--- Bennett
Not being able to read the original script, I'm at a distinct disadvantage, but I'm curious as to where 'empty vessel' became 'indescribable'. I read the use of the word Tao in that context as the practice of the way, rather than the way itself.
Chinese words are naturally vague and therefore good for Tao. :) This verse is even more open to interpretation. The text is ancient, and there are several copies to this, and back then they did not use punctuation, so it's difficult to even know where each phrase starts and ends. Chinese language having no grammar does not help.
I am using several Chinese translations/interpretations to translate this verse to English. The word to word translation/interpretation for the first phrase is something like: Dao (Tao) Chong (void, formless, invisible; in some copies this character is a different one which means empty vessel, but some Chinese scholars think this is incorrect) Er (so) Yong (use) Zhi (it) Huo (always) Bu (not) Ying (filled, end).
I think Lao Tsu wants to say here that Tao is very vague but it is extremely useful.
A story goes how a sage was consulted by a western philosopher who spent a lot of time saying how his way of thinking was all that he needed to know. The sage said nothing, but poured tea. When the cup was full, he continued pouring until the tea ran over the floor.
"Stop!" cried the Westerner, "The cup is already full."
"Then empty your cup," replied the sage, "for how else can I teach you anything?"
I remember a story like this too.
The usefulness of a cup is in its emptiness, said Bruce Lee (probably from somewhere else). So the Way is, in part, keeping your cup (mind) empty.
My thoughts, anyway.
That's what I say too. Only when your mind is empty, you can fill it with wisdom. (My friend then asks me how do we know if what poured in is good stuff. This last couple of days I feel speechless so I can't give a wise answer here. Bennett?)
posted by Jorielle @ 7/18/2004 03:43:00 PM
1 Comments:
No punctuation...no grammer...different meanings.. Heheh, and I thought English had a reputation for being difficult!
I guess the translation depends a lot on which character is used...but I think your understanding of Tsu's meaning fits well enough.
I read your friend's comment, and was a little surprised. Mostly because no-one had ever brought that point of view up with me before - having an open mind had always been a positive thing to have, with no drawbacks. One example of there always being something new to learn! There are several answers though:
Firstly, having an open mind is not the same as accepting everything. It means that you're _open_ to accepting everything, as opposed to refusing to even consider some things (opinions, points of view, facts etc). To come to a truly balanced decision one must weigh up all aspects of the issue with due balance. While you might still come to the same decision by ignoring certain facts or points of view, is it still a "wise" decision? Maybe your choice would be reversed upon knowing all the facts? Maybe your words would be mollified? Maybe frustration would turn into pity? Who knows.
Also, someone who is following the Way "knows" in their own way what is good, bad, moral or immoral, and can base what to act upon on that knowledge. In this way one can judge that to "be like water" makes sense, whereas "the end always justifies the means" doesn't quite sit comfortably in the mind. Part of that "knowledge" is the Buddist way: correct thought, correct action, correct speech etc. It is these things that I think follow from the Tao rather than the Tao following from them. Part of the "knowledge" is also the simple fact that by keeping one's mind open throughout Life, one can make a better informed choice as to what is worth accepting and taking on board and what should be rejected or given less emphasis.
Being open-minded isn't foolproof, but then very little in Life really is, but it seems a better way of going about things than with blinkers on, no matter how small they might seem to be.
A good analogy is with (once again) Martial Arts. It is generally recognised that the best way to learn is to become proficient in several different styles, and then pick whatever works best for you. That's not to say you try to mix Horse-Stance with a Wing Chun deflect/strike combination, but simply that by being willing to accept the strengths and weaknesses of many styles one can make a better informed choice about what to do in any situation. A dogmatic decision like "Shotokan is the best because it's the strongest" is as equally wrong as "Shotokan is the worst because its the slowest". In the same vein as described above, someone willing to accept other styles is better able to later decide whether a particular move is worth considering or rejecting for his or her own particular Way.
I don't know if that helps at all, or whether you even agree with it, but hey - that would be my initial rationale for why keeping an Open Mind isn't a problem as regards accepting the "wrong" stuff is concerned. :o)
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