Verse Twenty Four

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From: jimclatfelter
Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008

Verse Twenty Four
Herrymon Maurer, 1985

On tiptoe you don't stand.
Astride you don't walk.
Showing yourself, you don't shine.
Asserting yourself, you don't show.
Boasting yourself won't get you credit.
Vaunting yourself won't let you endure.
In Tao, these things are called
Tumors and dregs, which all things abhor.
Whoever has Tao does not dwell on them.

Verse Twenty Four
John R. Mabry, PhD

One who stands on tiptoe does not stand firm.
One who rushes ahead is likely to trip.
One who listens only to himself cannot learn.
One who considers himself righteous, isn't.
One who brags, has nothing to brag about.
One who feels sorry for himself does not grow.
Compared to the Tao, these people are table scraps and wasted effort,
and not well-liked by anyone or anything.
So, if you follow the Tao, you will not live like that.

Verse Twenty Four
Lok Sang Ho, 2002

He who stands on tip-toe cannot really stand.
He who takes big strides cannot really walk.
He who sees only through his own point of view cannot see clearly.
He who thinks he is always right will not see the truth.
He who boasts of his own achievements will achieve nothing,
He who is self-contented will not grow.

Such people to the Dao are like those who eat too much or do too much,
They will be fed up with what they eat or what they do.
Hence those who follow the Dao will not fall into the "too much" mode.

Verse Twenty Four
Daodejingle, 2000

Who stands on tiptoe topples
Who runs ahead soon loses speed
Who goes on show is hidden
Who pushes far gives up the lead

Just keep with what is given
The present here and now
Don't overreach and don't oppose
Invite, admire, and allow

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From: Steve Palmer
Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008

Hi Jim

A favourite translation of the Tao Te Ching by Jerry O. Dalton also has a paraphrase after each verse.
For verse 24 It reads:
Those who boast display inner uncertainty.
Those who show off lose presence and leadership ability.
Boasting and bragging assure failure and alienation. All of these things are symptoms of the failure of ego.
To Sages these things are extra baggage and do not bring happiness.
Thus the Sage turns away from ego.

This reminded me of my own boasting / insecurity as the two do seem to appear together.Hopefully not too often !

Also it made me think of Douglas.The few times I met him he seemed a very considerate, open sort of person.
With a sort of uneffected humbleness, though he was very certain when talking about headlessness.

I feel the example/life of a modern day Sage like Douglas and others can make you see "the extra baggage " you may be carrying through their commitment to not carrying it. All obvious stuff really.

Steve

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From: simon
Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008
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Hi all,
Yes, this "extra baggage" is a lovely expression: the relief when it slips from the shoulders!
Steve, your reminiscences of Douglas reminded me of the first contact I had with him. I was shocked by the humility and humanity (coming from a 'Gurdjieff' environment where other aspects were in the forefront)
I "expected" more 'authority' .... and yet could not mistake that subtle presence, clarity and space - not to mention acceptance and love - that I now see is felt by all those with whom one "exchanges" heads.

This verse seems so simple on first reading, yet it goes far! A clear (can one say "comparison"?) of 'headed' and 'no-headed' behaviour...
It is interesting to take these "pointers" when walking, talking, listening etc.

So simple really, yet so profound.
Sometimes wonder, sometimes quiet joy arising, but always that vast reserve...

Happy weekend, one and all
simon

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From: jimclatfelter
Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008

Hi Steve and Simon,

I've never seen the version by Jerry O. Dalton, but I've ordered it from Amazon. I like the idea of a paraphrase for commentary.

"Showing yourself, you don't shine." The way to show my true and whole self is to show another how to see what I see right here.

These lines seem to be saying that asserting yourself will trip you up. What's here to assert? Nothing at all. Just openness.

Jim

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