The Master has no mind of her own.
She works with the mind of the people.
She is good to people who are good.
She is also good to people who aren’t good.
This is true goodness.
. . .
Translation of the Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchell
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Commentary. . . good to people who aren’t— “this is true goodness” Mitchell
ReplyDeleteAt first reading,
I did not understand or like this sort of blind goodness where all are seen as good. Then I looked at some notes I had taken years ago. Like: a leader knows oneness with all; there is no separation between good and evil, all come from the same cloth, all are one; trust is a virtue, it is always present; a mind like space is the unlimited, never ending; a subtle mind allowing for change and new thought.
I began to think deeply about it and got nowhere until I let thinking go without direction which took me to the translation by Bright-Fey, “when the Tao way of life presents itself, thinking first stops the moment from unfolding.”
See p.251 in Bright-Fey
Taoist education is held to be an “unlearning process.”
“no event in space-time is more or less important than any other event in space-time.”
Love is always—it comes from the inside out and is not in any way dependent on outside circumstances. Truth is always, It is an inside out endeavor— stick to the truth even when in the presence lies— speak only the truth and some will believe and some will not— regardless, Truth is Truth and the same for everyone. Love and truth are the core of ALL
The beginning of a new day—spend it well, Lissa, spend it well— It is that simple— remember to live this day well— “it is good, all is good”— says Carmen my friend at work who is being laid off for cost savings of the library—like many others. I am so impressed by this simple statement coming from one who is under great challenge— What we are closely affects those near us. We are one. One in all— children of a perfect god.
see p.120 in Henricks
demonstrates the quality of one word, regards— regards as good
In this way he attains goodness. If I regard all as good, I have lost, unlearned, the judgment of good and bad and what a relief that must be— not carrying the burden of judgment. . .
see Ames and Hall, from the bamboo texts
Another example that the meaning of a text can turn on a word—
“To not only treat the able as able
But to treat the inept as able too
Is a quantum gain in ability”
Words matter. Content matters.
see Chodron: The noble heart is present in all beings and they are completely whole.
Small Fish:
ReplyDeleteThis is kinda tough for me. When considering the essence of the Tao, all things come from one source. It is only when we can see a difference that trouble starts.
One begets two, two begets three and then we have the myriad creatures.
Yet as a mere mortal, its hard trusting the those that are not trustworthy.
Oh well I will have to try and keep to the Tao and let go of judgment.
Hey, Small Fish! Nice to hear from you. Since the election of Pres. Obama, when I read the Tao it seems to describe him. I always place him as the Master. Think of the Health Care debate. We rarely hear from the folks who agree on change for the present system of health insurance profit, greed and dishonesty. Obama just keeps going with the "lets all come together. . ." words. He is high minded and seems to live the Tao quite naturally. Now, will he be judged as a good and wise leader? Just because I'm a mere mortal, I keep my fingers crossed and my lips bit...
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