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Lessons from the Book of Chuang Tzu - Part 11

Those who comprehend are spontaneous, seeming not to know but being centred in stillness.

Sages are quiescent, not because of any value in quiescence, they simply are still. Not even the multitude of beings can disturb them, so they are calm.

Empty, still, calm, plain, quiet, silent, non-active, this is the centredness of Heaven and Earth and of the Tao and of Virtue.

Through actionless-action they are very happy. Being very happy they are not afflicted by cares or worries, so their years of life are prolonged.

Actionless action brings honour. The beauty radiated, since it arises from simplicity, outshines the rest of the world.

Be in harmony with all people.

He is generous to multitudes of generations but does not think this benevolent.

He is older than the oldest but does not think himself old.

His heart is one with all living things

Through action rulers cannot even begin to fulfil what the world requires

The ancient wise had no designs; even though they understood the whole of life they did not speak of it; though their skills were great they did nothing. This is Great Peace and perfect government.

[The fate of politicians and the power-hungry] So all I've really been doing is getting worked up and bothered!

If you want people to remain simple shouldn't you look to the ways of Heaven and Earth?

I have freed myself from knowledge, from the spritiual and from being a sage.

You examine everything in too much detail.

His discernment unearths all falsehood.

He gets to the heart of issues and knows how to protect the foundation of truth.

He ignores all life.

The perfect person has set their heart on what is right.

Meaning is constantly seeking to express what cannot be said in words.

We value words and put them into books but what we value is mistaken, because what we value is not really that valuable.

The knowledgeable do not speak, and those who speak are not knowledgeable.


 

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