Verse 32 - Living the Perfect Goodness of the Tao

[Eva Libre]

32nd Verse

 

The eternal Tao has no name.

Although simple and subtle,

no one in the world can master it.

 

 If kings and lords could harness them,

the 10,000 things would naturally obey.

Heaven and earth would rejoice

with the dripping of sweet dew.

Everyone would live in harmony,

not by official decree,

but by their own goodness.

 

Once the whole is divided, the parts need names.

There are already enough names;

know when to stop.

Know when reason sets limits

to avoid peril.

 

Rivers and streams are born of the ocean,

and all creation is born of the Tao.

 Just as all water flows back to become the ocean,

all creation flows back to become the Tao.

 

 

Contemplation/Meditation Verse

 

I trust in the perfect goodness of the Dao,

         to guide and direct me wherever it will,

I allow my thoughts and ideas to be carried

         by the great wave of the Dao.

 

 

Do The Tao Now

 

Pick a time today, perhaps between noon and 4pm, to consciously free your mind from attempting to control the events of your life.  Go for a walk and simply let yourself be carried along: Let your feet go where they will.  Observe everything in your line of vision.  Notice your breath, the sounds you hear, the wind, the cloud formations, the humidity, the temperature -- everything.  Simply let yourself be immersed and transported, and notice how it feels to just go with the flow.  Now decide to let freedom be your guide.  Realize that traffic, the people in your life, the stock exchange, the weather, the tides . . . all of it is taking place at its own pace in its own way.  You can move with the eternal, perfect Tao as well.  Be it . . . now.

 

Source - Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life (Living the Wisdom of the Tao)

by Dr Wayne W Dyer

 

[Eva Libre]

Advice from Dr Dyer -

 

Pay attention to the flow of your life.

 

Remind yourself that you don't have to be in charge -- that, in fact, it's impossible for you to be in charge.  The nameless force, which Lao-tzu calls the Tao, moves everything, so your continual argument with it only causes dissatisfaction.  Each day, practice letting go and seeing where you're directed.  Take not of who shows up and when.  Observe the "strange coincidences" that seem to collaborate with fate and in some way steer you in a new direction.  Keep track of situations that occur spontaneously or out of the realm of your control.

[Eva Libre]

Advice from Dr Dyer -

 

Look for a new, joyous feeling within you.

 

As you move in the direction of "loosening the leash", so to speak, you'll become keenly aware of the exhilaration of the Tao flowing through you.  Begin to see what passions are stirred up as you allow the tide to be directed by your Source rather than ego.  These joyous feelings are clues that you're beginning to harmonize with what Lao-tzu calls "[your] own goodness".  Your enthusiastic inner receptivity is your reminder that all is perfect, so trust that energy.

[Eva Libre]

From Vimala McClure - The Tao of Motherhood

 

32

THE WAY

 

The Way cannot be defined;

it is only when you are in its flow

that it becomes known to you.

 

If parents, the guardians of the

human race, could hold to the

Way, children would naturally

grow strong and healthy in body,

mind, and spirit.  Nothing special

would be needed.

 

Because we have forgotten

the Way, roadmaps and

instructions have come into being.

 

One must know when to put aside

the instructions and find the Way.

 

The single most important

instruction is this: Meditate on the

Eternal.  As the river finds the sea,

you will find the Way.

[Eva Libre]

From Tao Te Ching - The Definitive Edition by Jonathan Star

 

Tao is eternal, one without a second

Simple indeed

          yet so subtle that no one can master it

If princes and kings could just hold it

All things would flock to their kingdom

Heaven and Earth would rejoice

          with the dripping of sweet dew

Everyone would live in harmony,

          not by official decree,

          but by their own inner goodness

 

This world is nothing but the glory of Tao

          expressed through different names and forms

One who sees the things of this world

          as being real and self-existent

          has lost sight of the truth

To him, every word becomes a trap

          every thing becomes a prison

 

One who know the truth

          that underlies all things

          lives in this world without danger

To him, every word reflects the universe

          every moment brings enlightenment

 

Rivers and streams are born of the ocean

All creation is born of Tao

just as all water flows back to become the ocean

All creation flows back to become Tao

[Eva Libre]

From Richard Grossman - The Tao of Emerson

 

From James Legge - The Texts of Taoism, 1891

 

The Tao, considered as unchanging, has no name.

 

Though in its primordial simplicity, it may be small,

The whole world dares not deal with it as a minister.

If a feudal prince or king could guard and hold it,

All would spontaneously submit themselves to him.

Heaven and earth, under its guidance, unite together

          and send down the sweet dew,

Which, without the directions of men,

          reaches equally everywhere as of its own accord.

As soon as it proceeds to action, it has a name.

When it once has that name,

Men can know to rest in it.

When they know to rest in it,

The can be free from all risk of failure or error.

 

The relation of the Tao to all the world

          is like that of the great rivers and seas

          to the streams from the valleys.

 

 

From the Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson - "Nature" and "The Over-Soul"

 

The deep power in which we rest

And whose beatitudes are all accessible to us,

Is not only self-sufficing and perfect

          in every hour;

But the act of seeing and the thing seen,

The seer and the spectacle,

The subject and the object,

          are one.

 

Nature judges like a god all men that

          come to her.

That power, which does not respect quantity,

Which makes the whole and the particle

          the equal channel,

Delegates its smile to the morning,

And distills its essence into every drop of rain.

[Eva Libre]

Tao Te Ching - The Classic Book of Integrity and The Way by Lao-Tzu

A New Translation by Victor H Mair

based on the recently discovered Ma-Wang-Tui Manuscripts

 

32 (76)

 

The Way is eternally nameless.

 

Though the unhewn log is small,

No one in the world dares subjugate it.

If feudal lords and kings could maintain it,

The myriad creatures would submit of themselves.

 

Heaven and earth unite

          to suffuse sweet dew.

Without commanding the people,

          equality will naturally ensue.

 

As soon as one begins to divide things up,

          there are names;

Once there are names,

          one should also know when to stop;

Knowing when to stop,

          one thereby avoids peril.

 

In metaphorical terms,

          The relationship of all under heaven to the Way

                    is like that of valley streams

                              to the river and sea.

[Eva Libre]

Lynn's - Daode jing of Laozi

 

The Dao in its constancy is "nameless".  Although the uncarved block is small, none under Heaven can make it his servitor [chen], but, if any lord or prince could hold on to it, the myriad folk would submit spontaneously.

 

The Dao is formless, not attached to anything (1), and in its constancy cannot be named, so we use "nameless" to refer to it in its constancy.  Thus the text says, "The Dao in its constancy is 'nameless' (2)."  The uncarved block [pu] as such has nothingness [wu] for heart/mind [xin], and this too is nameless.  Therefore, if one would attain the Dao, nothing is better than holding on to the uncarved block.  One who is wise may accordingly become a capable minister [chen] (3); one who is brave may accordingly be used in a military capacity; ne who is clever may accordingly be assigned bureaucratic duties; and one who is strong may accordingly be charged with heavy responsibilities.  but the uncarved block as such, all muddled together (4), has no such predilection [pian] and almost totally lacks  existence.  Thus the text says, "none . . . can make it his servitor".   If one embraces the uncarved block, engages in no conscious effort [wuwei], neither lets his authenticity [zhen] be hampered by things nor lets his spirit [shen] be harmed by desire, then the people will submit to him spontaneously, and he shall attain the Dao as a matter of course.

 

As when Heaven and Earth unite to send down sweet dew, though not one of the people are ordered to do so (5), they live in harmony of their own accord.

 

In other words, as when Heaven and Earth unite, sweet dew, though not sought, falls of its own accord, if I hold on to my authentic nature, though the people are not ordered to do so, they will live in harmony of their own accord.

 

When the cutting of its starts, names come into existence.  Once names exist, one should know to stop.  It is by knowing to stop that danger can be avoided.

 

"When the cutting of it starts" refers to when the uncarved block begins to fragment and [the sage] becomes chief of officials (6).  When he first cuts out senior officials, he cannot help but set up names and tanks [mingfen] in order to establish superiors and inferiors [zunbei].  Thus "when the cutting of it [the uncarved block] starts, names come into existence".  If he lets things go beyond this, there will be contention over [issues as small as] the point of a small knife (7).  Thus the text says: "Once names exist, one should know to stop".  Eventually, if the names of official appointments are used to address people, the mother [natural source/Dao] of government will be lost.  Thus "It is by knowing that it should stop that danger can be avoided".

 

As an analogy, the relationship between the Dao and all under Heaven is similar to the way streams and tributaries respond to the river and the sea. (8)

 

The relationship between streams and tributaries and the river and the sea is such that it is not because the river and the sea summon them but because streams and tributaries gravitate to them without being summoned or sought.  One who practices the Dao among all under Heaven issues no orders, yet the people live in harmony of their own accord; he does not seek [the myriad folk], yet he obtains them as a matter of course.  Thus the text says: "It is similar to the way streams and tributaries respond to the river and the sea."

 

 

Text, in Italics above, is Wang Bi's commentary.

The notes below, are from the translator, Richard John Lynn -

(deb's note - "section" is used for verse in these notes.)

 

(1)  Cf. Wang's commentary to section 21, second passage.

 

(2)  Cf. section 1.

 

(3)  The nengchen, "capable minister", here playfully echoes the tianxiamo neng chen ye, "none under Heaven can make it his servitor", of the text.

 

(4)  "All muddled together" translates kuiran.  Kui describes confused or unclear - "muddled" - states of the heart/mind, a perfect description of the undifferentiated, nonpurposeful, nonconscious attitudes and activities of the Daoist sage.  This reading has been surprisingly overlooked, however, and scholars tend to insist that kui (muddled) should be read either as tui (meek, compliant) or yi (lacking everything, lost all).  See Hatano, Roshi Dotokukyo kenkyu, 219; and Lou, Wang Bi ji jiaoshi, 83 n. 5.

 

(5)  A passive construction is indicated by Wang's commentary below: "One who practices the Dao among all under Heaven issues no orders yet the people live in harmony of their own accord".

 

(6)  See Wang's commentary to section 28, sixth passage.

 

(7)  "Once the people know that there is a basis for contention, they will cast propriety aside and base arguments on the written law.  Though it might be [matters as small as] the point of a small knife, they will all wrangle over them" (sixth year in the reign of Duke Zhao [535 BCE] in Kong, Chunqiu Zuozhuan zhengyi [Correct meaning of Zuo's Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals], 43:9B-10a; cf. Legge, The Chinese Classics, 5:609).

 

(8)  Cf. section 28, first passage; section 61, first passage; and section 66.

[Eva Libre]

From Stephen Mitchell - tao te ching - A New English Version

 

The Tao can't be perceived,

Smaller than an electron,

it contains uncountable galaxies.

 

If powerful men and women

could remain centered in the Tao,

all things would be in harmony.

The world would become a paradise.

All people would be at peace,

and the law would be written in their hearts.

 

When you have names and forms,

know that they are provisional.

When you have institutions,

know where their functions should end.

Knowing when to stop,

you can avoid any danger.

 

All things end in the Tao

as river flow into the sea.

 

 

From Byron Katie - A Thousand Names For Joy

- Living in Harmony with the Way Things Are

 

If powerful men and women

could remain centered in the Tao,

all things would be in harmony.

 

 

As you lose the filter that I call a story, you begin to see reality as it is: simple, brilliant, and kinder than you could have imaged.  There's a resonance that doesn't ever leave the center.  You come to honor it, because you realize that you have no authentic life outside it.

 

Wherever you stand, you're in the center of the universe.  There's neither big nor small.  Galaxies and electrons exist only in your own perception.  Everything revolves around you.  Everything goes out from you and returns to you.

 

This may seem like selfishness.  But it's the opposite of selfishness: it's total generosity.  It's love for everyone and everything you meet, because you've been enlightened to yourself.  There's nothing kinder than knowing you're It.  The awareness of your own self -- the only self that has ever existed or ever will exist -- leaves you automatically centered.  You become your own love affair.  You're self-amazed, self-delighted.  You're all alone, forever.  Don't you love it ?  Look at your beautiful self ! 

 

I used to believe that there was a you and a me.  Then I discovered that there's no you, that in fact you are me.  There aren't two to take care of, or three, or four, or a billion.  There's only one.  The relief of that !  It's enormous !  "You mean there's nothing to do ?  That if I'm okay, everything is okay ?"  Yes, that's exactly it.  It's self-realization.  Everything falls sweetly, effortlessly, into your lap.

 

You're not only the center, you're the circumference.  You're the whole circle, and you're everything outside the circumference, too.  Nothing can limit or circumscribe you.  You're all of it.  You're all that you can possibly imagine -- inside, outside, up, down.  Nothing exists that doesn't come out of you.  Do you understand ?  If it doesn't come out of you, it cannot exist.  What are you manifesting ?  Stars ?  Universes ?  A tree ?  A bird ?  A stone ?  Well, who is the thinker ?  Take a look:  Did anything exist before you thought it ?  When you're asleep and not dreaming, where is the world ?

 

When I first realized there was only me, I began to laugh, and the laughter ran deep.  I preferred reality to denial.  And that was the end of sorrow.

[Eva Libre]

Dr Dyer's Essay for Verse 32 -

 

In this verse, Lao-tzu describes the ecstasy of being truly on the same page as your Source.  What you might describe as openheartedness or joy is the "simple and subtle" flow of the Tao energy that's responsible for all of life . . . and no effort on your part is necessary.

 

Lao-tzu opens this verse with a reminder that no one -- not you, me, or even the most powerful king or dictator -- can rein in or master this force known as the Tao.  If it were under our control, then all of nature and its 10,000 things would celebrate because we'd live in peace and harmony.  When we're able to live and breathe the perfect goodness that is the Tao, wars, famine, conflict, and other negative human creations cease to exist.  The challenge presented in this 32nd verse of the Tao Te Ching is how to live in our physical world in unison with the eternal, always-molding and always-creating Tao.

 

Look at what you desire to bring into your life; then, in the context of this sweet verse, feel grateful for everything you encounter.  Express gratitude by riding the flow of your existence and allowing it to be your ally.  You can steer while still enjoying this glorious ride, but if you elect to fight it, you'll ultimately get pulled under by its current.  This is true for every aspect of your life: The more you push against it, the more resistance you create.

 

Be aware of anything that's directing you toward activities that truly ignite your passion.  If events seem to be taking you in a new direction in your work, for instance, or signs point to changing your job or location, pay attention !  Don't get pulled under by refusing to budge and continuing a familiar frustrating routine, and then justifying your fear of change.  Recognize the Tao energy coursing through your life and quit fighting your calling.

 

I watch my young son on a surfboard each day of the summer here on Maui.  He loves the thrilling ride as he accelerates by going with the wave -- he's not attempting to control it by prolonging it or forcing it to move in a different direction.  I use this as a metaphor for my life, for I write in the flow.  I allow thoughts and ideas to come in and move onto the page.  I allow myself to be carried by the great wave of the Tao in all of my decisions, which brings me peace.  That's because I trust in the perfect goodness of the Tao to guide me, direct me, and take me where it will.

 

You and I are like the rivers and streams that Lao-tzu mentions in the verse.  We were born of the Tao, our Source of being, and we're returning to the Tao.  The return trip is inevitable -- it can't be stopped.  So watch your body as it goes through its changes, noting that it does so in the same way that the rivers head down to the ocean to reemerge and become one with it.

 

Lao-tzu urges you to know when to stop driving yourself, advising you to instead jump into the oneness and avoid all manner of difficulties that he calls your "peril".  Flow with the Tao in everything you do.  give up the need to be in charge, which is just your ego working overtime.  You cannot force the Tao . . . let it carry you by relaxing into it with trust and faith.

 

As you ride this glorious wave of the Tao, consider this advice form Alan Watts in Tao: The Watercourse Way:

 

Let your ears hear whatever they want to hear; let your eyes see whatever they want to see; let your mind think whatever it wants to think; let your lungs breathe in their own rhythm.  Do not expect any special result, for in this wordless and idealess state, where can there be past or future, and where any notion of purpose ?

 

Stop, look and listen right now before you go on reading.  Yes, get in the perfect goodness of the Tao right now -- in your business, in your relationships, in your career, in our everything !  Stop, listen for your passion, and then allow yourself be taken thee by the ceaseless tide of all creation, which continues in spite of your ego's opinions.