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Chapter Number | Content |
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2 | When seduced by an image of beauty, Form & emptiness arise together: Therefore the wise What arises lasts forever because |
18 | When realization of the Tao and authentic presence dims, The sicker the society, |
36 | When planning ahead and making decisions, most only consider the opportunity, the resources, the marketplace; few recognize their "luck," even think of luck as superstition. Another way of understanding luck could be the commingling of environmental challenges, cultural momentum, political environment, personal skill and—most importantly— timing. Seneca defined luck as preparation meeting opportunity, bad luck arising from reaching for the opportunity without the preparation. For example, waiting to take care of our health until we're older and having problems becomes a way of creating our own bad luck. On the other hand, cultivating patience, forethought, and unbiased awareness create the kind of luck that seizes realistic opportunity while quickly withdrawing when fortune turns unfavorable. |
74 | When people don’t appreciate living, But even if having a human executioner |
76 | When first born, we’re small and weak; When an army becomes inflexible, |
77 | What separates us often seems so huge while in actuality remaining quite tiny. We can almost always find a quality within ourselves that can harmonize and connect the people we communicate with—a little philosophy with the philosophers, a little humor with the jovial, seriousness with the scientific, saintly with the saints, street-smart with the hustlers. The good will and support of others determines so much of success in life and not much creates good will more than listening, noticing moods, understanding, and corresponding to each unique, personal interaction. |
54 | Well planted is not easily uprooted, Cultivated in yourself, goodness becomes real. We understand others through understanding ourselves, How do we know this is true? |
31 | Weapons of war Weapons are not auspicious tools, To rejoice at victory The death of so many |
62 | We're only as successful as our support, as our tools allow. Skill without the means of using it doesn't go far. Most find choosing and finding physical tools much easier than finding the best associates, partners, assistants, employees. Too often, factors unrelated to skill influence these decisions—for example, history's countless and disastrous examples of nepotism. Some worry that subordinates will outshine them and for this reason choose inferior support. Some make these bad choices from a misguided and inappropriate sense of compassion. |
127 | We seldom meet someone with a deep and genuine integrity. When we do, however, it inspires high-mindedness, noble words, courageous action. This quality shines brightest when an opportunity for revenge arises and the impulse is not only rejected but also inspires unexpected generosity. It speaks well of enemies, does not exaggerate or pretend, makes no pretense of victory, and conceals its merits. |
46 | We often see our own unacknowledged inner imperfections in others and build dislikes and prejudices against people and experiences before we know anything true about them. When this fabricated aversion attaches itself to the good and noble, it degrades us in a similar but opposite way as the appreciation and respect for the good in others ennobles us. |
40 | We often mistake admiration for affection, expect that the first leads to the second, and too often sacrifice the second for the first. Our natural talents, good fortunes, and inspirations can become a source of jealousy and resentments against us; or, they can become a foundation for tremendous goodwill when—instead of getting lazy resting on our accomplishments—we work hard doing good with both hands, being generous with both words and deeds, and being loved because of loving. In the social realm; courtesy, good manners, and grace become a kind of potent political magic. This nobility of spirit easily transmits through the years of history through the blessings of biographers. |
23 | We often cling to our faults and imperfections—both physical and moral—as a way of attracting sympathy and attention. Even when small however, enemies easily create a focus of attention on the defect which can obscure an abundance of good and noble qualities. Like a small cloud that can obscure the entire sun, a small failing can obscure the most impressive reputations. Therefore, don't neglect even the smallest shortcoming. Like Caesar who decorated his baldness with a laurel wreath, we can often transform mistakes and imperfections into unique and remarkable impressions. |
14 | We look but don’t see – it’s beyond form. All three undifferentiated, it merges into oneness It returns beyond the realm of things Face it but you will see no beginning, |
108 | We all have different and different degrees of strengths and weaknesses. When we only rely on our personal qualities, we do well in some areas but fail in others. In collaborations, we can focus on our strengths and rely on team members who are strong in areas we remain weak. By joining extremes—the cautious with the impulsive, the impatient with the plodding, the creative with the conservative—we can find the golden, middle way. The ability to agree with and appreciate people with very different qualities increases cultural goodness, makes the world more beautiful, and brings greatness to leaders. |
78 | Water seems so soft, weak, yielding And so the wise teach: |
88 | Watch carefully over the details of life always avoiding pettiness and elevating your interactions. But take a more tolerant view of others without prying into unpleasant matters. Superficial chattering always annoys and becomes harmful when hovering around unpleasant topics. Often the most wise and skillful response rests in pretending to not notice. Most irritations stay small when not attended to, expand when focused on. |
27 | Value inspired focus over a large but shallow abundance; quality over quantity. The larger the quantity, the lower the perceived value; the broader the spotlight, the more mediocrity. Don't value books based on their thickness like they were weight-lifting equipment. The best are always few and rare, giants are usually really dwarfs. Intensity can achieve much more success than skill, experience, and intelligence alone. The more innate ingenuity and genius, the more temptation to spread too thin, neglect the most important, and dissipate capacity. |
57 | Use conventional wisdom to rule a country, See how this is true by watching how: For these reasons wise leaders |
104 | Understanding and channeling the right people into the right positions requires great skill, insight, and perseverance. Each line of work does best with at least slightly different skill-sets. Discerning and matching the best person for each specific task defines management competence and expertise. The easiest project-matches involve honesty, courage, integrity; the hardest require skill, cleverness, subtlety. And the more foolish the employee, the more challenge in directing them. It takes double the sense to direct those without much. The most respected occupations include variety, independence, meaningfulness, and freedom; the least respected have the most unchanging hours and routine, the most supervision. |