becoming invulnerable
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The
art of war lies
not in relying upon the
opponent’s not coming, but in
making ready for him; not on the hope
of his not attacking, but rather on
becoming invulnerable
to attack oneself.
There are
five flaws which can
undermine a leader: recklessness
may lead her to destruction; timidity
may cause her to succumb; temper may
make her susceptible to insults;
delicacy of honor may render
her sensitive to shame;
solicitousness may
expose her
to worry.
Trading in
these is disastrous to
the conduct of war. If a force is
overthrown and its leader destroyed,
the cause will be found among
these flaws. Meditate
on them.
from The Art of War, Chapter VIII
ebooks & apps of the Tao the Ching, I Ching,
Hua hu Ching, and Art of War for
You
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The Art of War as part of a
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book.
calmness and activity are not different
Dogen Zen-ji says,
“Even though it is midnight, dawn is here.
Even though dawn comes, it is nighttime.” This kind
of statement conveys the understanding transmitted from
Buddha to the Patriarchs, and from the Patriarchs to Dogen,
and to us. Nighttime and daytime are not different.
The same thing is sometimes called nighttime,
sometimes called daytime. Nighttime
and daytime are one thing.
Zazen practice and
everyday activity are one thing.
We call zazen everyday life, and everyday life zazen.
But usually we think, “Now zazen is over, and now we
will go about our everyday activity.” But this is not the
right understanding. They are the same thing. We
have nowhere to escape. So in activity there
should be calmness, and in calmness
there should be activity. So
calmness and activity
are not different.
true understanding is actual practice
Our
understanding is not just
an intellectual understanding.
True understanding is
actual practice
itself.
paths which ought not be taken
There are
paths which ought not be
taken, forces who shouldn’t be struck,
cities to which siege should not be laid,
positions better left uncontested.
When the sovereign’s orders
fly in the face of this, it is
wiser not to carry
them out.
from The Art of War, Chapter VIII
ebooks & apps of the Tao the Ching, I Ching,
Hua hu Ching, and Art of War for
You
can now buy
The Art of War as part of a
five-app bundle of Taoist classics
for iPhone or iPad for less than
the cost of one hardcover
book.