I announced that I am working on a translation of the Tao and chose #13 because I will be tackling that chapter at some point today. Marci then joined me for #41 and once again it hit the mark.
#13
It is said: ”Both good fortune and misfortune cause tension. The creative and the destructive exist equally in the mind.”
What is meant by ”Good fortune and misfortune cause tension”? Those with good fortune are tense anticipating their gift; those with misfortune are tense lamenting their loss.
What is meant by ”The creative and the destructive exist equally in the mind”? Tension exists because we have a mind, a self, with dual purposes. If we can be selfless, indifferent to the mind, how then can tension exist?
Thus, one who views the world as he views himself is best suited to govern the world; one who loves humanity as he loves himself can be entrusted with the world.
#41
Whenever the truly wise hear of Tao they strive earnestly to use it. Whenever the mediocre hear of Tao they are aware, yet unaware of it. Whenever the stupid hear of Tao they laugh aloud at it. If it were not laughed at it would not be Tao.
Therefore it is said of Tao: enlightenment seems dullness; progress seems regression; the true path seems misleading.
The highest character seems recessive like a valley; the purest virtue seems tarnished; the most adequate seems somehow insufficient; the most firm seems frail; the most fundamental seems changeable.
Great space has no corners; great ability takes time to mature; great music is soft and mellow; great form is shapeless, contourless.
Tao is hidden; it is nameless; yet it stimulates; it brings fulfillment.
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En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.