The teachings of Lao-tzu #2

I first must correct a mistake I made when I started this series two posts ago (wei wu wei - the basis of Taoism).  I failed to give credit to the source.  Giving proper credit to the source of the information is very important, both for the usual and obvious reasons of honesty and fairness, but also for the more subtle energetic reasons (aka, karma).    This series of posts is from the book "tao te ching, a new English version" compiled by Stephen Mitchell and published by HarperCollins.  Mr. Mitchell uses the feminine and masculine references interchangeably.  As he states it, "The reader will notice that in the many passages where Lao-tzu describes the Master, I have used the pronoun 'she' at least as often as 'he.'  The Chinese language doesn't make this kind of distinction; in English we have to choose.  But since we are all, potentially, the Master (since the Master is, essentially, us), I felt it would be untrue to present a male archetype, as other versions have, ironically, done.  Ironically, because of all the great world religions the teaching of Lao-tzu is by far the most female.  Of course, you should feel free, throughout the book, to substitute 'he' for 'she' or vice versa."  Ahhh.  I feel much better now.    When people see some things as beautiful,other things become ugly.When people see some things as good,other things become bad.  Being and non-being create each other.Difficult and easy support each other.Long and short define each other.High and low depend on each other.Before and after follow each other.  Therefore the Masteracts without doing anythingand teaches without saying anything.Things arise and she lets them come;things disappear and she lets them go.She has but doesn't possess,acts but doesn't expect.When her work is done, she forgets it.That is why it lasts forever.   This is a call against comparison, judgement, and classification.  There is no good or bad, beautiful or ugly, difficult or easy, long or short, ad infinitum, except as we define it.  Compared to someone, one may be considered wise; but compared to someone else the same one may be considered foolish.  Indeed, on another topic even the wisest may be considered more foolish than the previously least wise.  The fable of the tortise and the hair illustrates this very well. Max Ehrmann said in his classic poem, Desiderata, "If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself."  I have experienced this myself, the vanity and bitterness.  It is not pleasant. Comparison is an act of the ego, as is judgement and classification.  The heart only knows the heart of others, not their egos.  In the heart is where the truth resides.  The ego distorts and masks the truth it does not desire to see or reveal.  This is how the ego maintains control and it does not reliquish control lightly. At a grocery store I once shopped at often there was a bag boy who had Downs Syndrome.  He looked quite odd, his clothes barely fit, he didn't speak well, his eyes weren't quite together in their aim, and he didn't bag groceries all that well either.  I would do my best to pick a line he wasn't bagging on, but baggers moved around so that didn't always work.  One day after successfully missing his lane I was walking out with my two bags of groceries (no cart needed) when a well-dressed lady in a big rush was not watching where she was going, bumped into me and down went my bags.  "Watch it, jerk!" she said in mid-stride as she hurried on.  The next thing I knew, there was the bagger I abhored, on his knees with two new bags, picking everything up while apologizing (as a agent of the store) and assuring me all was well.  All around were people passing by and watching.  Nobody else moved to help.  In that lesson it was Heart 1, Ego 0. Nowdays, when I find myself entering comparison or judgement, I recall the bag boy.  Perhaps you have a "bag boy" in your life or history and may do the same. Abundant blessings on you all.