Life is stressful, adoption is stressful, I felt the need for a bit of Tao Te Ching. Without further adieu, here's something to ponder in these very stressful times for the adoption community. The Chinese adoption community continues to evolve, paths continue to seem altered from the reality we all once knew, and we all continue to try and adapt the very best we can each of us in our own way as we walk along this sometimes lonely and challenging road...
Govern a state with predictable actions.
Fight a war with surprise attacks.
But the universe becomes ours
only by eliminating coercive acts.
By not doing, nothing lacks.
How do we know these lessons?
By tuning into our Essence.
The more taboos and prohibitions there are,
the poorer the people become.
The more deadly weapons there are,
the more our fears turn us numb.
When craftiness spreads far,
the more bizarre what is done,
The stricter the laws there are,
the less the robbers run.
Therefore, the know
to make no one a foe.
The less coercing we do,
The more tranquillities grow.
When harmony reigns,
and we rule ourselves with felicity,
everyone gains,
and we'll all live in simplicity.
The verse is entitled "Simplicity Blossoms when Coercion Dies". The commentary mentions that the popular saying goes 'money is the root of all evil', but this is not true, rather, 'coercion' is the root of all evil', money is just a device to coerce with. On the other hand, if coercion is the enemy, then cooperation is the liberator.
For me, this is a simple verse to interpret, choose your path carefully and make sure that you find a way to get what you want out of life, but use kindness not coercion, it will carry you further and your joys will be greater and last longer.
4 comments:
Very nice!
Too true. Anyway you say it...you can attract more bees with honey then with vinegar...it is true.
Keep smilin!
It's always good to get a dose of tao now and then.
Thank you for that. I feel like a new woman.
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