Dao De Jing - Chapter 55


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Translation and Commentary by Nina


	Dao De Jing Chapter 55 One who possesses the fullness of De can be compared to a newborn baby. Bees, scorpions and poisonous snakes will not sting him. Hunting birds and ferocious animals will not grab him. His bones are weak, his muscles are soft, yet he can grasp objects with great strength. He has no knowledge of sexual intercourse, yet his penis becomes enlarged: so extreme is his life force. He can yell all day, yet he doesn't get hoarse. There is ultimate harmony in his expressiveness. This harmony of expressiveness is said to be constant; Knowing this harmony is said to be obvious. Increasing life is said to be lucky. Using the mind to control the natural energy of life is said to show strength. A living creature who who pretends to be stronger than they are will quickly age. This may be described as one who doesn't follow Dao. Don't follow Dao and you'll come to an early end. Commentary: 55 ~ Too Much Discipline -One who possesses the fullness of De can be compared to a newborn baby. Newborn babies haven't yet learned the proper social protocol that will be expected of them later. We're each born with our own spirits, and freely express them. Someone who’s discovered and found delight in their own natural talents and abiities would be like a newborn infant - before they were conditioned by those around them to be something else. -Bees, scorpions and poisonous snakes will not sting him. -Hunting birds and ferocious animals will not grab him. -His bones are weak, his muscles are soft, yet he can grasp objects with great strength. -He has no knowledge of sexual intercourse, yet his penis becomes enlarged: so extreme is his life force. -He can yell all day, yet he doesn't get hoarse. -There is ultimate harmony in his expressiveness. Since a newborn has no animosity toward any other living creature, he doesn't disturb or excite other creatures into malicious actions against him. He appears to be so frail and delicate, but no one's told him that yet so he just reaches out and grabs whatever is put into his hand with all the strength he has. He doesn't consciously know the pleasures of a sexual climax, so his mind isn't pre-occupied with whether that's something to be sought or denied - his penis reacts just as naturally as any other organ of his body. When he yells there's no force placed on his vocal chords in an effort to yell louder than anyone else - it's just natural for him to express himself that way. Everything he does is in harmony with his innocence. He hasn't yet learned how to use his mind and body as a tool to manipulate others or to repress his own spirit. -This harmony of expressiveness is said to be constant; -Knowing this harmony is said to be obvious. -Increasing life is said to be lucky. The newborn doesn't stop and wonder why he acts the way he does. His natural life force just constantly emanates from within him. It's so plainly and simply obvious for him to act that way. His life is progressing and increasing as though he’d received some special gift. -Using the mind to control the natural energy of life is said to show strength. -A living creature who who pretends to be stronger than they are will quickly age. -This may be described as one who doesn't follow Dao. -Don't follow Dao and you'll come to an early end. Then adults come along and try to tell the growing child which parts of himself he has to control. The child is forced and cajoled into following society’s rules and dismiss those parts of himself that don't conform. He's told that true strength comes from discipline, and that he must discipline himself. But all the while as a child is repressing his own natural urges and the parts of him that make him an individual, he still has moments of anger and sadness. He ends up pretending he's much stronger than he actually is because everyone tells him that's the way he has to be. All that self- discipline makes him grow up too early and lose the life force he received at birth. He's no longer flowing with the process of Dao, but following a course that's been prescribed for him by others. It's no wonder so many people get old before their time and die from stress-related illnesses. Alternate translation: Someone who’s found and is comfortable with who they are seems to be acting like a little kid. They’re not worried if a bee lands on them. They’re not afraid that a dog will bite them. They don’t have huge muscles, but they can grab things tightly. They’re not looking to have sex, but they can thoroughly enjoy it. They can raise their voice when necessary without straining themselves. Everything they do feels comfortable. They’re comfortable most of the time. It just feels completely natural to be that way. They feel pretty lucky to be enjoying life so much. Most people think they need to constantly be in control of themselves. Those people are just pretending to be stronger than they really are, and will lose the fun of being childish. They’re not tuned in to the process of Dao. Someone who tries to act like they’re old and wise will get old way before their time. 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 \|