The Dao Is Open website is devoted to the cultivation of Dao (Tao) and De (Te), as exemplified in the works of Laozi (Lao Tzu) and Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu).


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Translation and Commentary by Nina


	Dao De Jing Chapter 23 Rarely are words spoken naturally. A strong wind doesn't last all morning. A sudden rainfall doesn't last all day. Who can act like these manifestations of the universe, and be able to easily let go of what's happening? Can this be done with strong words that come from a person? Therefore, follow along with the daily routine, But remember: One who senses Dao fits together with Dao. One who senses De fits together with De. One who senses loss fits together with their loss. If one fits together with De, Dao is also in their sense of De. If one fits together with loss, Dao is also in their sense of loss. Commentary: 23 ~ Natural expressions -Rarely are words spoken naturally. What are "natural" words? The Chinese term used here is ZiRan, which refers to what naturally arises spontaneously without motivations. Most words aren't spoken naturally or spontaneously, but are filtered through a person's ideas of how they wish to be perceived by others. -A strong wind doesn't last all morning. -A sudden rainfall doesn't last all day. Looking at the forces of Nature, it's apparent that things are constantly changing. Even the greatest natural disasters don't last forever. Whether it's an earthquake, flood, drought or tsunami, things eventually settle back down again. -Who can act like these manifestations of the universe, and be able to easily let go of what's happening? -Can this be done with strong words that come from a person? People tend to get so involved in their emotions that they can hold on to them for long periods of time. Resentment, anger, frustration, etc. can seem like a thunderstorm that arises out of nowhere. These types of explosions occur in Nature all the time, but they seem to pass as quickly as they arose. Sometimes we keep harboring those storms within us because we're afraid of unleashing our emotions honestly and naturally - like a thunderstorm that quickly dissipates. We've been told our whole lives that we shouldn't express any uncomfortable emotions we're feeling, but that we should keep silent and put on a happy exterior. Bottling up emotions like that can only lead to more troubles and a lack of understanding and closeness between people. -Therefore, follow along with the daily routine, -But remember: -One who senses Dao fits together with Dao. -One who senses De fits together with De. -One who senses loss fits together with their loss. Dao allows for all the manifestations in the universe without making judgments as to what's better than anything else. With a sense of Dao, a person allows for all the manifestations coming from within themselves and from within others around them. If you reach a point where you've accepted your own De (reaching an understanding and acceptance of yourself as a person), then you can more easily adapt to and fit together with not only yourself but those around you as well. Facing the times when you feel a sense of loss, pain, frustration, etc. with openness and spontaneity allows for feeling the loss completely and expressing it if necessary. Then moving on. -If one fits together with De, Dao is also in their sense of De. -If one fits together with loss, Dao is also in their sense of loss. Dao is in everything and nourishes everything. It's only when people try to go against the natural flow going on within them and outside of them that things become rough and ragged. When you accept and adapt to what's coming naturally from within you, you've found Dao there. When you accept and adapt to your own sense of loss at times in your life, you've found Dao there as well. Allowing a thunderstorm to occur naturally and spontaneously also allows for a natural expression of Dao. To deny the existence of thunderstorms, to try to prevent them from occurring, or to get so overcome by them that they can't be released - prevents Dao from moving freely within you. 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 \|