dawei

[DDJ Meaning] Chapter 22

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Legge

 

22 
The partial becomes complete; the crooked, straight; the empty, full; the worn out, new.

He whose (desires) are few gets them; he whose (desires) are many goes astray.

Therefore the sage holds in his embrace the one thing (of humility), and manifests it to all the world.

He is free from self-display, and therefore he shines; from self-assertion, and therefore 
he is distinguished; from self-boasting, and therefore his merit is acknowledged; from self-complacency, and therefore he acquires superiority.

It is because he is thus free from striving that therefore no one in the world is able to strive with him.

That saying of the ancients that 'the partial becomes complete' was not vainly spoken:--all real completion is comprehended under it. 


Lau

 

22 
Bowed down then preserved; 
Bent then straight; 
Hollow then full; 
Worn then new; 
A little then benefited; 
A lot then perplexed.

Therefore the sage embraces the One and is a model for the empire.

He does not show himself, and so is conspicuous; 
He does not consider himself right, and so is illustrious; 
He does not brag, and so has merit; 
He does not boast, and so endures.

It is because he does not contend that no one in the empire is in a position to contend with him.

The way the ancients had it, 'Bowed down then preserved', is no empty saying. 
Truly it enables one to be preserved to the end. 


Feng/English

 

22
Yield and overcome; 
Bend and be straight; 
Empty and be full; 
Wear out and be new; 
Have little and gain; 
Have much and be confused.

Therefore the wise embrace the one 
And set an example to all. 
Not putting on a display, 
They shine forth. 
Not justifying themselves, 
They are distinguished. 
Not boasting, 
They receive recognition. 
Not bragging, 
They never falter. 
They do not quarrel, 
So no one quarrels with them. 
Therefore the ancients say, "Yield and overcome." 
Is that an empty saying? 
Be really whole, 
And all things will come to you.


Jonathan Star

 

22
Surrender brings perfection
The crooked become straight
The empty become full
The worn become new
Have little and gain much
Have much and be confused
So the Sage embraces the One and become a model for the world
Without showing himself, he shines forth
Without promoting himself, he is distinguished
Without claiming reward, he gains endless merit
Without seeking glory, his glory endures
The Sage knows how to follow so he comes to command
He does not compete so no one under Heaven can compete with him
The ancient saying, ?Surrender brings perfection,? is not just empty words
Truly, surrender brings perfection and perfection brings the whole universe


Flowing Hands

 

22  
Yield and overcome. Bend but follow the flow.  
Empty yourself of everything, then you can full. 
Have little but gain a lot. Have much and be confused. 
Therefore the sage embraces the one. He sets an example to the world. 
By not putting on a display, he shines forth.  
Having no preferences he is open to all. 
By never boasting or bragging he can never falter.  
By knowing this and refusing that, He knows of the ways of man. 
Thus he can avoid a quarrel.  
The ancient masters were always empty. 
This emptiness was always whole. Yield and overcome and be forever full, and so all things will come to you. 
 
 

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Yin/Yang:  Merge them and they become One (Chi).

 

Dualities:  Merge them and they become One (objective reality).

 

Beyond Good and Evil:  No fixed opinions but living spontaneously.

 

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For me chapter 22 seems pretty straight forward...

 

Let go of all your issues, fears and crap;

And you will be filled.
Be driven by desires, and you will be confused.

Hence, those who are wise embrace the One.

Residing as the One, they are an example to all.

They have no need to boast or brag,

As the light of their clarity naturally shines out.
Silent and radiating, they do not argue, so no one argues with them.
These ancient masters were clear and empty,

and therefore naturally filled as the Dao.

Edited by Jeff
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25 minutes ago, Jeff said:

For me chapter 22 seems pretty straight forward...

 

 

Silent and radiating, they do not argue, so no one argues with them.

Have you noticed that I am still working on this one?

 

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  • Verse Twenty Two

An instructional  Poem like this that 

Says it all

Is a complicated undertaking!

The rules for following something as simple sounding as ‘The Path” are twisted rulers for straight lines.

Empty spaces follow the rules for filling up.

Harmful things follow the rules for helpful things.

A scarcity mindset follows the rules for getting too much stuff.

Hug the person you should emulate . 

I’m serious here; find someone you love ,

Someone you have learned from,

Hold them. Learn from that experience.

There’s no formula to go under;

Without seeing what’s coming next,

Without making anything happen;

Without merit, without credit,

Without sympathy or pity,

If a grown person will not fight, then even Heaven can’t fight them.

There’s an instructional poem like this

hidden in old place names that should be heeded.

How can you pay attention to lies?

Go back to honesty and sincerity.

 

“Hug the the person you should emulate ” is a real give away as to the 

Identity of “The Sage”.

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I have a reminder on my phone that goes off every so often to remind me parts of the David Hinton translation of this chapter. I don't think it has stuck yet though. ;)

In yielding is completion.
In little is contentment.
In much is confusion.

Give up self reflection
and you're soon enlightened.

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