 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home |
Dao De Jing |
Dao De Jing |
(Chuang Tzu) |
(Tao) is Open Forum |
List |
Stuff |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home |
Dao De Jing |
Dao De Jing |
(Chuang Tzu) |
(Tao) is Open Forum |
List |
Stuff |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
What sprouts to life will eventually descend to death. Thirteen companions accompany one through life. Thirteen companions accompany one into death. And people join together in living their lives on this earth sharing those thirteen things with each other until they die. Why is that? Because they're involved in living their lives. We'd all agree that it's a good thing to be someone who could hold on to life for as long as possible. To be able to go into the wild mountains and not have to ward off a rhinoceros or tiger. To be able to serve in the military without having to wear armor. To have no place for the rhinocerous to thrust its horn. To have no place for the tiger to put its claws. To have no place for the soldier to stab his knife. Why is that? Because that type of person would be without a sense of death surrounding him while he's on this earth.   Commentary: 50 ~ Enjoy Life -What sprouts to life will eventually descend to death. -Thirteen companions accompany one through life. -Thirteen companions accompany one into death. The "thirteen companions" mentioned in The Laozi are the four limbs and nine orifices* of the body. Thus, most people are born with those "thirteen", and most people die with the same "thirteen." They accompany us through life and depart with us when our bodies die. -And people join together in living their lives on this earth sharing those thirteen things with each other until they die. While we're alive and experiencing all that life has to offer, we use the "thirteen companions" to help us make our way through life and survive. We can also use them in delightful ways in our relationships with others. -Why is that? -Because they're involved in living their lives. Why do we do that? Because those are wonderful assets everyone can use to keep enjoying life. -We'd all agree that it's a good thing to be someone who could hold on to life for as long as possible. -To be able to go into the wild mountains and not have to ward off a rhinoceros or tiger. -To be able to serve in the military without having to wear armor. -To have no place for the rhinocerous to thrust its horn. -To have no place for the tiger to put its claws. -To have no place for the soldier to stab his knife. Most people want to live for a long time. Doesn't it seem that some people have the ability to go through life without having many physical illnesses or horrible things happen to them? It seems like wherever they go, no harm can come to them. -Why is that? -Because that type of person would be without a sense of death surrounding him while he's on this earth. How can some people appear to be so invincible? Maybe it's because they find so much joy in life that they don't let the fear of death preoccupy their thoughts with a sense of pending doom and don’t get stressed out about stuff.. Even when hardships confront them, they're able to appreciate the fact that they're still alive and make the best of what they've got. None of us know for sure what (if anything) will happen to us after we die. To reject any of the wonderful things on this earth due to worry, anxiety or fear is to deny the very existence we've been given in this playground. *(Note: The four limbs are two arms and two legs. The nine orifices are two eye sockets, two ear canals, two nostrils, one mouth, one anus and one urinary canal. It's interesting that a woman's vaginal canal isn't mentioned as another orifice.) Alternate translation: Whatever is born will eventually die. You came into this life with all the parts of your body.. Those parts of your body help you survive. We can all share those things with each other until we die. Why would we do that? Because we want to be involved in life. We all want to live as long as possible. How could someone be completely involved in life and still avoid the things that might harm them? To not be destroyed by using drugs. To not have to protect themselves from attacks by weapons. To not get involved in situations that would put their lives at risk. How could someone do that? By being so full of the enjoyment of what they have in this moment that they wouldn’t be looking for things to cause them to die. 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 | |
||
 |
 |