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Nothing in the world
is as soft and yielding as water.
Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible,
nothing can surpass it.
The soft overcomes the hard;
the gentle overcomes the rigid.
Everyone knows this is true,
but few can put it into practice.
Therefore the Master remains
serene in the midst of sorrow.
Evil cannot enter his heart.
Because he has given up helping,
he is people's greatest help.
True words seem paradoxical.
78
Tao Te Ching, a New English Version, copyright ©️ 1988 by Stephen Mitchell, published by HarperCollins. All rights reserved.
In dealing with difficult situations, patience is the Master’s only weapon. He waits for one of two things: either the mud settles and the right action appears by itself or until he no longer wants to intervene.
But that’s not why he’s extraordinary. He’s extraordinary because he enjoys the wait as much as the resolution. The wait is his sport. He lets time unravel his mind and observes the process keenly and kindly. The wait is the battleground where he proves himself a warrior. Every second shows he’s not a wild beast in a helpless rage, and he savors it with pride and gratitude.
When in doubt, he waits a little longer.
Song Picks of the Week (Official TTT Playlist here)
Life is Not The Same - James Blake
Masterpiece - SAULT
Spooky - Maribou State
Thank you for reading. Only three chapters left of the Tao Te Ching!
Until next Tuesday.
Daniel