Tao Te Ching, XV: Yielding, Like Ice About To Melt

Sometimes you have to give in.

Sometimes you have to give up. Sometimes, it's not worth fighting any more.

Western culture is all about fighting. 

It's about never giving in.

But sometimes it's wise and right not to fight. Take the monk who got swept out to sea. He didn't fight the current. He let is sweep him out. Then when the current turned; he calmly swam back in.

Had he wasted valuable energy fighting the current he would not have had the energy to swim back. Sometimes you have to give up. Yesterday I was less fight-y than usual. I was more gentle than usual. I stopped trying to fight so hard. I softened up. And there was space for me to be softer and gentler. "Who can wait quietly until the mud settles?" Stay calm stay still don't move.

"Who can remain still until the moment of action?" Stay calm stay still don't move.

Because there is no fulfillment to seek - that which we are is already perfect - and we are already whole and fulfilled and complete from within.

I wrote this many months ago and I am so glad to be back and publishing this

The beautiful irony of chancing upon this after being asked to take some lifesaving time off work is not lost on me.

Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu - chapter 15

The ancient masters were subtle, mysterious, profound, responsive.
The depth of their knowledge is unfathomable.
Because it is unfathomable,
All we can do is describe their appearance.
Watchful, like men crossing a winter stream.
Alert, like men aware of danger.
Courteous, like visiting guests.
Yielding, like ice about to melt.
Simple, like uncarved blocks of wood.
Hollow, like caves.
Opaque, like muddy pools.

Who can wait quietly while the mud settles?
Who can remain still until the moment of action?
Observers of the Tao do not seek fulfilment.
Not seeking fulfillment, they are not swayed by desire for change.