Friday, October 9, 2009

Tao te Ching: 32

Tao is eternal and has no name.
Though its simplicity seems insignificant, none in the world
can master it.
If kings and barons would hold on to it, all things
would submit to them spontaneously.
Heaven and earth unite to drip sweet dew.
Without the command of men, it drips evenly over all.
As soon as there were regulations and institutions, there
were names (differentation of things).
As soon as there are names, know that it is time to stop.
It is by knowing when to stop that one can be free from
danger.
Analogically, Tao in the world (where everything is
embraced by it), may be compared to rivers and streams
running into the sea.
Much of this goes back to previous chapters on ruling. Rulers try too hard to control everything and rule with an iron fist, even in a Democracy. They need to take less action to control and simply do the things that need to be done.

It is interesting that he says that one should stop when there are names, but it is important not to go too far.

I think like this whenever I meet someone. Either I like them, or I don't. I prefer not to enumerate reasons why on either side, because it simply goes too far. Not to mention, then you have a ready list of peeves.

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