Nothing,
nothing at all is born,
dies, the shell says again and
again from the depth of its hollowness.
Its body swept off by tide — so what? It sleeps
in sand, drying in sunlight, bathing in moonlight.
Nothing to do with sea or anything else.
Over and over it vanishes
with the wave.
The Creative acts
to empty what is full and
to offer abundance to
what is modest.
This hexagram suggests that a deepening of one’s modesty now is a sure means of improving the situation. There is no power so great as modesty for compelling the assistance of the Sage – nor one so hindering as immodesty. Those in high places who retain their modesty are loved by all and continually prosper; those below who cultivate modesty inevitably rise on the strength of their merits, without making enemies along the way.
But what does modesty mean? Certainly it entails a refusal to boast or act imperiously with others, even in small ways. But beyond this steadfast humility it also means that our effort to discern what is right and then do it is constant; we do not work against ourselves, and we do not indulge in doubts about the wisdom of correct conduct. This unwavering commitment to what is correct might be called “the modesty before the Sage”.
So there is in modesty a component of nonaction – that is, not indulging in arrogant, ego-centered behavior – as well as a component of active effort: looking for opportunities to correct ourselves, to assist justice where there is injustice, to feed where there is hunger, to give solace where there is pain.
Finally and most plainly, modesty means holding to innocence, sincerity, and openness in every situation. To do this is to empty ourself and make room for the blessings of the Creative to take root.
from The I Ching, or Book of Changes
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We already
have what we need.
The wisdom, the strength,
the confidence, the awakened heart
and mind are always accessible here and now.
We are just uncovering them. We are rediscovering
them. We’re not inventing them or importing
them from somewhere else.
They’re here.
That’s why
when we feel caught
in darkness, suddenly the clouds
can part. Out of nowhere we cheer up
or relax or experience the vastness
of our minds. No one else
gives this to
you.
In
governing people
and serving heaven, there
is nothing better than moderation.
To be moderate is to follow Tao without straying.
To follow Tao without straying is to become filled with
good energy. To be filled with good energy is to
overcome all things. To overcome all things
is to know that all things are possible.
She who knows that all things are
possible is fit to govern
people.
Because
she is one with the mother,
her roots go deep, her foundation
stands firm, her life lasts
long, her vision
endures.
from The Tao te Ching of Lao Tzu,
ebooks & apps of the Tao the Ching, I Ching,
Hua hu Ching, and Art of War for
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They say there is
a pure land where everything
is only mind, and that there’s a buddha of light
in your own body. Once that buddha of light appears,
mountains, rivers, earth, grass, trees, and forests
suddenly glow with a great light.
To see this,
you have to look inside
your own heart. Then what should
you be looking out for? When you are looking
for something that is only mind, what kind of special
features would it have? When you are looking for
the buddha of infinite light in your own body,
how would you recognize it?
Inside your own heart.
Trees shine with a great light.