Chapter 25.2: Fording the River and Expanding Our Souls

Therefore, the Way is expansive, the heavens are expansive,

the earth is expansive, and people are, for their part, expansive.

There are Four Expansives in the realm, 

and humanity resides as one of them.

Humanity emulates the earth, the earth emulates the heavens,

the heavens emulate the Way, 

and the Way emulates things just as they are.

What the “Old Master” called the “Four Expansives” are four sources of inspiration, four places we can turn to in expanding and enlarging our souls, our thoughts, our beliefs, and our ability to do good in the world.  They are: the Way, the heavens, the earth, and people.  The Way is expansive.  It expands us.  It enlarges our view of ourselves, our possibilities, our potential, the world, and those around us.  This is because there is ALWAYS a Way -- a Way to get from wherever we are to wherever we want to be in our lives.  The Way meets us where we are and provides a personal path of possibility and progress.

The heavens, meaning the universe, the cosmos, and perhaps even whatever higher power, deity, or divine being(s) one believes resides up there, or out there, or manages it all, are also expansive.  Have you ever sat out looking at the stars just contemplating worlds and galaxies, without end?  In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the Psalmist said: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork" (Psalm 19:1).  There is something soul stretching about seeing the endless expanse that surrounds us.  There is so much more out there than our struggles here on this planet and yet we are a part of it all.

The world we live in is also expansive.  There is nothing quite as grounding and inspiring as getting out in nature and breathing in the fresh mountain air.  A morning meditation in a mountain or meadow reconnects our souls to the land we live in, to the beauty that surrounds us, and to our core being.  Throughout my life, I have found that half an hour outside can bring peace and perspective in even the most difficult times.  In the words of Scotch-American naturalist and "Father of the National Parks" John Muir (1838-1914), "everyone needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and to pray in where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike."

People can also be a great source of inspiration and expansion on our journey through life.  We have all benefited from friendship and fellowship along the Way.  Some people inspire us, nurturing seeds of love, acceptance, and encouragement within our souls; others drain us, sapping our light, life, and hope.  We get to choose who we surround ourselves with, so choose wisely.  We can look to be inspired and elevated by those around us and we can elevate everyone we meet.  We can leave a string behind for others as we make our Way through the maze of life.

The Way allows us to just be ourselves, who we are, as we are, where we are in this present moment, even as we make our Way from where we are to where we want to be in our lives.  We don't need to show off for others.  We don't need to put ourselves on display, objectify ourselves, or try to increase or enhance our self-worth with external things.  In the words of Canadian author and inspirational speaker Danielle LaPorte, "Can you remember who you were before the world told you who you should be?"  As we give ourselves permission to just be ourselves and practice hopeful authenticity, we give everyone us permission to do the same.  ~ DCB

 

 

Translation Notes: Both the Mawangdui and the Guodian manuscripts replace ‘people’ 人 with ‘the king’ 王 and ‘realm’ 域 with ‘the state’ 国.  Given that the text was primarily presented to rulers during the Warring States period (453-221 BCE), it makes sense that this was its original context and audience.  That it was changed later to make it more accessible to a broader audience following the unification of China and the creation of empire, also makes sense.  The underlying principle is the same.  As a lesson on leadership, a king is just a person and every person can become greater, can grow and expand, and become more than we currently are.  Each of us is royalty in our way, each a King or Queen in our day.  Each of us is regal, a precious treasure like fine jade and each of us can be an example of good to those around us.  It is our opportunity and responsibility to lead out in our respective spheres of influence by emulating regal and ennobling virtues and treating everyone like kings and queens, so go get your crown and then start handing them out to others.

 

Etymology Notes: The character 法 (fǎ) is a compound ideogram comprised of water on the left 氵 and 去 meaning ‘to go’ on the right.  The character 去 is comprised of 土 (land or earth) above 厶a variant of mouth 口, in this case referring to an opening in the landscape that one can go through.  Thus, as a noun 法 refers to the place or opening where one ford a river so that you or your animals will not drown.  As a verb, 法 means ‘to model’ or ‘to emulate’ a standard or law.  How, are these two meanings tied together? An older and more complex version of 法 is 灋, which adds 廌 above 去 and to the right of the water 氵.  廌 (zhì) was a mythical beast, originally resembling a large stag (which later morphed into a more dragon-like or lion-like unicorn/pegasus creature).  According to legend, the 廌 would appear to good people to show them where to ford the river, thereby providing a standard or law worthy of emulation.  De-mythologizing for a moment, it is clear to see how an ancient people looking to find a ford across a dangerous river would have regarded the sudden appearance of a stag crossing somewhere up or downstream, thereby showing them the way across, as a sign or good omen that could easily grow into a legend of a mythical beast that shows the way, thereby becoming a standard and law to emulate.

 

"River Crossing: Red Deer Stags Fording A River" by Martin Ridley