under nothing capable of contend.
of ancient what is called: bent follow whole.
how can it be that empty talk? sincere whole as well as of return.
Now, let's see what a grammar touch-up does to the literal: Bent follows whole, crooked follows straight, hollow follows filled, worn-out follows new.
Loss follows gain, excessive follows deluded.
Because the wise man holds the One, the mode for all under heaven becomes his model.
He does not see his self, and so is honest; he does not exist, and so is apparent;
He does not attack himself, and so has merit; he does not pride himself and so endures;
He alone does not contend and so nothing under heaven can contend with him.
This is the ancient point of view: bent follows whole.
How can it be that emptiness speaks? Complete sincerity and then return.
(*) I find that the couplets help give the feeling of this 'following flow'. The 'hence' suggestion points the way, but as Jesus put it, "the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak". I'd rephrase that as "the ideal is easy, but the reality is [chref=63]difficult[/chref]".
Comments
Chapter 22
Bowed down then preserved;
Bent then straight;
Hollow then full;
Worn then new;
A little then benefitted;
A lot then perplexed.
Therefore the sage embraces the One and is a model for the empire.
He does not show himself, and so is conspicuous;
He does not consider himself right, and so is illustrious;
He does not brag, and so has merit;
He does not boast, and so endures.
It is because he does not contend that no one in the empire is in a position
to contend with him.
The way the ancients had it, 'Bowed down then preserved' is no empty saying.
Truly it enables one to be preserved to the end.
Read commentary previously posted for this chapter.
Read notes on translations
It is because he does not contend that no one in the empire is in a position to contend with him. Great! Now all I need do is just convince my emotions. But, at least rationally knowing [chref=68]the virtue of non-contention[/chref] gets the ball rolling and begins the [chref=64]journey[/chref]. Especially useful to me is the 'moment to moment realization' (is there any other kind truly?) of the [chref=2]produce each other... follow each other[/chref] 'flow' of Nature(*). When I forget, I resist, [chref=73]contend[/chref], and eventually fail - naturally. Resistance is futile! On the other hand, [chref=53]the great way is [so] easy[/chref].
Excessive follows deluded (below) is curious. A little more to the point than 'a lot then perplexed', perhaps? In the early days I used to take the Lau's translation to say that a lot perplexes life. Not that it doesn't, of course! But the meaning here feels different. Saying excessive follows deluded is similar to saying 'folly follows ignorance'. Kind of reminds me of our involvement in Iraq. A prime similarity between Vietnam then, and Iraq now, is how they both arose out of our [chref=16]ignorance of the constant[/chref]. Alas, deluded inevitably follows believing our local paradigm true. As the Tao Te Ching so succinctly puts it: [chref=71]Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty [/chref].
The literal Chinese goes like this. Note the various forms of 'standard' and 'be bewildered'. I went with 'follow' and 'deluded'.
bent standard (norm, rule, to imitate, to follow, then, principle) whole,
crooked (follow) straight, hollow follows filled, worn-out follows new.
few (lack, little) follows gain, excessive (more) follows be bewildered (delude, mislead, obfuscate).
right at (because) wise man hold one, become heaven under pattern (mood, mode, model).
not self see (become visible) consequently bright (clear, open, honest, know);
not self being consequently evident (manifest); not self cut down (attack) consequently have merit;
not self pity (self-important) consequently of long duration;
man alone not contend, consequently heaven under nothing capable of contend.
of ancient what is called: bent follow whole.
how can it be that empty talk? sincere whole as well as of return.
Now, let's see what a grammar touch-up does to the literal:
Bent follows whole, crooked follows straight, hollow follows filled, worn-out follows new.
Loss follows gain, excessive follows deluded.
Because the wise man holds the One, the mode for all under heaven becomes his model.
He does not see his self, and so is honest; he does not exist, and so is apparent;
He does not attack himself, and so has merit; he does not pride himself and so endures;
He alone does not contend and so nothing under heaven can contend with him.
This is the ancient point of view: bent follows whole.
How can it be that emptiness speaks? Complete sincerity and then return.
(*) I find that the couplets help give the feeling of this 'following flow'. The 'hence' suggestion points the way, but as Jesus put it, "the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak". I'd rephrase that as "the ideal is easy, but the reality is [chref=63]difficult[/chref]".