Chapter of the Week: #41

Carl

Well, let me mix a few things up in this post

1. Being rather new to the site I was very "?" after reading all the stuff about trading spouses. I have a lot of mixed reactions but I must say I am very impressed by the bravery of the Abbott family. Way to go guys! (P.S. I am a 27 year old man who still sleeps on the same bed with my mother and younger sister when we go on vacation. I thought I was weird, but discovered weirder upon learning that Japanese men sleep together in the same room is express deep friendship (i trust you with my life so we sleep in the same room). LOL.

2.Taoism does not say much directly on perfection, but much is revealed indirectly through the Zen aesthetics. Zen aesthetics embraces imperfection and asymmetry, something which really drives Western rationality nuts. The idea here is that nature always produces uneven outcomes, but it is precisely because of diversity that harmony exists.

Carl

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 41
When the best student hears about the way
He practices it assiduously;
When the average student hears about the way
It seems to him one moment there and gone the next;
When the worst student hears about the way
He laughs out loud.
If he did not laugh
It would be unworthy of being the way.

Hence the Chien yen has it:
The way that is bright seems dull;
The way that leads forward seems to lead backward;
The way that is even seems rough.
The highest virtue is like the valley;
The sheerest whiteness seems sullied;
Ample virtue seems defective;
Vigorous virtue seems indolent;
Plain virtue seems soiled;
The great square has no corners.
The great vessel takes long to complete;
The great note is rarefied in sound;
The great image has no shape.

The way conceals itself in being nameless.
It is the way alone that excels in bestowing and in accomplishing.


Read commentary previously posted for this chapter.
Read notes on translations

Carl

[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.]

The sobering part of this chapter lies in saying how reality is just the opposite of what we [chref=71]think[/chref] it is. Goodbye belief, hello wonder. The more I sink my teeth into that view at the gut level, the more fascinating life becomes... and the more [chref=15]tentative, hesitant, thick, vacant, murky[/chref] I can not help be. It is so [chref=64]easy[/chref] when I take 'it' seriously from the beginning of each moment. Perhaps I'll become a superior student yet.

First, the smooth (which is actually rough?):
When the superior student hears of the way, he travels it diligently.
When the average student hears of the way, it seem there and then gone.
When the inferior student hears of the way, he laughs a lot.
Without that laugh it could not be considered the way.
Hence, we proposed to say,
The bright way seems hazy and hidden.
Entering the way seems like moving backwards.
The way that is smooth seems rough.
Superior virtue seems like a valley.
Great purity seems disgraceful.
Vast virtue seems insufficient.
Erect virtue seems stolen.
Simple truth seems of one's feeling.
The great square is without borders.
The Great talent is late to accomplish.
The Great sound is scarce sound.
The Great shape is without form.
The master alone excels at shifting responsibility and simple accomplishes.

Now the rough (which is actually the smooth?):
superior scholar hear way diligent and of go (travel, temporary; prevail; circulate; do; carry out).
middle scholar hear way seems exist, seems gone.
inferior scholar hear way big of laugh.
not smile, not enough consider way.
hence, propose say of have.
bright way seem hazy (hidden, ignorant of).
enter way like move back.
smooth (safe) way seem rough.
superior virtue seem valley.
great white (clear, pure) seem disgrace (dishonor).
vast virtue seem not sufficient.
erect (establish; set up; found) seem (as if) steal (pilfer; secretly).
nature (character; quality; simple; question) true ( genuine) seems of one's attitude or feeling (change).
great square without border (corner).
great talent late accomplish (succeed, result).
great sound (news) rare (uncommon, scarce) sound.
great shape without form.
man (master) alone way good at shift (responsibility) just accomplish (result, able).

riverwolf

The superior person hears of the Way, and works diligently to walk with It.
The normal person hears of the Way, and thinks it may or may not be true.
The inferior person hears of the Way, and laughs mockingly at it.
Without such mocking, It would not be the Way!
Indeed, the basic sayings include:
The bright Way seems dark.
The advancing Way seems to be a retreat.
The vigorous Way seems to be restrained.
High Virtue seems to be like a valley.
Big Purity seems tarnished.
Overflowing Virtue seems insufficient.
Constructive Virtue seems to be stolen.
The Natural Truth seems to change.
The Big Square has no corners.
The Big Vessel is late to emerge.
The Big Sound makes little noise.
The Big Shape has no form.
The Way is hidden and nameless.
With the Way even a single person excels in developing and completing.