What's the best thing you learned from taoism?

[PLB]

It is hard to say what the best thing is. There is this from Zhuangzi that speaks to my heart:

 

Shi-cheng Qi sidled away out of Lao's shadow; then he retraced his steps, advanced forward, and asked how he should cultivate himself. The reply was, "Your demeanor is repelling; you stare with your eyes; your forehead is broad and yet tapering; you bark and growl with your mouth; your appearance is severe and pretentious; you are like a horse held by its tether, you would move, but are restrained, and (if let go) would start off like an arrow from a bow; you examine the minutiae of a thing, your wisdom is artful, and yet you try to look at ease. All these are to be considered proofs of your want of sincerity. If on the borders one were to be found with them, he would be named a Thief."

 

There are a lot of things going in this passage. There is a self denigration in some acts of humilty that make us the beast we are asking to be saved from. There is an arrogance that would declare embarrasment a payment of some kind that requires something in return for having brought it about. The passage points to certain kind of overwhelming futility while pointing to another quality that is present. Lao is not shaming Shi-cheng Qi but bringing his pursuit to an end.

[Spotless]

It is hard to say what the best thing is. There is this from Zhuangzi that speaks to my heart:

 

Shi-cheng Qi sidled away out of Lao's shadow; then he retraced his steps, advanced forward, and asked how he should cultivate himself. The reply was, "Your demeanor is repelling; you stare with your eyes; your forehead is broad and yet tapering; you bark and growl with your mouth; your appearance is severe and pretentious; you are like a horse held by its tether, you would move, but are restrained, and (if let go) would start off like an arrow from a bow; you examine the minutiae of a thing, your wisdom is artful, and yet you try to look at ease. All these are to be considered proofs of your want of sincerity. If on the borders one were to be found with them, he would be named a Thief."

 

There are a lot of things going in this passage. There is a self denigration in some acts of humilty that make us the beast we are asking to be saved from. There is an arrogance that would declare embarrasment a payment of some kind that requires something in return for having brought it about. The passage points to certain kind of overwhelming futility while pointing to another quality that is present. Lao is not shaming Shi-cheng Qi but bringing his pursuit to an end.

 

Very well said!

[Spotless]

It is hard to put into words - but I now reside in "lift" rather than "weight".

[Marblehead]

You and 3bob have gotten pretty cryptic on us.

[3bob]

You and 3bob have gotten pretty cryptic on us.

 

not really since you and most people know what shorthand is, and if one wanted to go even shorter they could use: Om

[beyonder]

Hopping around like a sparrow and slapping my buttocks.