Tao Te Ching excerpt Laozi

High winds do not blow all morning;

Heavy rain does not fall all day.

Are not these made by heaven and earth?

If the power of heaven and earth

Cannot make violent activity last,

How can you?

This excerpt is taken from "the Te of Piglet" by Benjamin Hoff. Finding it intriguing, it is mentioned in the chapter concerning Tigger. The author went through a great deal of time making sure everyone knows Tigger's behavior is incorrect.

All virtues are important in maintaining a healthy society; however, sometimes there are inefficiencies related to a personality type. Laozi's observations are also observed by modern scientists. When finding how to handle this almost compulsive behavior of wanting to be lively and moving from one challenge to the next, boredom appears to be at the base of why they tend to grow and build only to start over when everything starts coming together. The advice is to practice patience, remain in a current activity and through self discovery find a career or path that is emotionally and intellectually fulfilling. Though ruts are odd to this nature those capable of staying on a similar path even when performing multiple tasks become irreplaceable members of the team, because they become skilled in their occupation and anticipate change. Desiring new experiences develops knowledge of many things.

The overall interpretation of the poem is applicable to a variety of people. One person does not always play the same role. Leaders are also students. Students are also teachers. Teachers are also workers and so-on. Instead of a static action we learn from various roles in life. Leaders need to be knowledgeable; therefore, when not directing they are learning from mentors shifting from being large to small.

An area of the poem makes me think of interpersonal relations, "Praising the self, one earns no respect." Often in life we feel above others, forgetting ourselves. People are not too different from animals. Another study revealed comfort between people in relation to proximity. Strangers stand five to three feet away; while friends stand closely even touching each other in a representation of pack mentality. It isn't odd to brush someone's hair away from their face or pluck lint from their suit. In between these stages a person will tell another there is food stuck to their lip.

Oddly, sometimes the pack is also composed of strangers. One time, at work, it was fine when a total stranger told me something was stuck to my shoe. At another time I was in a social gathering and someone felt it appropriate to brush my hair away and even place their hands on my shoulders. It was fine. Yet when someone I didn't know repeated a personal joke to me after talking to a friend. The reaction was, "Who do you think you are? We're not friends. You don't even know what that joke means."

A duality appears in the phrase, "Praising the self, one earns no respect." Their action of unwelcome aggression against me halts the ability to become friends. Though it seemed harmless, moving to quickly into a position of trust was unwelcome. My action towards them furthers the rift. Now, though total strangers, harbor ill will towards each other. If being in tune with our own natures we would be small and take moderate actions to prevent reactions. "Do not conquer the world with force, for force only causes resistance. Thorns spring up when an army passes."

It is odd how frequently large groups of individuals are represented through one person. An article "Our Capital," expands on the topic. This poem reflects one ethos in a microcosm to a macrocosm. Having many meanings, seeming to evade direct phrasing allows readers to find personal truth within the poem; therefore, the true meaning is what the person derives.

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Our Capital
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Poetry Breakdown
Dragonfly Haiku by Kobayashi Issa

Quirky Books
The Te of Piglet by Benjamin Hoff