Verse Twenty Two

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From: jimclatfelter
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008

Verse Twenty Two
Wing-Tsit Chan, 1963

To yield is to be preserved whole.
To be bent is to become straight.
To be empty is to be full.
To be worn out is to be renewed.
To have little is to possess.
To have plenty is to be perplexed.
Therefore the sage embraces the One
And becomes the model of the world.
He does not justify himself; therefore he becomes prominent.
He does not boast of himself; therefore he is given credit.
He does not brag; therefore he can endure for long.

It is precisely because he does not compete that the world cannot compete with him.
Is the ancient saying, "To yield is to be preserved whole," empty words?
Truly he will be preserved and (prominence and credit) will come to him.

Verse Twenty Two
Herrymon Maurer, 1985

Twist and get whole.
Bend and get straight.
Be empty and get filled.
Be worn and get renewed.
Have little: get much.
Have much: get baffled.
Therefore the sage
Holds to the One and
Becomes beneath-heaven's model.
He does not show himself,
Hence he shines.
Does not assert himself,
Hence he is seen.
Does not boast his merits,
Hence he survives.
Does not compete with anyone,
Hence no one beneath heaven
Can compete with him.
The old saying,
The twisted shall be made whole
Is it not true?
Be whole and you will return.

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From: jimclatfelter
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008

This verse has many connections with headless seeing.

Yield (your head) and become whole.
Bend (Bow before the evidence.) and become straight (see true).
Be empty (here), and you are filled (there)€and fulfilled.

"To have little is to possess.
To have plenty is to be perplexed."

Isn't this the distinction between the absolute poverty here and all the riches of the world there?

And isn't headless seeing, when we talk about it, a model (and natural design) for everyone?

"It is precisely because he does not compete that the world cannot compete with him."

Change the word compete to confront, and it sounds like a quote from Douglas.

"To yield is to be preserved whole." Isn't yielding our illusory headed, 3rd person identity the way to see that we are already whole as first person singular? To me, that's the reason headless seeing brings such satisfaction.

Jim

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From: simon
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008

Yes:
"poor with many possessions
rich with none"

This verse seems to prepare the way for the three treasures, too. Not putting an individual forward or in front of others.

Yet it is far from idleness, the quickness of mind that shortcuts identification and rests with the whole...

Too many words!

happy all
simon

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From: headexchange

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008

To be worn out is to be renewed.

Ah! When you are at the end of your tether, tired out, feeling hopeless, not knowing where to turn, and you then turn Here, you dive down deep into the refreshing waters of the Source, and you are renewed.

Richard

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From: Steve Palmer
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008

" you dive down deep into the refreshing waters of the Source, and you are renewed "

What a beautiful, simple and direct Way.
To be completely open to the refreshing waters of the Source, amidst the daily frustrations large or small.

Surrender to the mystery whilst in the world.
Like Douglas's "fingers pointing in both directions" way home to where you never left.
To notice and value the obvious.

To give attention to the 1st person and be whole.

Thanks Richard , Jim and Simon

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From: simon
Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008
:
Yes, this "being burst open for everything" with nothing to separate 'me' from anything else...

Isn't that the 'First Person experience'?

Looking 'back' is there anything that can "justify", "brag", "boast", "compete" etc?

Someone (I think Adrian) posted on the forum:
"God's in, I'm out...
Nothing to be proud about"

I love that!
thanks all
simon

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From: Luc

Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008

Dropping in this discussion a bit late maybe, but yet :

jimclatfelter wrote:
It is precisely because he does not compete that the world cannot compete with him.

Seeing for me brings freedom from judgement. And this freedom means that I don't compete with the other any more. And if I don't compete with the other, the other can't compete with me. I'm not in the picture, I give no resistance, no comment (some thoughts may pass by ...).
Being Headless I see the other appearing in Me. Why should I compete ?

Luc

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