Real people

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In a message dated 10/1/99 11:34:25 AM Central Daylight Time,

inandor writes:

 

<< Those who are thus have a focused mind, a quiet

countenance, and a relaxed brow. They are cool as

autumn, warm as spring; their emotions correspond

to the four seasons. They have expedients for

dealing with people, and none know their limit." >>

 

thanks for sending this Andrew!

diana

[Guest guest]

andrew macnab <a.macnab

>From Chuang tzu Chapter 6;

 

"Real people of ancient times did not oppose

minorities, did not lionize success, and did not

scheme things up. Being thus, they were not sorry

when they were wrong, and they were not smug when

they were right.

So they were not frightened in high places, did

not get wet in water, were not scorched by fire.

This is how knowledge can ascend to the Way.

Real people of ancient times slept without

dreams, and awoke without worries. Their food was

not sweet, their breathing was very deep.

Real people breathe from their heels; ordinary

people breathe from their throats.

Those who are stifled speak from their throats

as if choking. Those whose cravings and desires

are deep are shallow in their celestial potential.

Real people of ancient times did not know to

like life and hate death. They came to life

without rejoicing andwent to death without

resisting; they simply came unencumbered and went

unencumbered. They did not forget their beginnings

or look for their end. They accepted their lot

gladly, then returned it without minding.

This is called not diminishing the Way by the

mind, not trying to help the divine by means of

the human. Such are called real people.

Those who are thus have a focused mind, a quiet

countenance, and a relaxed brow. They are cool as

autumn, warm as spring; their emotions correspond

to the four seasons. They have expedients for

dealing with people, and none know their limit."

 

--

 

and also:

 

The man of tao remain unknown

Perfect virtue produces nothing

The "no-me" is the "real-me"

The "biggest man of all" is

the "nobody"

 

Chuang Tzu

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In a message dated 10/1/99 9:34:20 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

inandor writes:

 

<< The man of tao remain unknown

Perfect virtue produces nothing

The "no-me" is the "real-me"

The "biggest man of all" is

the "nobody"

 

Chuang Tzu

>>

Yes...and from the same source:

 

Where there is striving for Virtue

There is no virtue

Virtuousness leads only to abuse and disorder.

The true man avoids disorder as he avoids virtue.

 

-Lao Tzu

 

When I first read this translation, I really stopped in my tracks and allowed

the meaning to permeate. In a society where Virtue must be ritualized or

idealized, no virtue can be possible. The very pillars of Virtue must act in

non-virtuous ways to defend what they believe to be "virtue" in society:

which may include dealing harshly and cruelly with those whose freedom and

opinions contrast with their own.

 

This has served me as a very cogent warning about abuse of power and of the

dangers of "expecting perfected" societies to evolve in ways that everyone

seems to be so much in harmony that there is no range of free expression.

Shouting in church is a good idea once in a while, if only to prove that

there is still free thought and random acts (of kindness, too).

 

Zenbob