Number Seventy Eight: More About Water

78
mountain unmoving
wind and water wear it away
stay flexible


Lesson # 78

Consider water.
Nothing is more yielding, flexible, fluid,
and yet nothing surpasses it in eroding,
dissolving, wearing down
that which is hard, solid, inflexible.
Water teaches us
that the supple and malleable
will overcome
the unbending, stubborn, and unyielding.
All men know this,
yet, no one is able to practice it.
Win through surrender.
Lead from the bottom.
Embrace the paradox,
and let go.

From: 81 Lessons from the Tao Te Ching


Number 78 More about water

Consider water
Nothing is more yielding
flexible
fluid
And yet nothing surpasses it
in eroding dissolving wearing down
that which is hard solid inflexible

Water teaches us that the supple and mailable
will overcome the unbending stubborn and unyielding

We see this in nature and yet cannot apply it to ourselves
On the world stage the kind of leadership that will get us out of this mess
is one that will take responsibility for our godawful problems
one that is s appropriately ashamed for what we have done to ourselves and to the planet
one that looks first to ask for help
and one that cares not one fig about claiming credit for any successes

Quite a contrast to what we have today


NUMBER SEVENTY EIGHT

Of the soft and weak things in the world
None is weaker than water.
Bur in overcoming that which is firm and strong
Nothing can equal it.
It is easy to know the inner meaning of this: “That which is weak conquers the strong, that which is soft conquers the hard.”
All men know this, No one is able to practice it.
That is why the self-controlled man says:
“He who fears the reproach of the Kingdom is called Ruler of the Land. He who bears the woes of the Kingdom is called King of the land.”
True words in paradox.

Isabella Mears, The Tao Teh King, A Tentative Translation from the Chinese, William McLellan, Glascow, 1916.


Number 78 (commentary) Who will save us from ourselves?

No one person can do that job. It takes many folks who see what we have done. They may be the ones who don’t turn away from the suffering our greed has caused. They may be the ones who have had enough of contributing mindlessly to the many problems. They may be the ones who know they cannot fix it alone. They may be the ones who know we probably will not be on our way to a better world in their lifetime. And they may be the ones who know the goal is not a permanent fix, but a willingness to take on stewardship of many messy, chaotic situations that have arisen and will arise from here on. And they need to be ones who are willing to try and fail and try and fail and try again, for the sake of slow progress towards a better day for their (as yet unborn) great-grandchildren.

Tangent and Tool #78, Petting (Reflective exercise) This is going to be a several-lifetimes-long process. And some of the hardest parts will be at the beginning, when so many around us are in entrenched denial. You will need some support around you. Like-minded fellow activists will really mean a lot to you right now.
But what about those times when you are alone and exhausted? The brain is, in many ways, quite stupid. There are neurochemicals it can release that can help you get through those lonely nights and days. Just stroking a pet will release those chemicals. Heck, just stroking a soft fur pelt does the same job. Get a calming pet and use it to release oxytocin and other neurochemicals in your brain. It is so much less harmful than alcohol or other drugs. Take the time every day for a good “petting” session. It is a win-win. Your pet will love it and so will your brain.