Monday, September 13, 2010

Chapter 60

Governing a large country

is like frying a small fish.

You spoil it with too much poking.


Translation of the Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchel

2 comments:

  1. You can spoil any relationship with too much poking. This seems to be the case for inner government as well as outer. The LeGuin translation adds a note quoting Thomas Jefferson: "Troubled spirits are kwei ghosts, not bad in themselves but dangerous if they possess you." Fear can run the show and I can create my own enemy. Life is the lesson in my knowledge of fear, and I have learned that fearful events may do an about face and become unexpected beginnings. As I understand Tao 60, some days appear with evil spirits coming to win my soul—but they never do and I know this.

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  2. When I've read through various translations of the Tao I save Wayne Dyer's for the last read. I do this because he puts all the translations he has read into Dyer speak. For example, here are a few tips from his book Change Your Thought's--Change Your Life (typical Dyer effusive optimism, which certainly puts the tone of the lessons in a positive light). I certainly hold to the following steps and only hope that I can remember them throughout each day.(the numbering is mine):
    1. When negativity feels like it's directed right at you, retreat to that place of kindness and love within and deflect that energy.
    2. So your refusal to enter into battle is your most potent weapon against evil.
    3. Become immune to such harmful thinking and action by knowing that none of this is about you.
    4. Catch yourself when you have judgmental thoughts that could be considered harmful for yourself or others.
    5. . . walk freely in the midst of danger. This isn't having a false sense of security; instead, it's an awareness that you and the Tao are one.
    6. Approach the universe with the Tao in your heart rather than reacting defensively.

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