The Way and the Power of Virtue

  Don’t value rare objects and people won’t steal. What do we value?  Do the brand names we choose to wear make us feel better about ourselves or better than anyone around us?   Do we ever find ourselves saying, “once I get this or that, I’ll be happy or worthy or enough?”  or "once I have this, I will have arrived?"  Do we ever belittle ourselves or believe we are "less than" because we don't possess certain items?  The truth is, o ur self-worth is not determined by what we can or cannot afford to wear or possess. We are not objects to be constantly rated by shallow and subjective social stereotypes . We don’t need rare or valuable accessories to adorn, enhance, or prove ourselves worthy in this world.   When we (mis)judge ourselves and others in this way, we are robbing ourselves and others of our true worth.   We are, all of us, not just rare but unique and irreplaceable, and therefore of infinite worth and value, where we are, as we are. ...

  Don’t vaunt people as “worthy” one over another and they won’t compete with each other. This chapter has traditionally had a dual reading, one for leadership and governance of people and one for self-governance of our own hearts and minds.   These two readings are inextricably linked because we by example. The first half of this chapter deals with three principles addressing (self) promotion and competition, objectification and (self) valuation, and flaunting, displaying, or showing off and (inner) peace and contentment.   First, we live in a (mis)judgmental world, a roller coaster of relative reality, relationships, and constant comparisons .   Every day in so many ways we pass judgment on ourselves and others.   We pay more attention to certain people while ignoring others.   We put certain things and people on pedestals and deem them “worthy” of our attention and striving.   In striving to find where we fit in, we often fall into the trap of bel...

This is why wise people dwell on unmediated action in everything they do.   They teach with actions not just words.   They make things happen, but they don’t claim that it all starts with them.   They act without self-will.   They accomplish great things without dwelling on their successes.   It is only because they don’t dwell on what they’ve done that their accomplishments don’t depart from them. In The Way and the Power of Virtue , the ideal person is a sage or wise person and sagacity or wisdom is the primary attribute. The Chinese character for wisdom or sagacity is connected to our ability to listen, to hear, and to hearken.  Because society is replete with relative relationships, subjective standards, and constant comparisons, what sets wise people apart in how they do things is that they dwell, abide, or adhere to “unmediated action” ( wuwe i).   This is one of the most difficult concepts in The Way and the Power of Virtue .  It has b...

  What is and what isn’t produce each other, difficulty and ease are formed in light of each other, long and short are judged against each other, highs and lows are measured against each other, noise and sound harmonize with each other, and first and last succeed one another –  these are universal constants in society. The interpretation of our human experience is relative and relational. The spectrum of what is present and missing, our understandings of difficulty and ease, highs and lows,  and even our measurements: long and short, big and small   are all relative to each other.   Our preferences for what is pleasing sound and music instead of just noise are also (dis)harmonized in relation to each other; the sequence of our lives – past, present, and future – and when things "should" happen is informed and interpreted  by cultural constructs and social schedules that assign significance to  what has already happened as well our  expectations,...

  When everyone in the world thinks it knows what to regard as beautiful,  there is ugliness – and that is ugly in and of itself.   When everyone thinks it knows what is best – that might not be the best. All social standards are subjective and create stereotypes. When a subjective social standard of what is beautiful is widely accepted and acknowledged by everyone, it automatically creates its opposite "ugliness" for all those who do not “fit” and that is despicable and ugly.  Every day we are bombarded with subjective stereotypes of "beauty."  Airbrushed images, doctored photos, and fake, fanciful facades  are all around us.  Every advertisement, every magazine at the grocery store checkout aisle, social media posts, TV shows, films -- they all perpetuate (willingly or unwittingly) a subjective social stereotype that is unrealistic, inauthentic, and disingenuine.  The truth is EVERYONE IS BEATIFUL   and amazing, unique and talented in ...

  These two – openness and intentionality – emerge together from the same source,  they are but different names for the same.   Together they are a mysterious paradox,  a mystery within a paradox – the gateway to all wonders. On the surface, openness to possibility, letting go, and freeing ourselves from appetites, desires, and ambitions seems completely opposite to intentionality – to setting our sights on goals, fixing our direction, and pursuing our dreams.  And yet, like Yin and Yang they are but two sides of the same coin, guardrails on either side of the Way, delineating the path and giving us room to navigate the course of our lives.  They provide a spectrum of action and opportunity.  Practicing both the intentional pursuit of our dreams and goals to get what we want out of life and the art of openness to unforeseen possibilities, letting go, being in the moment, and spontaneity throughout our lives will lead to wondrous opportunities and ...