Chapter 20
Stop thinking and end your problems.
What difference between yes and no?
What difference between success and failure? Must you value what others value,
avoid what others avoid?
How ridiculous!
Other people are excited,
as though they were at a parade. I alone don’t care.
I alone am expressionless,
like an infant before it can smile.
Other people have what they need;
I alone possess nothing.
I alone drift about, like someone without a home. I am like an idiot, my mind is so empty.
Other people are bright; I alone am dark.
Other people are sharp; I alone am dull
Other people have a purpose; I alone don’t know.
I drift like a wave on the ocean, I blow as aimless as the wind.
I am different from ordinary people.
I dink from the Great Mother’s breasts.
I feel like this verse has two parts. Part one:
STOP THINKING!
Do I over think things? I plan and like to have things figured out.
STOP THINKING!
Last week I got up in front of the Rotary Club and spoke. What did they think of me? Do they think I did ok?
STOP THINKING!
If I say “yes, I can help”, they will think I am wonderful, If I say “No, I can’t help” Will they think I am horrible?
STOP THINKING!
Does it really matter if I am successful or a failure? Is there really a difference? Even when I am successful at something, I can feel like a failure.
STOP THINKING!
The mind is the problem.
One person gets a “B” on a test, is that a success or a failure? Does this person normally get “A”s but this time didn’t study or does this person normally get “C”s and put in some extra hours going over the material? Did this person memorize the material for the test and then forgot it all the next day or did this person become excited by the material and it changed the course of their life?
I just spoke in front of a group for 20 min. If I focus on what I forgot to say, and the words that I fumbled, and the information I might have gotten wrong, then it is a failure, If I focus on the fact that I went out of my comfort zone, informed this group of some important points and started some wonderful conversation, then it is a success.
Your view of something is highly conditioned by your perspective of it. Someone speaks their mind, is that person Bossy? Confident, Arrogant? Firm, Overbearing, Controlling, Honest?
If I go to the gym most days and watch what I eat most days – is this a success or a failure? I feel like it is a success, BUT I could have gone to the gym more, I could have eaten better. Other people can tell me I should be going more, doing more, lifting more, Eating better, eating cleaner, eating less. Can other people turn my success into a failure?
Is there even a difference between success and failure? Between good and bad? Between yes and no?
Part two:
Other people are excited………I alone don’t care / am expressionless.
This makes me think how we are all so busy, go – go – go. We are all having lots of fun. Our calendar is booked, our schedule is full. We are enjoying our life (but are we really?)
The master would like us to slow down, not be concerned about what everyone else is doing, be quiet, be still – motionless. The master can live simply, without needing to have all the earthly pleasures that the culture encourages us to have.
Other people have………I alone have nothing/ I drift
Consumerism, Surplus, More-More-More. Modern culture tells you to get more, buy more, take more. The master would like you to not put much care into things, in fact the master suggest getting rid of things. This would look like you have nothing, but the point of minimalism is not only to get rid of material possessions, but to get rid of the excess to make room for more.
More time, More compassion, More experiences, More contentment, More freedom, More passion, More contribution, More creativity, More love.
Other people are bright/sharp/have a purpose……..I alone am dark/dull/ don’t know
This is just how people appear in this modern culture. It is like Facebook, you see all the happy on the surface. On the outside, people look bright, cleaver, confident, sharp. They are busy, they have goals and a purpose. On the inside they may be sad, lonely, afraid, lost.
The master may look dark and dull on the outside – but that is just modern culture looking at the master through the lens of “MORE” In reality, the master is simply living without needing to have all the earthly pleasures that culture encourages him to have. This might make the master look like a social outcast, not valuing what others value, being different from ordinary people, but simply trusting the Tao and drinking from the Great Mother.