61

[Kunga]

A Great country is like the lowland toward which all streams flow. It is the Reservoir of all under heaven, the Feminine of the world.
The Feminine always conquers the Masculine by her quietness.
Hense, if a great country can lower itself before a small country, it will win over the small country : and if a small country can lower itself before a great country, it will win over the great country.
The one wins by stooping: the other by remaining low. What a great country wants is simply to embrace more people; and what a small country wants is simply to come to serve it's patron. Thus, each gets what it wants. But it behooves a great country to lower itself.


[Lao Tzu...Tao Teh Ching]

[Diebert van Rhijn]

This verse seems more readable in the interpolation of Peter Merel:

• A nation is like a hierarchy, a marketplace, and a maiden. A maiden wins her husband by submitting to his advances; submission is a means of union. So when a large country submits to a small country, it will adopt the small country. When a small country submits to a large country it will be adopted by the large country. The one submits and adopts; the other submits and is adopted. It is in the interest of a large country to unite and gain service and in the interest of a small country to unite and gain patronage. If both would serve their interests, both must submit.

It reminded me of a story about Hakuin being accused of getting a local girl pregnant. The girl accused him of being the father as to keep the identity of the real father hidden. Hakuin didn't admit or deny but only said: "Is that so?" and accepted the care of the baby while it could mean a huge blow to his reputation. After a year the girl suddenly made the real father known to everyone. Hakuin didn't react on all the surprise and apologies but with another "Is that so?" and returned the child.

[Cahoot]

Happy Birthday Kunga!

*

The 75 Skills Every Man Should Master
http://www.esquire.com/features/essential-skills-0508

[parasympathetic]

Are we talking of the polarities in creation.The positive and the negative forces when they come together become something greater.A genesis.