dao bravery

One willing to take his own life into his hands Will not hesitate to take the lives of others. There were once two friends hiking in the mountains. One was a poet, the other was a statesman. They came to a deep ravine, and at the bottom were roaring rapids with a narrow plank bridge spanning the gap. “Let’s climb down and write our names on the other side,” suggested the statesman. The poet refused. So the statesman went bravely down, crossed the bridge, and wrote their names in beautiful calligraphy. The he climbed back up. “Someday you will murder a man,” predicted the poet. “Why do you say that?” exclaimed his companion. “Those who will take their own lives into their hands will not hesitate to take the lives of others.” Beware the brave man. He may be a hero, willing to risk his very life, but he will also be willing to endanger the lives of others. After all, he is a risk taker and therefore does not see the wisdom in conservation, compassion, and carefulness. Such a person will threaten others, force his will upon others, and even murder others not out of passion but out of something much more deadly—rationale. He will justify his actions according to ideology, patriotism, religion, and principle. When attacked, a brave man goes forth with strength, power, and confidence. In that boisterousness, there is little awareness of the subtle. Life is not simple, and it takes a great deal of time to master. Perhaps that is why the brave are youthful while the wise are old. bravery 365 Tao daily meditations Deng Ming-Dao (author) ISBN 0-06-250223-9 Reba and Seven in the Garden the day after learning Reba has terminal cancer ©2005.10.11 lisbeth west a lovely letter came to me the other day, and dao shows it to me again today please enjoy the love shared here: I enjoy your poetry, so, in the spirit of push-hands (nin so) I offer you a Haiku that came to me about 5 hours into a chi kung, meditation, tai chi workout. I was so tired and I just saw ocean water responding to chi and thus I was infused with more chi and a greater gentleness so that I could finish the difficult form. I still use it as a mantra: Water does no work… Water does no work...Water does no work...Water does no work...Water does no work...Water does no work… It reminded me of your poetry. Thank you for your site. Oh, by the way, I think you know my Sifu. His name is Bing Moon Lee. He teaches world-wide but mostly in Denver. Chan Si Chen Haiku (for you) Water does no work Crushing rock to finest sand Common. Miracle. Warm regards, Kasper archived at http://www.duckdaotsu.org/115/bravery.html a reading list of books and interpretations of the Daodejing is available at http://www.duckdaotsu.org/dao_books.html Join the daily Taoist meditations mailing list Email: email to: See new designs & be first to hear about special sales duckdaotsu RT