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What's flexible enough to be bent can then reach perfection. What's crooked can then become straightened. What's empty can then become filled. What's been worn out can then become refreshed. What's been diminished can then become amplified. What's been multiplied can then become doubted. It's correct for a wise person to securely hold on to unity because in that way the actions of the whole world will protect and guide him. He doesn't search for himself, therefore he becomes perfectly attuned. He doesn't pay undue attention to himself, therefore he becomes clear. He doesn't cut himself down, therefore he experiences accomplishments in his work. He isn't willing to tell others how great he is, therefore he has the ability to become better. It's only because he doesn't argue that, therefore, no one has the ability to argue with him. In the past it's been said: One who's flexible enough to bend will reach perfection. This almost describes it! Actually, perfection already belongs to him.   Commentary: 22 ~ Perfection People tend to spend a lot of time either praising themselves or criticizing themselves. Internally, there's always a quest to be rid of the demons that seem to cause so much trouble in life. They seek out psychiatrists, support groups, gurus, and all sorts of practices in an effort to rid themselves of.... what? To rid themselves of thinking about themselves so much? It seems kind of silly, doesn't it? -What's flexible enough to be bent can then reach perfection. -What's crooked can then become straightened. -What's empty can then become filled. -What's been worn out can then become refreshed. -What's been diminished can then become amplified. -What's been multiplied can then become doubted. If you can remain flexible, then you can roll with the changes. If you remain flexible, then it's much easier to release those negative emotions that are based on a rigid stance you've taken toward life. Even when you feel like you've made mistakes that need to be corrected, everything eventually works itself out. Those times when you feel so empty and lost will eventually be replaced with times when life is filled with activity. Those times when you feel completely worn out will eventually be replaced with times of energy. Those times when you feel like you've lost everything important to you in life will eventually be replaced with times of abundance. Those times when you feel like you possess so many wonderful things might then cause doubt about whether you'll keep them, or if you even deserve them. Those are all thoughts which center on yourself and your perceptions of the world around you. Maybe it's time to stop thinking about yourself, and rather look at how you're connected with the rest of the world. The world isn't out to get you, but can provide a wonderful resource for protection and guidance. How can you learn to see it that way? -It is correct for a wise person to securely hold onto unity because in that way the actions of the whole world will protect and guide him. -He doesn't search for himself, therefore he becomes perfectly attuned. What does it mean to “hold on to unity?” If you can stop only looking within yourself to try to find a way out of the hole you think you've gotten yourself into, then you can tune into the whole universe. Have you ever missed the opportunity to watch a beautiful sunset because you had your head down thinking about some fault you might have? Or maybe you've missed the chance to share a smile with another person because you were determined to be miserable? Wouldn't you rather enjoy the sunset and the smile? -He doesn't pay undue attention to himself, therefore he becomes clear. If you can stop thinking about how you should act or what you should say, then your words and actions will come from honesty and clarity. Sometimes you get a gut feeling of how to deal with a situation, then your mind starts playing through all the options. You start doubting yourself and might wonder what would be the best course of action. And then when you finally do act, you might see later that it was completely contrived - it didn't show honestly what you really felt at all. Wouldn't you rather relate to others in an honest, upfront way? -He doesn't cut himself down, therefore he experiences accomplishments in his work. If you can stop criticizing and admonishing yourself, like a stern parent who tells you that you can never do anything right, you might just find out that you've really done a good job at whatever task was laid in front of you. If you give your attention to any task and do it to the best of your ability, then where's the room for recrimination? -He isn't willing to tell others how great he is, therefore he has the ability to become better. If you can stop bragging about what a great person you are, then you've opened up to the possibility of getting even better. It takes a lot of effort to live up to an ideal you might have created of yourself in the eyes of others. You'd have to constantly be thinking of ways to prove to them how great you really are. If you don't feel you're living up to that ideal, it could send you into a horrible depression. However, if you can accept the fact that you're just progressing naturally using the tools you have available, then there's always room for growth. Would you rather think that you've already accomplished everything you could? -It's only because he doesn't argue that, therefore, no one has the ability to argue with him. If you can stop arguing with others, trying to prove you're right beyond all doubt, then arguments won't occur. If you have an over-blown sense that you're right and other people are wrong, then you've become very self-centered. Your thoughts leave no room for anyone other than yourself or those who agree with you. Is it really so important to be "right"? -In the past it's been said: -One who's flexible enough to bend will reach perfection. The Laozi is referring to an old Chinese saying which says something like: "One who is flexible enough to bend will reach perfection." The way I interpret that saying is ...... If you rigidly hold on to an opinion you have without considering other options, the only one you’ll hurt is yourself. If you’re able to keep an open mind, and not just replace one opinion with another, you’ll find the perfection within you. -This almost describes it! -Actually, perfection already belongs to him. The Laozi then suggests that the saying was close to the truth. However, the saying shouldn’t be taken as a rule for you to follow, but more as a realization that what you hold in the depths of your heart - beyond all the opinions - is already perfectly in tune. And..... You don’t really need to spend much time thinking about it. Alternate translation: Being able to change easily makes everything better. If you’re messing up, you can straighten out. If you’re feeling all alone, you can welcome friendship. If you stop overworking yourself, you can get new energy. If you feel worthless, you can find something to give yourself credit for. If you’re stuck with lots of opinions, you can get rid of them. You might be able to see that the world isn’t an enemy, but a delightful source of inspiration. It’s all right there for you, if you stop thinking so much about yourself. When you get lost and depressed, it’s because you’re not seeing anything but your own needs. If you stop thinking of yourself as a failure, you’d get a lot more done. If you don’t try to pump yourself up to others, you can find ways to improve. If you don’t look for what’s wrong in others, you wouldn’t think they’re looking for what’s wrong in you. There’s an old saying: Being able to change easily makes everything better. That’s pretty close! Actually, you’re already perfectly fine just the way you are. Dao Is Open Site Map | BY: Nina | Guodian Laozi | DDJ Concordance | Comparisons | 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 | |
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