Friday, July 30, 2010

Chen Jen on Laozi - Chapter 5

Heaven and Earth are the named. We call them Nature — this vast, inexplicable up-welling of apparent existence of which we are a part. Its Source is Nameless.

Nature does not care.

A spring of endless giving,
Yet of giving nothing knows.

A fledgling falls,
A world dies.
Endlessly transforming,
Where is there a fixed identity?

Let us not impose our artificial values on Nature — purpose, meaning, benevolence. Let us rather harmonize with the way of Nature. Herein is peace.

If there is caring, let it be an expression of the up-welling within you, not a reified value imposed from without.

Straw-dogs are formed, have their day in the sun, pass into oblivion. Let us not assign them a fixed and lasting identity.

Yes, your precious self, too, is a transient thing — to release it from your fearful grip is to realize harmony with Reality.

How vast and unfathomable, this great up-welling of apparent existence! Our words are meaningless! You will find the fathomless much deeper within you.

This post is part of a series. To view the index, go here.

2 comments:

  1. These posts make for a very refreshing telling of the Tao that can't be blogged.

    Very enjoyable.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Alas, this post represents the last comments we will see from Chen Jen...unless Scott conjures up more.

    ReplyDelete

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