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Translation and Commentary by Nina


	Dao De Jing Chapter 54 A good builder doesn't destroy. A good embracer doesn't abandon. Future generations would then be grateful to them forever. By an individual's progress - their De is then genuine. By a household's progress - their De then exceeds. By the countryside's progress - their De then increases. By the city's progress - their De is then productive. By the world's progress - their De is then sweeping. With an individual - concentrate on the individual. With a home - concentrate on the home. With the countryside - concentrate on the countryside. With the city - concentrate on the city. With the world - concentrate on the world. How is it possible for me to understand they are right with the world? Because of these. Commentary: 54 ~ Each situation is different It's not possible to lay down hard and fast rules for everyone at all times. Each situation may require a different approach and understanding, depending on who is involved. -A good builder doesn't destroy. -A good embracer doesn't abandon. -Future generations would then be grateful to them forever. When facing any situation, it's a good idea to keep in mind what it is you have to bring to the table. Most of the time you'd probably want to help others in some way rather than cause them anguish. Any relationship between healthy individuals starts out open with a sense of mutual consideration. Tension might occur between people, and it's easy to let emotions override the original warmth. As long as you can stay aware of the idea that personal relationships start out as a means to build bridges, you'd never look for ways to destroy those bridges. When you have tender feelings for someone, there'd be no reason to reject them. When you set an example of acceptance and understanding, you're sending out the message that it's a wonderful thing to establish and maintain bridges. Those seeds can be planted for future generations, possibly enabling people to live richer and happier lives. When relating to people or situations, it's essential to remember what the purpose of the bridge is. -By an individual's progress - their De is then genuine. In a personal relationship between two people, in order to progress and have mutual benefit there must be honesty and sincerity. Taking the time to tear down walls and be open to accepting what another thinks and feels without condemning or degrading them provides each person in a relationship with the ability to comfortably be who they genuinely are. -By a household's progress - their De then exceeds. When dealing with the workings of a family, each person's place in the home has to be recognized and respected. As long as each member of a family doesn't compete for the position of "Top Dog", every member then will be able to reach their own potential. -By the countryside's progress - their De then increases. Moving out and about through the natural environment of fields, mountains and rivers affords an opportunity to observe and become inspired by the way animals and plants relate to one another. Growth is constant and increases on a daily basis, just like people can grow and increase in their daily lives. -By the city's progress - their De is then productive. The relationships between people in a big city can become more complex, but as long as the people work together to maintain the needs of a municipal living situation there will be productive growth for all the citizens. -By the world's progress - their De is then sweeping. On an even broader level, the interrelationships between everything in the whole world can progress as smoothly as the relationship between two individuals as long as the immensity of the situation isn't ignored. With so many independent nations and cultures throughout the world it's easy to have misunderstandings and conflicts, yet when bridges of acceptance and understanding are built there's no reason the power of love can't sweep throughout the whole world and all the creatures who reside here. -With an individual - concentrate on the individual. -With a home - concentrate on the home. -With the countryside - concentrate on the countryside. -With the city - concentrate on the city. -With the world - concentrate on the world. If each person dealt with a particular situation as it arose without trying to make a broad sweep of the brush in an effort to categorize everything around them into one comfortable little box, bridges would be a lot easier to build. Instead of looking at everything as to how it personally relates to you as an individual, see the broader picture. -How is it possible for me to understand they are right with the world? -Because of these. How can I possibly come to an understanding that the world may not proceed as I wish it would, but that everything in the world is following its own course without my intervention? Simply by observing it and allowing myself to fit into it. 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 \|