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Introduction

This verse uses a mechanical observation about archery to make a structural description of the dynamic tension in Weaving the Way.  That excess tension is reduced, and a lack of tension is supplemented.

Human systems tend to do the opposite: taking from what is already lacking and serving what is already full.

Reflecting on these principles invites us to investigate the harmony of forces across multiple spheres and how we can be skillful participants in that harmony.

Translation

The Way of Creation is like
  Drawing a Bow.

Raise it by pressing it,
  Lower it by pulling it,
Having overdrawn,
  reduce it.
If underdrawn,
  add to it. 

Therefore, The Way of Creation is:
  Reduce excesses
    And
  Supplement lack.

The Way of a Person,
  Take from what is insufficient,
    and
  Serve what is already excessive.

Who has excess,
  yet has the means to
    take it and present it to Heaven? 
Only one who already has the Dao.

This is how The Wise
  Act and yet do not possess,
    Succeed and yet do not dwell in it.

Like this,
  they do not wish
    to be exposed to virtue.

Commentary

The Way of Creation is like
  Drawing a Bow. 

The Way of Creation refers to the dynamic and harmonious unfolding of complementary yet opposing forces of the Dao. 

Raise it by pressing it,
  Lower it by pulling it,
Having overdrawn,
  reduce it.
If underdrawn,
  add to it.  

These are basic archery instructions that may read somewhat oddly if you haven’t ever spent time with a full-strength bow. If you haven’t, here are some brief comments on the dynamics the verse is highlighting.

Drawing a full-strength bow isn’t simply a matter of pulling the string back while the bow arm is statically extended. Proper technique involves pressing the bow away with the grip arm while drawing the string back to the anchor point, creating balanced dynamic tension.

Similarly, when releasing the bow in a controlled manner, i.e., “letting down the draw,” the feeling is more of “pulling” back on the string while slowly relaxing the grip arm. This safely releases tension without firing the arrow or damaging the bow.

Bows have an intended draw length determined by their length and the stiffness of their limbs. An overdraw or underdraw refers to drawing the bow beyond or short of its intended draw length. Regularly over-drawing a bow can weaken it, eventually causing it to break. Under-drawing a bow fails to bring it to its full power, which impacts accuracy and efficacy. To realize the importance of overdrawing and underdrawing, we must also understand the archer’s paradox.  

The archer’s paradox refers to the deformation of the arrow as it flexes around the bow stave upon release, yet still flies true. This is especially evident in traditional archery, where the shaft of the arrow must flex around the bow stave. The stiffness, or spine, of the arrow shaft must be calibrated to the power of the bow for there to be accuracy in the shot. If the spine is too soft or too stiff, the arrow will have an erratic flight, resulting in a loss of accuracy and angled strikes on the target. In cases of severe mismatch between the power of the bow and the spine of the arrow, the shaft can even shatter on release. Because arrow spines are calibrated to the bow at a specific draw length, over- and under-drawing the bowstring doesn’t just influence the bow; it also influences the flight of the arrow. 

In summary, dynamic tension must be handled appropriately to achieve the intended results.

Therefore, The Way of Creation is:
  Reduce excesses
    And
  Supplement lack. 

Reducing excess and adding to what is missing is how the Dao enacts harmony. This is a stark contrast to how our ego structures operate and prefer things to go. 

The Way of a Person,
  Take from what is insufficient,
    and
  Serve what is already excessive.

Socially, we see this in the natural accumulation of wealth or power and the inevitable redistribution that follows when the disparity becomes too great. 

Individually, we tend to spend less time on what we dislike and more time on what feels good. We would rather reinforce our strengths than face our sense of inadequacy.

One of the most significant ways this tendency negatively affects our lives is by shaping our attention. Attention naturally falls on what is most dominant in our experience, for example, an anxious thought or a sad emotion. As that experience dominates our attention, our focus narrows and begins filtering out information that does not align with it. The dominant experience gains momentum, and we’re off to the races.

Though we rarely apply this same scrutiny to emotions we label as positive, it is equally true that an excess of a positive emotion can filter out critical information, leading to unpleasant situations. A common example is starting something new, such as a relationship or a hobby. At first, everything seems perfect, and we float on a cloud of euphoria. Being on cloud nine feels amazing. So all-consumingly amazing that we simply cannot see the warning signs that this new endeavor is headed for some rocky terrain. Unprepared, we come “crashing back to earth,” an impact that many endeavors do not survive.

Who has excess,
  yet has the means to
    take it and present it to Heaven? 
Only one who already has the Dao.

In an external sense, this phrase highlights that being internally referenced and spiritually fulfilled empowers us to share our abundance with others. There is a wellspring of generosity that is naturally present in the human condition when we are not living from lack. 

Internally, “having the Dao” takes on quite a different meaning. When we are already in touch with the Dao, we have the capacity to surrender. This mirrors many teachings on faith, but faith isn’t central to the Weaving Way. Instead, this points to the need to cultivate the ability to preserve the center, alongside other meditative capacities that enable us to directly experience This (see verses 21 and 75). Through these practices, we strengthen our ability to “yoke” our attention to the object of our choosing rather than letting it be dominated by unhelpful processes.

Such mastery of attention enables the Weaver to be persistently aware of much more of the web of life’s dynamic unfolding, including the truth that we simply cannot know all of the factors at play in determining how something came about, or how it will play out.

This is how The Wise
  Act and yet do not possess,
    Succeed and yet do not dwell in it. 

Radical openness to, and awareness of, the dynamic interplay of forces are critical to Integrity (德, dé). Integrity recognizes that whatever our part in something is, it isn’t ours alone. Integrity understands that there is no end point, so success is a subjective, transient sentiment to appreciate, but not an achievement to dwell on. 

Like this,
  they do not wish
    to be exposed to virtue. 

The final line is often rendered as “… do not wish to display their virtue,” continuing the trope of a hidden sage blending in among normal people. While this is a possible reading that shows some consistency throughout the text, Weaving the Way describes the sage as someone effortlessly competent and self-assured; someone hard to notice because they don’t look like they’re trying and don’t seek out external validation.

The phrase used here (見賢, jiànxián) is likely a shorthand allusion to Analects 4.17 “The Master said, When you see a worthy person, think about how you can equal him. When you see an unworthy person, reflect on your own conduct.” 

Throughout this project, performative virtue culture has been the target of contrast and criticism. Fully aligning with the principles of Weaving the Way results in powerful internal referencing and a profound respect for every other being’s distinct place in the tapestry of life.

Emulating others based on appearances, or altering our behavior to align with the expectations of those who don’t see the full weave, is a loss of Integrity.