Number Twenty Seven Stewardship
27
the lead goose tires
another takes point
no one left behind
Lesson # 27
Can you walk through this world
leaving no scars in your wake?
Can you speak your truth
without wounding others?
Can you know your truth
without needing to justify
or prove anything?
Can you hold it together
without straining or clinging?
Do just enough but do it well.
You are a steward of the Universe.
From: 81 Lessons from the Tao Te Ching
Number 27 Stewardship
Can you walk through this world
leaving no scars in your wake
Can you speak your truth
without wounding others
Can you know your truth
without needing to justify or prove anything
Can you hold it together
without straining or clinging
As a follower of the Way
your job is to be a steward
of everyone and everything
that you come in contact with
This is the light that you follow
You will have to let go of judgement
The Good and The Bad are just opportunities
to touch and care for those around you
Respect your teachers and all teachings
especially the ones you grow beyond
There are many paths
Seek to be wise and kind
rather than clever and learned
This is the Way
NUMBER TWENTY SEVEN
He who walks in goodness leaves his trace in the Inner Life.
He who speaks in goodness carries no blame to the Inner Life.
He who reckons in goodness does not need to use a tally.
The good man has power to close the inner door and no one can open it.
The good man has power to tie the inner knot and no one can untie it.
That is why the self-controlled man always uses goodness in helping men, thus he draws them to the Inner Life.
He always uses goodness in helping creatures, thus he draws them to the Inner Life.
This is called being doubly illuminated.
Therefore the good man masters the man who is not good,
And the man who is not good is helper to the good man.
He who does not honour his master,
He who does not love his helper,
Though counted wise, is greatly deceived.
This is called important and mysterious.
Isabella Mears, The Tao Teh King, A Tentative Translation from the Chinese, William McLellan, Glascow, 1916.
Number 27 (commentary) What is a spiritual teacher?
A teacher of the Way is not like a professor. We teach just by living naturally. We don’t care about “likes” or,” hits” or “impressions.”
It is OK for us if they forget our name.
We are open, kind and gentle to those who come into our sphere and give the same attention to the shiny ones or to the sullen, broken ones.
We know our mind is a tool, but one not to be completely trusted.
And that we can be amazing beings who can perceive the Tao.
How we do that, that is a mystery.
Tangent and Tool #27, Teachers: (Reflective exercise) When I was in Jamacia, I frequented one fresh fish taco stand. I bought a fish taco from the chef every day I was there, because I saw that he was one of my teachers. Among the many things he taught me was this, “Everything is everything, mon.” Everything is all one fabric. Time, space, life, birth, death, everything. One fabric, not a bunch of shattered, separate pieces. I can still hear his voice.
The best role of a teacher is that of a fellow pilgrim, walking along the path besides the ones they teach. You might know some bends in the road ahead, some resting places, but for both of you this journey will be unique. And you will learn much more than you teach.