The roses served one last time, as petals on the balcony. Got up to 50˚F (10C) when Moby enjoyed the space, and flowers. Then the winds hit, and a squall of snow, the front dropping the temps twenty degrees, and scattering the remains of the blooms.
The tao is like water, essential for life, and always finding it's lowest level.
The tao goes down beneath, unconcerned about what it looks like.
Live with your feet on the ground.
Think deep, warm thoughts.
Be reflexively kind to everyone.
Speak the truth habitually.
Seek justice for those around you.
Cultivate competence in your daily tasks.
Be sensitive to your surroundings.
No fighting, no anger, no blaming, just a gentle, giving attitude.
Dungarees. This comes from a Hindustani word, dugri, meaning a kind of coarse cotton cloth. It is applied to an overall suit of coarse (usually blue) cloth.
-Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, 1963, p. 310
7 comments:
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I wouldn't want to be gentle and giving all the time, though. There is a time for the other things too - in their right place, for otherwise it is just destructive. Even blame, I reckon - though there is rarely much use for that in daily life.
How would I live with my feet off the ground?
The 'no anger' part is tricky when one has children.
RthS,
Not being gentle and giving, but that attitude is the source for whatever action is appropriate. Keep going with the water analogy, and water is very powerful.
Phil.
Anger is when the teacher or parent loses control, and that, to the small person under their power, is terrifying. Drill Sergeants shout and demand, but they don't get angry, it's all very intentional and focused. Still scary, but in a way that leaves a residue of courage that builds up.
Of course this stuff is hard. If it wasn't, we'd do it without thinking, without practice. The analogies are problematic, since this is a philosophy that wriggles away the more words try to pin it down.
I can see how analogies might be difficult. Water - yes, it goes wherever it wants, gets everywhere and can even quench fire, which some call King of the elements.
I like a philosophy that won't easily be pinned down :)
Nice petals.
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