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Translation by Nina


	Dao De Jing Chapter 69 Among those who have to resort to using weapons there is a saying: I don't dare to act as a master, but rather act as a guest; I don't dare to advance one inch, but rather retreat a foot. This is correctly described as: Performing without execution; Making preparations without the means to carry it out; Trying to hold on without having any weapons; Using force without having an enemy. Predicting a bad outcome without even having an enemy. Without an enemy nearby, my sense that there's something to save vanishes. Therefore, resist the idea of using offensive weapons on each other, otherwise the winner will be the one who grieves. Commentary: 69 ~ Useless weapons -Among those who have to resort to using weapons there is a saying: -I don't dare to act as a master, but rather act as a guest; -I don't dare to advance one inch, but rather retreat a foot. Those who think they have to use weapons might try to soften how they're seen in the eyes of others by saying things like: "Well, I'd only use a weapon if I really had to." "I'd always wait to see how offensive an attacker is before I'd resort to using them." "I'd try to run away first, but if that didn't work then I'd have to blast away my attacker." -This is correctly described as: -Performing without execution; -Making preparations without the means to carry it out; -Trying to hold on without having any weapons; -Using force without having an enemy. -Predicting a bad outcome without even having an enemy. A person can imagine all sorts of situations where they might need to use a weapon, but until an attack actually happened they couldn't be sure how they'd react. All the well thought out plans you might make can never really prepare you for confronting an attacker - you might not ever be able to actually pull the trigger. If you don't have the ability within your heart to use a weapon, then a whole arsenal would be of no help to you. Where's the enemy? You might create all sorts of scenarios around a perceived enemy, dwelling on the worst thing that could happen. -Without an enemy nearby, my sense that there's something to save vanishes. What is it you're holding on to so tightly that you create images of others who would take it away from you? -Therefore, resist the idea of using offensive weapons on each other, otherwise the winner will be the one who grieves. This reminds me of a skewed saying: "The best defense is a good offense." If you end up thinking that everyone is trying to take something from you - whether it be personal possessions or treasured beliefs - you might go into an offensive mode with everyone you meet. Get them before they get you? That attitude can only bring sadness. In the end, you'd have to wonder what it is that you've won - and at what cost? \| BY: Nina \| Guodian Laozi \| DDJ Concordance \| Comparisons \| From the DIO Forum \| BY: Bao Pu \| By: Joshua \| \| 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 \|