I am the wilderness before the dawn

September 17, 2010 at 11:40 am (Buddhism, Chinese thought)
Tags: Chinese thought, Enlightenment, Taoism, The li

Eliminate learning so as to have no worries

Yes and no, how far apart are they?

Good and evil, how far apart are they?

—

What the sages fear,

I must not fear.

I am the wilderness before the dawn.

—

The multitude are busy and active…

I alone am bland,

As if I have not yet emerged into form.

Like an infant who has not yet smiled,

Lost, like one who has nowhere to return.

—

The multitudes all have too much;

I alone am deficient.

My mind is that of a fool,

Nebulous.

—

Worldly people are luminous;

I alone am dark.

Worldly people are clear-sighted;

I alone am dull,

I am calm like the sea,

Like the high winds I never stop.

—

The multitudes all have their use;

I alone am untamable like lowly material.

I alone am different from others.

For I treasure feeding on the Mother.

From Tao Te Ching 20.  Translation: Ellen M. Chen.

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