18 When the great Tao is forgotten,
goodness and piety appear.
When the body's intelligence declines,
cleverness and knowledge step forth.
When there is no peace in the family,
filial piety begins.
When the country falls into chaos,
patriotism is born.
translated by Stephen Mitchell; HarperPerennial, 1988
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what does this mean?;
ReplyDeletefilial piety begins
Brian Browne Walker translates stanza 3:
ReplyDeleteWhen families forego natural harmony,
parents become pious and children
become dutiful.
Soooo, “filial piety” in the Stephen Mitchell translation refers to children doing what they think the parents say is the “right” thing to do and thus over-ride recognition of their own voice.
How do I see this verse in my own life? Memory of my teenagers turning away from my belief on living a “good” life. My brash daughter turned away from me (my commandments) and did “her own thing.” I lost control of her. Consciously, purposefully and with love, I LET HER GO.
My daughter’s direction to take up responsibility for her own life, was my Guide. Her direction was so strong that I could see it. I did not agree with her direction but I could see it as hers to define.
In that moment, somewhere in the middle of chaos, we communicated. I gave my daughter to herself. And, of course, the paradox of the lesson, we have been “close” since that moment.
Chapter 18 says that the Tao is pure. Tao is before justice and morality.