Month: March 2011

A contented man knows himself to be more precious even than his fame, and so, obscure remains.

Only the soft overcomes the hard, by yielding, bringing it to peace. Even where there is no space, that which has no substance enters in. Through these things is shown the value of the natural way. The wise man understands full well that wordless teaching can take place, and that actions should occur without the wish for self-advancement.

No man wishes to be seen as worthless in another’s eyes, but the wise leader describes himself this way, for he knows that one may gain by losing, and lose by gaining, and that a violent man will not die a natural death.

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The ruin of blind belief is soon at hand.

Live you no longer in her shadow.

She is gathered together by most evil kings,

Who follow her, shall rot with her, both bone and marrow.

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Deep into the dark abyss of false belief,

Where injustice, lies, unfathomable greed and pain abide,

Where unjust law bears down with no relief,

Deep, where man’s shame may safely hide.

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The wickedness of our societies with lust for power is led,

The drive for wealth, unbridled power, the favoured throne.

From such fouled stable shall mankind ere seek a better bed,

Soon the ego and stupidity of kings shall ensure its own.

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Lead on you donkeys: bray, for your just reward is close to hand.

Your putrid secret ways to bend men's minds shall soon be known.

Closer than you think, you stand condemned by your own evil hand.

May even all of man be lost midst the horrors of your own atomic cone.

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Sweet reason must abide where ere the sun shall show her light,

Her daily altered course runs ignorant of man’s self catered plight.

Justice must stretch upon each land from shore to shore,

With only truth and justice to be the common rules for ever more.

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Till the sun shall neither rise, to set, to shine upon all mankind,

Presumptuous man! sweet reason should you seek and find.

You that are so well formed, yet so weak, with fear pounding in every chest,

First, if you can harder reason, guess, well formed, no weaker, blinder and no less.

2011 © Robert George Crosbie

Photo credit Clippalippa

The Way existed before its name, and from its name the opposites evolved, giving rise to three divisions, and then to names abundant yet of the same root. These things embrace receptively, achieving inner harmony, and by their unity create the inner world of man. In different tongues The Way is named differently and yet named the same.

On hearing the wisdom of The Way, the wise students practice it with diligence; the average student attends to his practice when his memory reminds him so to do; and the foolish student laughs. But we do well to remember that with no sudden laughter, there would be no natural way. Thus it is said, “There are times when even brightness seems dim; when progress seems like regression; when the easy seems most difficult, and virtue seems empty, inadequate and frail; times when purity seems sullied; when even that which is real seems unreal, and when a square seems to have no corners; when even great talent is of no avail, and the highest note cannot be heard; when the formed seems formless, and when the way of Nature is out of sight”. Even in such times as these, the natural way still nourishes, that all things may be fulfilled.

The true way of Nature is cyclic and returning. Its way is to yield, for to yield is to become. All things are born of being; being is born of non-being. From whence you came, so shall you return.

The low forms a foundation for the high; and hypocritical princes declare that they consider themselves of little worth. Each depends on humility, false or otherwise; therefore, according to this thinking, it is of no advantage to have too much success whilst showing great riches with large dwellings and fine clothes and jewels. Such would be well advised not to sound off loudly like prayer bells or clatter like stone chimes, drawing attention to your obvious failings.