Chapter 15 - Master

The Tao masters of antiquity
Subtle wonders through mystery
Depths that cannot be discerned
Because one cannot discern them
Therefore one is forced to describe the appearance

Hesitant, like crossing a wintry river
Cautious, like fearing four neighbors
Solemn, like a guest
Loose, like ice about to melt
Genuine, like plain wood
Open, like a valley
Opaque, like muddy water

Who can be muddled yet desist
In stillness gradually become clear?
Who can be serene yet persist
In motion gradually come alive?

One who holds this Tao does not wish to be overfilled
Because one is not overfilled
Therefore one can preserve and not create anew

What does this Mean?

Even though I think the Tao Te Ching is an extremely good source of guidance on how to live, I am more of a fan and philosopher of it than a practicioner.  I use it in small ways, but I am no true sage.

For a Tao practicioner, you would barely know they are there.  If they spoke up, though, it would be a clear thought that strikes true at the heart of the discussion: a unrealized ephiphany that illuminates the truth of the entire conversation. For the sage, they only speak with clear thoughts.

One who is more practiced than that I doubt is even in our culture.  There is a reason that there is a stereotype of the wise hermit living in the mountains, not being filled up with the desires of modern industrial living.

How can I use this?

Hesitant, like crossing a wintry river.  Think of this: other than for things like racing, when is it ever useful to go first?  By letting others go ahead of you, you can see the best way to do things or let them take the brunt of the failure of the unknown.  The best modern example is being in line to get a new gadget only to have to deal with problems for weeks simply because you got it first.

Cautious, like fearing four neighbors.  Each action you take causes a ripple in time and space that will affect all of your future actions.  The safer and more flexible you act, the better chance you'll make a correct decision.  At least, making more cautious plans allows you to correct unintended mistakes easier or to incorporate the actions of others.

This does not mean slow, due to the fact that one should seize good opprotunities.  This also does not mean passive, either.  That butterfly that causes a hurricane with one wing flap would have to fly to live, even if it knew what the consequences are.

Solemn, like a guest.  I like to think that, personally, one should take everyone serious and be respectful of their opinions.  Even if there is an obvious flaw in the logic for them or that they are just believing something with bad information.  There is a slice of truth to every good joke and something to learn in everything if one has respect.  It is hard to truly see good in something without an example of what bad is.

Loose, like ice about to melt.  Be like snowcone ice?  That is actually a good analogy.  Be solid enough to support things and be useful, but fluid enough to conform to the weight and challenge of the tasks presented.

Genuine, like plain wood.  Be natural.  You don't need paint and decorations to make plain wood useful or beautiful.  You can paint over rotten wood to hide it's bad qualities, just like you can paint over your vulernabilities with sarcasm, shyness, humor, or other little defensive habits .  The sage embraces his weakness, and as such, is not afraid or hurt when it's pointed out.

Open, like a valley.  The sage has a lot of emotional room for others and a lot less personal stake in things than your average person.  The sage use that lack of self-interest to make the most possibilities open to them.  Through that, they can be open to act on kindness, generosity and necessity as opposed to the desires and egos of themselves or others.

Opaque, like muddy water.  Being open, honest, generous and respectful is fine.  Bragging about how virtuious you are is not.  At that point, the things you can give to others are greatly diminished.  Selfish people will prey on your kindness and righteous people will say you are looking to boost your own ego.  When one has true humility, others think that they simply have good luck or they did it themselves instead of having a hidden benefactor.