Verse 23: Nothing is Everywhere
Introduction
Many verses discuss finding and aligning with the eternal energy source called “Dao.” This verse points out that the energy is not separate from what it energizes. Who we are is precisely what we do, and what we do clearly reflects who we are. The biggest problem with these “being” verbs is that they create a sense of stability and stasis. As a consequence, people may choose to focus on “becoming.”
This is a false dichotomy.
Translation
Shh! Just do it.
Morning winds fade.
The rainy day ends.
What makes it like this?
Nature.
Nothing Nature does lasts long,
How can what people do be any different?
The weavers are the Way.
The virtuous are Virtue.
The lost are Loss.
The Virtuous Way accepts
those who weave it.
Loss embraces
those who identify with it.
Commentary
Shh! Just do it.
The verse opens with lines reminiscent of verse 17’s “Pay Attention! Sparingly use every precious word.” The motif throughout the text that points away from language, away from talking about, and toward the actions we take in the world is a critical one to explore.
It does not matter what we tell ourselves about our experience, our values, or how we wish things were. What matters is being connected to a more profound truth and being willing to see the interplay of forces unfolding in the ever-evolving Dao.
Morning winds fade.
The rainy day ends.
What makes it like this?
Nature.
Always remember that existence is a constantly flowing stream of change.
Nothing Nature does lasts long,
How can what people do be any different?
As part of nature, humans are part of the same constantly changing phenomenon.
The weavers are the Way.
The virtuous are Virtue.
The lost are Loss.
At this point, the verse enters some interesting non-dual territory. One key to understanding the enigmatic Dao (道) is that it is both a noun (path, way) and a verb (to walk). In other words, is it a path if no one is walking on it? If someone is walking somewhere, isn’t that their path, regardless of how well-defined it is? The key to meditative living is radically accepting that we are what we say, do, and think. All of which constantly changes!
In a moment when we are emptied, connected to the center, and flowing with spontaneous skillful action, we are the Dao. In a moment when we make decisions based on a more profound truth without overdue consideration for personal gain or loss, we are Virtue. In a moment when we are caught up in our stories and following unconscious, confused patterns, we are a lost soul.
The Virtuous Way accepts
those who weave it.
Due to this inter-relationship, the Dao is only truly present when people are attuned to it. The connection to flow supports the weavers of the way, and the weavers of the way strengthen the flow. Practically speaking, this means that being in flow is a habit. Over time, meditative living builds inertia that makes it easier and easier to stay connected to the profound center. In more modern language, there is universal support for living our purpose.
Loss embraces
those who identify with it.
We can close our eyes to our capacity to effectively weave the way. Losing our way can feel so devastating that we convince ourselves there is no way forward. This is the cold, dark embrace of loss. However, this whole verse demonstrates the temporary nature of such a condition.
The moment I feel lost and stop, I am no longer walking and cannot be on a path. I am back on the path when I start walking it again. These changes in states are immediate and can happen multiple times a day.
Our job is to keep walking, not to find some idealized state and stay there. On the way, there will be incredible vistas and beautiful sunsets. There will also be dangerous mountain passes and scary forest caves. Each new territory holds sacred moments of life that challenge us to keep flowing with the mystery of life.