Nine Nights with the Taoist Master by Liao Waysun

Author:Liao, Waysun
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Taoism

your practice. They won’t understand. And even

beware of yourself if you aren’t a little confused!”

“I only ask these questions because you keep

insisting that you are leaving,” KoWu reminded the

guest. “If I practice as you say, I will have no

master to help me know if I am on the path of

success or on the path of failure. Since you’ll be

gone, tell me, how should I feel after achieving the

Te power?” KoWu drummed his fingers a bit

nervously on the table in front of him.

Laotzu answered, “After achieving the power of

Te, it’s as if: 41-11 The great square has no

corners; 41-12 A great work takes a long time to

complete; 41-13 The highest notes make little

sound; 41-14 The greatest image has no shape. 41-15

The power of Tao is hidden and nameless. 41-16

Only the power of Tao nourishes and brings

everything to completion.”

“That’s what I mean,” cried KoWu. “How do you

expect me to figure this out when you’re gone if

your answers make so little sense? And no, that is

not one of my nine questions!” KoWu’s frustration

began to show.

Like a loyal servant, Chong Zen stepped in to

diffuse the tension lest his employer embarrass

himself by possibly losing his temper.

Clearing his throat, Chong Zen jumped in to ask a

relatively harmless question. “Master, I have

studied the philosophy of I Ching, the Classic of

Changes. Does this have anything to do with the

power of Tao you talk about?”

Laotzu gave the prince a chance to compose

himself. He’d gladly chat with the scholar awhile.

The sage calmly answered Chong Zen, “If you are

familiar with the I Ching, then you will know it

discusses various powers and their numeric

equivalents. But fundamentally, 42-1 The power of

Tao created the wholeness, the one. And the one

flows

into

two

separate,

opposite

yet

complemented, equal powers. And between the two

equal yet opposite powers, there lies the third kind

of power, the Chi. The two powers generate the

third power, the three. Yin power, Yang power

and Chi make three powers. 42-2 And the third kind

of power at work begot the ten thousand things.”

Chong Zen continued, “Master, how do the Yin and

Yang power work?”

“42-3 The ten thousand things all carry Yin power

and embrace Yang power,” Laotzu replied.

“Then Master, how does the third power work?”

continued the scholar.

“42-4 Yin and Yang power achieve harmony by

combining their two powers through the third: the

Chi.”

Laotzu walked over to the shallow tray of sand as a

servant handed him a long piece of bamboo. The

sage repeated everything he’d just said to Chong

Zen, but this time, he drew a picture to illustrate

each point.

In the time it took for the guests to gather around the

sand diagrams, the prince successfully regained his

good humor and joined the group. He caught Chong

Zen’s eye and nodded an inconspicuous “thank-

you” to the wise scholar for giving him time to cool

off.

While he drew, Laotzu motioned for the servant to

smooth the surface again in between each picture so

that he could continue with the next.

The scribe Pen Hei alone remained in his seat,

thankful for the chance to catch up with his

carvings.

Servants also took the opportunity to catch up with

their work, clearing away the dinner debris and

serving trays from the long tables while the guests

studied Laotzu’s tracings.

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