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Translation and Commentary by Nina


	Dao De Jing Chapter 15 Those in the past who were good at becoming scholarly had to find something subtly wonderful in what was enigmatic. They tried to reach out and inquire into what couldn't be understood. So, it was only in what they couldn't understand that they found a correct way of showing respect. Hesitating? They walked as though they were crossing a stream in winter. Undecided? They seemed as if in fear of their own neighbors. Serious? They appeared as though they were guests. Dissolving? They were like ice melting. Natural? They appeared simple. Like a vast empty space! They were as open as a valley. Confused? They appeared muddy. Who has the ability to be muddy then calmly wait to change slowly into clarity? Who has the ability to be peaceful then move to change slowly into growth? Safe were these Daoists who didn't desire to become filled to the brim. You see, it was only because they didn't desire to be filled to the brim that they naturally acquired the ability to become weary and not accomplish their goals. Commentary: 15 ~ Does anyone have answers? Since the beginning of time, people have tried to find answers to every question imaginable. We've become used to learning about so many things in school, yet the basic questions about how each of our minds work remains unfathomable. Psychiatrists and philosophers have proposed thousands of theories about the human mind, but most of the time they just cause more confusion. If one of them is right, then the other must be wrong? How do we know which one to believe? -Those in the past who were good at becoming scholarly had to find something subtly wonderful in what was enigmatic. -They tried to reach out and inquire into what couldn't be understood. -So, it was only in what they couldn't understand that they found a correct way of showing respect. Scholars are trained to find answers for everything. As anyone who's been a student knows, teachers and professors encourage finding answers. Laozi suggests that the best scholars were those who enjoyed finding something they couldn't understand. Instead of getting frustrated that the answer eluded them, they were able to show respect for what was beyond their intellectual capabilities. -Hesitating? They walked as though they were crossing a stream in winter. -Undecided? They seemed as if in fear of their own neighbors. -Serious? They appeared as though they were guests. -Dissolving? They were like ice melting. -Natural? They appeared simple. If you really can't understand something, it might be better to be hesitant rather than claiming to know; to be unsure about trusting the answers others might come up with; to be gracious as though you've been given a great gift; to be willing to let go of your own opinions; to just accept the fact that you're ignorant. That's not easy to do. We've been taught that it's much better to pretend you know something than to admit you're muddled. -Like a vast empty space! They were as open as a valley. -Confused? They appeared muddy. -Who has the ability to be muddy then calmly wait to change slowly into clarity? -Who has the ability to be peaceful then move to change slowly into growth? The only way to see clearly is to accept uncertainty. The only way to grow is to provide a fertile field. When we come upon something we don't understand, our immediate reaction is to try to get some sort of understanding as quickly as possible. It's like our minds can't rest until we've solved the riddle. It's okay to be confused. If you can't see something because it's dark and you don't have a flashlight, it eventually becomes clear after the sun rises. Then you look at it, and wonder how you couldn't have recognized it before. Things change slowly - patience is a wonderful asset. -Safe were these Daoists who didn't desire to become filled to the brim. -You see, it was only because they didn't desire to be filled to the brim that they naturally acquired the ability to become weary and not accomplish their goals. If you're determined to find concrete answers, then you'll become so full of pre-conceptions that there will be no room for new understandings to arise. It can be much more fulfilling to watch things unfold on their own than to be wrapped up in your own smug answers. Dao Is Open Site Map \| BY: Nina \| Guodian Laozi \| DDJ Concordance \| Comparisons \| From the DIO Forum \| BY: Bao Pu \| By: Joshua \| Who was Laozi \| \| Return Home \| Laozi's Dao De Jing \| Your Dao De Jing \| Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu) \| Links \| Meditation \| Dao (Tao) is Open Forum \| Book List \| Other Stuff \|