Hmmmmm part 1

22

Bend and you will be whole.
Curl and you will be straight.
Keep empty and you will be filled.
Grow old and you will be renewed.

Have little and you will gain.
Have much and you will be confused.

That is only a fragment of the 22nd chapter of the Tao Te Ching, but as in any piece of writing one facet can and should have the power to strike you with its own stark significance. This snippet illustrates to me the shade of Eastern philosophy that I find most appealing- it is sparse, simple, quiet, but lacks the bitter taint I detect in most ascetic doctrines. There is awareness and self-effacing humility, but no latent resentment threading through the text. Simplicity is an appealing concept that has manifested in many different human behaviors over the years- the back-to-the-land movement, for example, or abstinence from many aspects of physical life. The latter is often associated with purity of intent, in terms of how a life is conducted, so to speak. However, I admire the Tao because although it acknowledges the value of clean, quiet living, it does not actively strive for an ideal state of being. Indeed, it does not actively strive for anything. But implicit in the nuances of text is the hope of realizing that kind of still fulfillment, and in the meantime, a contented awareness of the way things are. One of my primary dilemmas with many religious tenets and philosophical principles is the emphasis on denial. Denial of the relevance of other thought and expression has been a common theme in faith and thought the world over. Values splinter into near countless interpretations, and the essential nature of those values is often lost in the adrenaline rush of bared teeth and raised hackles (metaphorically, of course. Unless you're talking about some sort of anthropomorphic affiliation. I suppose anything's possible). Faith and belief diverge very clearly in my mind- faith is trust in a power beyond your own abilities and even comprehension. Belief is the trust in your power to grasp and interpret your own personal revelations. I am more comfortable with belief, and that is derived from the multifold influences of my personal history and ideals. However, the two are not mutually exclusive. I appreciate that Taoism is quite clearly a belief, but it does not seek to exclude the merit of faith. To me this speaks to the endurance of this slant of thought- it is surely rooted in acceptance. Acceptance of what is, what might be, what is not- it does not approach religion and offer the hand of friendship because it has no cause to doubt that compatibility all along.

Our western culture and government is rife with regulations and reminders to do no harm. But in the quiet of Tao there is not even the drifting inclination to do harm.

Have little and you will gain. Have much and you will be confused.

The Tao eloquently presents that message which often carries the taste of idealism- just be. However, in just being, idealism is abandoned, as is hostility, bitterness, martyrdom, exclusion. The clutter of defensive thinking is an impediment to contentment.

Bend and you will be whole.

Acknowledge the contours and canyons on the path you tread, and you will be able to navigate them with the clarity of comprehension. Acknowledge the roads that others pursue and you will not have any need to perceive your own as superior in any way. Acknowledge the shifting nature of the life you inhabit and you will be comforted in its constancy.

Wow, that was digressive.