#2 from Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu:
When people see some things as beautiful,
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.
Being and non-being create each other.
Difficult and easy support each other.
Long and short define each other.
High and low depend on each other.
Before and after follow each other.
Therefore the Master
acts without doing anything
and teaches without saying anything.
Things arise and she lets them come;
things disappear and she lets them go.
She has but doesn’t possess,
acts but doesn’t expect.
When her work is done, she forgets it.
That is why it lasts forever.
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.
Being and non-being create each other.
Difficult and easy support each other.
Long and short define each other.
High and low depend on each other.
Before and after follow each other.
Therefore the Master
acts without doing anything
and teaches without saying anything.
Things arise and she lets them come;
things disappear and she lets them go.
She has but doesn’t possess,
acts but doesn’t expect.
When her work is done, she forgets it.
That is why it lasts forever.
Well, what do I make of this? I think it has a lot to do with our perception of opposites. I mean, good needs evil to establish itself, right? Night needs Day, Hot needs Cold and so on... We need that opposite, that black versus white (not racially, I mean) relationship to establish our boundaries, the ultimate one being life or death.
Acting without doing or teaching without saying would insinuate that an enlightened individual allows the world to play itself out and any interference into the mechanics of the Tao (the way) would lead to an end that is not for that individual. Making waves on calm water disturbs the balance that once was... sure the water will calm again but who are we to say when?
Know your boundaries, stay within them and try to let the path take you where it goes. Wherever you go, there you are.
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