Marblehead Posted January 1, 2017 Scattered Apart's chin was buried in his bellybutton, his shoulders were higher than the crown of his head, his cervical vertebrae pointed toward the sky, the five dorsal inductories {{A technical term in traditional Chinese medicine.}} were all up on top, and his thighbones were positioned like a couple of extra ribs. By sewing and washing clothes, he earned enough to make ends meet. By sifting grain with a winnowing-fan, he could make enough to feed ten people. When the authorities came to conscript soldiers, Scattered would wander about among them flailing his arms. When the authorities organized a massive labor project, Scattered would be excused because of his congenital defects. When the authorities handed out grain to the sick, he would receive three bags plus ten bundles of firewood. Though his body was scattered, it was sufficient to enable him to support himself and to live out the years allotted to him by heaven. How much more could someone whose virtue is scattered! Note: The last sentence is an introduction/transition for the next section. But here we are still talking about useful/useless. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taoist Texts Posted January 1, 2017 Though his body was scattered, it was sufficient to enable him to support himself and to live out the years allotted to him by heaven. How much more could someone whose virtue is scattered! Note: The last sentence is an introduction/transition for the next section. But here we are still talking about useful/useless. Not to disagree with your assessment of it, but it is a bit unclear what ZZ says here. Why 'scattered virtue' will boost making a living? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted January 1, 2017 Not to disagree with your assessment of it, but it is a bit unclear what ZZ says here. Why 'scattered virtue' will boost making a living? I hadn't even considered such a question before. But it is a valid question. Let's see what I can do with it (without looking at the next section). Perhaps ZZ is pointing out that we all don't have to have the perfect virtue of the Sage. Just enough good virtues to allow us to protect our life and thereby live to our natural capacity. My mind went to the "Lust" thread. Some lust but not so much that it endangers our life. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Taoist Texts Posted January 1, 2017 not so much that it endangers our life. Yes, i looked at the original, apparently the virtues here is a technical term meaning an outer display of Confucian virtues like loyalty etc. The idea is if being cripple (having no physical virtues) made that man safe and provided for, then a restraint in displaying moral virtues will be even more propitious to that end. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stosh Posted January 8, 2017 This is not exactly promoting conventional virtues or morality ,right? We can all possibly agee this isnt telling people to be honest nice charitable etc? and so daoist virtue is not like conventional virtue., its closer to expediency , yes? So it might be that the Book of classic virtue could be retitltled the Book of unconventional expediency. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted January 8, 2017 (edited) Ah! I cannot disagree with anything you said here. However, I will not add to it but rather let you ponder your own words. Edited January 8, 2017 by Marblehead 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stosh Posted January 8, 2017 Ah! I cannot disagree with anything you said here. However, I will not add to it but rather let you ponder your own words. What is there for me to ponder? Once the rabbit is caught,.... , you reset the snare. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
