The Lunar Tao by Ming-Dao Deng

Author:Ming-Dao Deng
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2012-11-22T05:00:00+00:00

176 Capturing a Dragon

If things aren’t right, what are you going to do?

Will you dive with your sword to do battle?

Some Taoists say that we should accept everything as it is. Why do they then busy themselves with so many things? Practicing exercises, chanting scriptures, digging in their gardens, traveling the world, healing the sick. For people who are supposed to simply rely on Tao, they really are quite contrary.

A Taoist does not depend solely on doctrine. All is meant to be revised and changed. As soon as you say what a Taoist is, a thousand exceptions can be found. As soon as you say what a Taoist isn’t, you’ll meet a person who isn’t like any of the classical descriptions and yet demonstrates the insight and character of a Taoist. You’ll never pin a Taoist down. You’ll never define one. And if you are one, you delight in being yourself. Every rule is meant to be broken, and every broken rule only proves the rule in the first place.

Sometimes, Tao is out of balance. Sometimes, things are wrong and people are suffering. Is it Tao to act? Or is it Tao to retreat? Tao is not to fall into the trap of choosing between extremes, but rather to act spontaneously as is right at the moment.

If an evil dragon is hurting the people year after year, and the Taoist has a great sword, then let that Taoist act and save the people. If a person has the ability to save others and does not—then that person is the true evil dragon.

The great flood of life is constantly upon us. If you can, like Li Bing, relieve suffering by diverting the waters, and sustain others by bringing water to them, that’s a superior way of life. People help in the ways that are most suitable to them. For some, the way might be fighting dragons with swords. For others, it is designing practical flood management. Everyone is the sage-king according to his or her particular circumstances.

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