53: Adding Proof
Introduction
This verse has some interesting nuances in its language and delightfully veiled alchemical language. The shift in tone grabbed my attention.
It’s almost like I can hear the words saying, “Pst! You. Ya, you! Are you paying attention?! Quit doing the stupid stuff you know doesn’t help you! Maybe, just maybe, you could invest some energy in what I’m teaching you since you asked my advice. But suit yourself!” ::shrugs::
Translation
Make me rely on having knowledge
to walk on the Great Way
and all I fear is going awry.
The Great Way is smooth and broad!
Yet, people prefer the narrow trail.
The royal palace rots.
The fields are overgrown.
The granaries stand empty.
And yet…
The clothes are fine.
The accessories are on point.
Glutted with food and drink.
Wealthy beyond all need.
This is just showboating!
Not Weaving the Way.
Commentary
Make me rely on having knowledge
to walk on the Great Way
And all I fear is going awry.
The first line uses a very nuanced character for “rely on.” 介 (jiè) indicates the middle way or the narrow gap between two things. It can be translated in many different ways, from “to lie between” or “to hang, suspend” to “a tiny bit.” The commentarial literature tends to favor notions of “small” or “tiny” because the concept of knowledge is often related to our capacity to analyze and work with fine details.
However, the context of this verse isn’t about contrasting relative knowledge against openness, as was done in the previous verse’s statement that “Seeing intricacies is clarity. Protecting softness is strength.”
Instead, the call is to recognize that using our small, relative mind to determine the path we should walk puts us in a position of rigidity, fear, and uncertainty. It’s like how when we put ourselves under pressure to perform well, the pressure we create for ourselves reduces our ability to perform. If you’ve ever had to give a public performance, compete in a sport, or face a difficult conversation, you will likely be familiar with this phenomenon.
The Great Way is smooth and broad!
Yet, people prefer the narrow trail.
We are reminded that Weaving the Way is a function that is broad and smooth. It is our natural state to be and then do accordingly. It is only through the confusion born of pain and fear that we disconnect from being in favor of reactively doing. The “narrow trails” of figuring things out, becoming rigid in our worldview, and focusing on surviving instead of thriving are the natural function outcome of challenging life circumstances.
It seems “easier” and “safer” to pick out a trail using our overpowered cognitive abilities, but our intuition is a far more powerful tool. If you’ve ever experienced being “in flow” during an activity, you have tasted what it’s like to be “fully online” but primarily informed by intuition. Such flow states are analogous to Weaving the Way.
The royal palace rots.
The fields are overgrown.
The granaries stand empty.
A delightful bit of veiled alchemical language, the royal palace, the fields, and the granaries refer to the three primary Daoist energy centers. The royal palace is the upper dan tian, or third eye chakra, home of the spirit. The field is the middle dan tian, or heart chakra, home of the Breath. The granary is the lower dan tian, or sacral chakra, home of the vital essence.
I understand the message here to be that people who are ” outward-facing” in their attempts to navigate life neglect the cultivation and preservation of their source of well-being.
And yet…
The clothes are fine.
The accessories are on point.
Glutted with food and drink.
Wealthy beyond all need.
Meanwhile, they have material abundance in spades and continue to focus on greater material comfort, fame, wealth, and transitory pleasures. In an interesting parallel, Buddhism lists the five desires that keep people trapped in suffering as food, sleep, money, sex, and attention from others.
You may guess that “the accessories are on point” is a divergence from the original, and you are correct. The original says, “carrying a sharp sword.” The idea is that a rich person’s sword is fancy and brand new because they carry it as a status symbol. Updating it as having “on-point accessories” feels like it better conveys the spirit of the text.
This is just showboating!
Not Weaving the Way.
The term I’ve translated as “showboating” is 盗夸 which is literally “stealing praise” and has a very derogatory feeling to it, like “attention whore.”
This verse feels quite sharp, as though the mocking language contrasts with the overall supportive and gentile tone of the teaching to get our attention. We’ve seen this tactic before, such as in verse 24. I enjoy how it shows up because it makes everything feel much more human. I also enjoy that it doesn’t feel overused, as some teachers rely heavily on mockery or “crazy wisdom” in their style.