The weekly Tao te Ching post, for chapter 20. This one is considerably longer than most of the others so far.
I am having a hard time getting on board with this one. Just go along aimlessly, with no cares, no possessions, not even a purpose. I mean, I can totally dig “let it go,” keeping your mind free and open, not getting too caught up in anything; but this chapter seems to take it to the extreme.
For example, from the Mitchell version:
“Other people have what they need;
I alone possess nothing.
I alone drift about,
like someone without a home.
I am like an idiot, my mind is so empty.”
Hmm…
The other versions read similarly.
The chapter concludes with the subject being totally empty, sustained by the great mother (Tao, Source, etc). I can’t really believe that this is the best way to go about life. We are humans with thoughts, feelings, emotions. We have a need to express some sort of purpose in our life.
Just my two cents.
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