Chapter 10.3: The Profound Virtue of Producing but not Possessing

 

To produce things and then nourish them and yet, 

To produce and not possess, to act and not presume, 

to lead and not dominate – this is what is called profound virtue.

We live in a culture of production.  Businesses are constantly looking at things like logistics, automation, and process improvement to increase productivity.  Countless self-help programs, inspirational videos, and motivational speeches exist to help us become more productive in our lives.  We also live in a consumer society; a world driven by the accumulation of wealth and material goods.  We amass and stockpile; we hoard and store.  The more money we make, the more things we get – cars, boats, ATVs, summer homes, winter cabins.  There is nothing inherently wrong with any of those things – the danger lies in when we attach our worth to those external commodities or allow our status to justify feelings of superiority rather than service and gratitude.  As mentor Tony Robbins has repeatedly said, "Money doesn't change people, it just magnifies who they already are."  And yet, far too often we fall into the trap of thinking that money will solve all of our problems.

In contrast, the sage, or wise person, creates, nurtures, and nourishes themselves and others.  And yet, in making and producing, creating and building, the sage doesn’t seek to possess everything.  The sage acts, sets things in motions, leads out, and makes things happen – and yet doesn’t presume to be the superstar or the center of the universe.  The sage doesn’t place trust in or derive self-worth from those things, doesn't objectify people, and doesn’t seek to dominate or control every situation or circumstance.  There is a profound, subtle, and even mysterious virtue in this approach.  Doing so may seem counterintuitive but the results speak for themselves.  We also can go into situations as a sage, practicing unmediated action.  We can do what needs to be done, empower others in the process, and quietly step out of the limelight when the job is done.  There is a deep satisfaction in a more altruistic approach to life and decision making – one that a leader sees with the eyes and feels in the heart and lets dictate their course of action at every crossing, every juncture, and every interaction.  This is the power of virtue.  ~ DCB

The Chinese character (dé) 德 (dé) means power, potency, and virtue.  It is a compound ideogram comprised of a crossroad on the left and uprightness or virtue 惪, which can be further broken down into upright or correct views or perspectives 直over a heart 心.   Some ancient forms added a foot 足 under the crossroad on the left.  Taken together the character conveys the power and virtue of one who sees clearly and whose heart is upright in making decisions and choosing a course of action.



 

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