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The universe doesn't have compassion for living things that act like straw dogs. A wise person doesn't have compassion for the general public who act like straw dogs. Isn't the vast space of the universe like a bagpipe? It can be emptied, yet it doesn't collapse. As it changes position, even more seems to issue out from it. Many theories are given as to how it could eventually come to an end. It doesn't seem to guard what is in its middle.   Commentary: 5 ~ What Are You Protecting? -The universe doesn't have compassion for living things that act like straw dogs. -A wise person doesn't have compassion for the general public who act like straw dogs. The first two lines of this chapter have caused confusion for both translators and readers of the Dao De Jing. Those lines are usually translated as: "Heaven and Earth are not humane; They regard the ten thousand things as straw dogs. The Sage is not humane; He regards the common people as straw dogs." -R. Henricks (Te-Tao Ching) The question always arises: How could a sage be so ruthless as to treat other people as straw dogs? I believe those lines have been misinterpreted in the past. It's easier to see that both the universe and the wise person would naturally not have compassion for those who saw themselves only as straw dogs. Just what was a straw dog? A "straw dog" refers to something that becomes worthless and is thrown away after it's initial use. "Straw dogs were made by the Ancients before funerals. Straw was tied into shapes resembling dogs. The dog was considered to be a faithful animal who would fight to the death to protect its master, which was probably why it was chosen for the shape of these objects. The straw dogs were kept under a brocade cloth in the temple, where they were sanctified and cleansed. They were carried along with the corpse at the funeral parade, since it was believed that the straw dogs would attract and conquer any bad spirits which might try to inhabit the body of the dead person. After the procession, the straw dogs were burned in a bonfire, or were smashed and discarded as useless." - Your Dao De Jing, Nina Correa p.247 A person who acts like a straw dog is merely being pretentious and acts according to protocol for their own gain. There's nothing inside them, as they consist solely of a facade. If a person doesn't value their own existence other than taking selfish actions to gain the accolades of others, then what compassion would a wise person (Sage) have for them? -Isn't the vast space of the universe like a bagpipe? -It can be emptied, yet it doesn't collapse. -As it changes position, even more seems to issue out from it. -Many theories are given as to how it could eventually come to an end. -It doesn't seem to guard what is in its middle. Then The Laozi compares the universe to a bagpipe. The vast space of the universe is empty - then why doesn't it collapse? Like the air in a bagpipe, the air in the universe keeps moving. Scientists have come up with theories about how the whole universe may eventually collapse, fall into a black hole or explode. Neither the bagpipe nor the universe has any reason to guard what's inside - it's just their nature to continue as they are. Since a straw dog is simply a facade, its whole existence revolves around protecting what's hidden inside. If a person is so riveted on protecting what they don’t want others to see about them, and only tries to show an exterior they think will gain them something in life, then they’re bound to collapse eventually. A wise person takes the universe as an exemplar for their life, allowing what's inside to flow outward while accepting what's outside to come within. By not trying to protect anything, they wouldn’t collapse. Alternate translation: Nothing in Nature is going to seem helpful to you if you act like a self-centered brat. Nothing a wise person says or does is going to seem helpful to you if you act like a self-centered brat. Check out the sky over your head. Doesn’t it seem like just a big bag of air? If there’s nothing in it, why doesn’t it collapse? And yet.... In the day the sun warms you, and at night the moon helps you figure out where you are. If you’re self-centered, you might always be worrying about some horrible thing that could happen - like the universe coming to an end. The universe is huge and doesn’t worry about protecting what’s inside of it, and it’s still there. 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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