Tao Te – Testing

The following came from my friend Thomas as a response to a comment I made about testing on the post – “Transition to Te“. Most folks won’t see because it is tucked below the post on the blog site. His comment is something I wish I had come up with and so I am re-posting it here. This reminds me, How might you write a Tao Te that includes one of the thoughts/events from your day? Sounds like a good practice to practice before bedding down.

The tao that can be tested is not the eternal Tao.
The knowable that can be known is not the eternal Knowing.
The testless is the beginning of heaven and earth.
The tested is the mother of ten thousand things.
Ever untested, one is ever-present awareness.
Ever tested, one is pass/fail.
These two spring from the same source but differ in name:
this appears as unknowing.
Unknowing within unknowing.
The gate to all mystery.

(with apologies to Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English)

Tao Te – 39

from before the ancient of days
sky expansive and clear – whole
earth circular and firm – whole
spirit filling and full – whole
valley between and once mountain – whole
ten thousand things arriving and returning – whole
constructs of power and country – whole
virtue of wholeness present and passing

clarity stabilizes
firmness coheres
strength persists
fullness nourishes
growth recapitulates
leadership builds

humility roots nobility
low shoulders are scaffolds
orphans widows worthless teach wisdom
evidence of strength

success carries no leverage
a jade wind chime
an exploding volcano