Verse Twenty Three

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From: jimclatfelter
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008

Verse Twenty Three
Douglas Allchin, 2002

Nature works without words.
Just so for men.

No windstorm lasts all morning.
No downpour lasts all day.
Nature cannot sustain them.
Just so for men.

Who follows the Way is one with the Way.
Who expresses integrity is one with integrity.
Who welcomes loss is one with less.

Verse Twenty Three
Edwin Sha, 1996

Express yourself completely,
then keep quiet.
Be like the forces of nature:
when it blows, there is only wind;
when it rains, there is only rain;
when the clouds pass, the sun shines through.

If you open yourself to the Tao,
you are at one with the Tao
and you can embody it completely.
If you open yourself to insight,
you are at one with insight
and you can use it completely.
If you open yourself to loss,
you are at one with loss
and you can accept it completely.

Open yourself to the Tao,
then trust your natural responses;
and everything will fall into place.

Verse Twenty Three
Herrymon Maurer, 1985

Nature speaks little.
Squalls do not last the morning
Nor downpours the day.
What stirs them up
Heaven-and-earth!
Even heaven-and-earth
Does not long make a fuss.
How much less should men!
Therefore,
He who follows Tao is one with Tao.
He who follows virtue is one with virtue.
He who courts loss is one with his losses.
Tao is glad to get whoever comes to Tao.
Virtue is glad to get whoever comes to virtue.
Loss is glad to get whoever comes to loss.
When you are lacking in trust,
Others have no trust in you.

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From: simon
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008

Each of these versions seems to develop a different aspect: I am struck by Herrymon Maurer's shift of emphasis (from "little" one to "big" one?)

Quote:
Tao is glad to get whoever comes to Tao.
Virtue is glad to get whoever comes to virtue.
Loss is glad to get whoever comes to loss.

Although I don't remember having seen it in those words, this does feel right and ring true.

And what a beautiful description of seeing: (though one could begin with more classic 'headless' terminology...)

Quote:
Open yourself to the Tao,
then trust your natural responses;
and everything will fall into place.

Really, two-way seeing - everything is in place!

The natural aspect concurs perfectly with the simplicity of seeing, imho.
Simon

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From: jimclatfelter
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008

Hi Simon,

"Open yourself to the Tao,
then trust your natural responses;
and everything will fall into place."

That is nice. Thanks for pointing it out. Seeing is all about place. I like the way this verse begins in all the translations.

"Nature works without words.
Just so for men."

"Express yourself completely,
then keep quiet."

"Nature speaks little."

Few words are needed to share Seeing. It's almost a wordless teaching. It's certainly a wordless practice. It's fun to talk and write about but in itself it's a perspective to be lived rather than one to be talked about.

I like the references to nature too. What else is Seeing but our true nature? Nature: "Does not long make a fuss. How much less should men!" Few words is nature's way too.

Jim

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From: simon
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008

Hi Jim,
Yes, it is rather difficult to write about, as it all seems so obvious - no words needed!
And seeing is a non-verbal 'activity' - most refreshingly!

Isn't there an expression about "not pushing the river"....
The amount of energy required of man (s/he) seems to be minimal - just enough to keep the attention on the work, no need to make a fuss or force...

The final line/idea is an interesting observation too, isn't it?

Quote:
When you are lacking in trust,
Others have no trust in you.

Wordlessly, this seems to be confirmed by all, even animals conform to this.
Anyway - nice thread, thanks all
Simon

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