The Way of the Tao Seems Obscure; Advancing in the Tao Seems Like Retreating

Xuefeng

May 3, 2006

The bright, great path appears dim and obscure; the road to progress seems like a series of setbacks, shedding armor and helmet; the smooth path appears rugged and full of danger; the mature path feels innocent and childlike, returning to simplicity.

The dark path seems sunny and well-lit; the regressive path appears to be thriving, advancing daily; the rugged path looks flat and wide, as if smooth and straight; the ignorant path seems intelligent and well-guided.

The path to freedom feels filled with barriers and difficulties; the road to joy seems weighed down with heavy shackles and great losses; the path to happiness looks burdened with debts, needing daily repayment; the road of love resembles a wind-swept bamboo forest, with affections scattered.

The path to becoming a ghost (a lost or restless spirit) appears radiant and charming; the road to becoming human resembles a vigorous competition in a jungle; the path to becoming immortal (a celestial being) seems at peace with the world, soaring freely; the way to becoming a Buddha (reaching enlightenment) feels like drunkenness and dreaming, moving against the current.

With every rise, there comes a fall; with joy, sorrow follows; having much inevitably leads to confusion; worrying much brings spiritual dizziness. The less one has, the freer they feel; the more one has, the more entangled they become. Starting with hard tasks makes the rest easier; starting with easy tasks makes them harder. The more arrogant and self-important one is, the more they are despised; the humbler and more modest one is, the more they are respected and cherished. The more desires one has, the larger the door to desires becomes; the more one restrains, the smaller the door becomes. The more intangible and spiritual one becomes, the more grounded they feel; the more materialistic and practical one is, the more hollow they feel. The more one has, the emptier they become; the less one has, the more fulfilled they are.

To put oneself last is to be first; to step outside oneself is to truly exist. Those who speak of the Tao do not know it; those who speak of goodness are not truly good; those who speak of virtue lack it; those who speak of trust are untrustworthy; those who speak of wealth are poor; those who speak of power lack it; those who speak of fame are unknown; those who speak of love are loveless. Fullness is useless; emptiness is useful. Colors blind the eyes; sounds deafen the ears; objects dull the senses; desires cloud the spirit. In vagueness, there is form and substance. In darkness, there is essence and truth. In yin (darkness), there is yang (light); in yang, there is yin. The material world reflects the nonmaterial, and vice versa. Humans resemble ghosts; ghosts resemble humans. Buddhas resemble demons; demons resemble Buddhas. Satan may appear tender, while divinity strikes like lightning. Within fortune lies misfortune; within misfortune, fortune grows. Flexibility endures, rigidity breaks. Kindness can lead to harm; love to hate; affection to folly; hardship to wisdom. Those who rush are shallow-rooted and wither quickly; those who proceed slowly are deeply rooted and grow strong. Distance tests a horse’s strength; true intentions are ultimately revealed.

The highest goodness flows like water, the greatest virtue grows like grass, great wisdom floats like clouds, and love stands like a mountain. Endure the night, and the day will come; endure shame, and glory will follow; endure softness, and strength will emerge; endure the microscopic, and you’ll understand the grand. Flowers attract butterflies naturally, but forcing them into a net brings sorrow. A peaceful mind flows naturally; forcing calm leads to unrest. A clean body wards off illness, but endless medicine is like scratching an itch through a boot. A pure heart attracts celestial beings, while chaotic practices are like fishing for the moon in water. Those who try too hard fail; those who cling too tightly lose. The strong age; the rich become poor. Those who know others are wise; those who know themselves are enlightened. Those content with what they have are rich; those who recognize wealth are content. To take, first give; to destroy, first build; to capture, first release; to love, first offer a small taste of hate.

Reversion is the motion of the Tao; to seek sweetness, first endure bitterness; to be a teacher, first be a good student; to make money, first distance yourself from it; to become an official, first love the people; to enter a park, first buy a ticket; to win a lover’s heart, always give them freedom; to become a noble Chanyuan celestial (a member of Chanyuan), always remain humble. The Way of the Tao seems obscure; advancing in the Tao feels like retreating. By thinking unconventionally, the path reveals itself amid dark willows and blooming flowers.