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Translation and Commentary by Nina


	Dao De Jing Chapter 22 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 ~ Stop thinking so much about yourself. 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 internal alchemical practices 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. 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, that 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. An old Chinese saying says something like: "One who is flexible enough to bend will reach perfection." The way I interpret that saying is that a person who's willing to see beyond their own preconceived ideas will eventually be able to feel a sense of self that's integrated with the whole world. -This almost describes it! -Actually, perfection already belongs to him. Laozi suggests that the saying was close to the truth. However, he also suggests that if you've managed to be completely flexible you've already reached perfection. 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