tao te ching ☯️ chapter 53

Because

I have a little wisdom,

I choose to walk the great path of

Tao, fearing nothing but to stray from

it. The great way is very smooth

and easy, but some people

are fond of getting

sidetracked.

When a ruler’s

palace is full of treasure,

the people’s fields are weedy

and their granaries are empty.

If the ruler wears fancy clothes and

his house is full of weapons, if his table

is laden with extravagant food and drink

and everywhere one looks he has more

wealth than he can use, the ruler

is a robber and thief. This

is not in keeping

with Tao.

from The Tao te Ching of Lao Tzu,

Chapter 53

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the one matter of importance

People’s intellect and knowledge are like the light of a lamp. If that light is mistakenly used outside, in a contentious and aggressive manner, aiming for name and gain, scheming and conniving day and night, thinking a thousand thoughts, imagining ten thousand imaginings, chasing artificial objects and losing the original source, light on the outside but dark inside, this will go on until the body is injured and life is lost.

If people give up artificiality and return to the real, dismiss intellectuality and cleverness, consider essential life the one matter of importance, practice inner awareness, refine the self and master the mind, observe all things with detachment so all that exists is empty of absoluteness, are not moved by external things and are not influenced by sensory experiences, being light inside and dark outside, they can thereby aspire to wisdom and become enlightened.

Light that does not dazzle progresses to lofty illumination; therefore a classic says, “The great sage appears ignorant, the great adept seems inept.”

Liu I-Ming

hexagram 63 ☯️ chi chi / after completion

Good fortune unfolds for those who

remain on guard against

inferior influences.

This hexagram indicates that the movement from chaos to order is complete. The time is extremely favorable and you are likely to enjoy much success as long as you heed the warning of Chi Chi: remain on guard against incorrect thoughts, attitudes, and actions, both in yourself and in others.

…You are also counseled to remain alert to inferior influences in others. You can only prevent misfortunes by anticipating them in advance, and this is achieved through watchfulness.

The image of Chi Chi is that of a kettle of water boiling over a fire. There is great power here, but it is lost if one allows the water to boil over or evaporate through carelessness and indifference. Alertness and conscientious adherence to what is correct are called for if you wish to prolong your good fortune now.

from The I Ching, or Book of Changes

Hexagram 63 / Chi Chi (After Completion)