RAREFIRINGS' OVERFLOWS September 20, 2016

PEACE TO KEEP BEFORE I SLEEP
RAREFIRINGS WITH RAREFIED ONES
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TAO’S CORE OVERFLOWS
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2:48 AM-9/20/16

The Master achieves success,
yet he never does a thing.
His example penetrates the whole world,
yet no one depends upon him.
People don’t see him as a leader
since he lets them find their own way.
He stands upon what is fathomless
and walks where no path exists.
The Second Book of the Tao #26
Stephen Mitchell

COMMENTARY
The Master’s job couldn’t be cushier.
 All he does is be, and he doesn’t even do that. 
There’s nothing required of him. 

He doesn’t help, doesn’t lead, doesn’t set an example.
 He just observes the marvelous transformations of mind.
 When we live or work with him,
 we are inspired by his very presence,
by the spaciousness of it. 

Finally, someone who is at home in the world
 who’s utterly responsible and carefree.
 We didn’t know it was possible to be happy all the time. 
We didn’t know you could have a heart
without any checkpoints.

The Master doesn’t interfere in other people’s lives.
 Why would he?
 He knows that he doesn’t know what’s best for the world,
or even for himself. 

 He leaves the gold hidden in the mountains,
 because he doesn’t need it on his wrist
 or around his wife’s neck or in the bank.

  Yes, he could buy pickaxes and hire ten village of dwarfs,
but he realizes that when you extract gold
 there’s always an irritated dragon to deal with.
 Besides, entrepreneurship is less exciting
 than the adventure of discovering what is enough.

  How fine life becomes when what you want
​ is exactly what you have!
​
COMMENTARY
The Second Book of the Tao #26
Stephen Mitchell