Message from canaise

[Anonymous]

In Daoism I am surprised to learn that they participated in violence. I've read the classic THE DAO DE JING many times and never got a hint violence except in this passage: "heaven and earth are ruthless, and treat myriad creatures as straw dogs; the sage is ruthless, and he treats people as straw dogs." Now, Clayton tells me that even the Daoists could engage in BLOW BACK when it was evidently needed. But, perhaps this could be seen as a "natural" storm, one that is cleansing.

Another thing: I never thought of the Daoists as guys who hung out in groups, but as solitary sages, seeking to absent themselves from the insanity of state life. And, it seems self-evident that if one piles up riches, the next guy will look at this, desire these goods, yes, theft will arise in the mind of the most innocent of men.

I see a similar concept in the Native American community and the idea of the potluck: give it all away every year; don't store up riches for one's own family; get bigger; give it away. It's all this piling up of stuff that creates the problem in the first place. And, recognize your humble place in the tribe of mankind. Keep low to the ground, like water.