LOSING THE THREAD

LEAVES

Tao works for no one,
but with any one
and every thing.

Whatever is taken, the whole remains.
Knowledge is gleaned, wisdom left behind.
Casting a light eclipses the vital spark.

Unpicking a tapestry loses the picture.

Dissecting Tao invites confusion.

Simplifying obscures simplicity.


Trees fall;
Woods stand.

ICON


  Tao cannot be commanded and gives no orders to be obeyed. When Tao is unhindered, things follow their natural course.
Attempts have been made to explain and control the action of Tao by referring to various notional energies, forces, capacities and so on.
Although sincere and well-meaning, such endeavours tend to veil or hide the 'primal simplicity' of Tao behind an unintentionally complex web of ideas.
 

The analytical or reductionist method, which works so well in the physical sciences, is manifestly unsuitable for reaching a deep understanding of Tao.
It has some value in producing conceptual models which convey an 'exterior' knowledge of Tao, but can do nothing to develop 'interior' knowledge.
  Taoism is not unique is this respect; when philosophies or religions become elaborated,
their inspirational core often tends to get 'lost in the system'. 


STAYING POWERS