The chapter begins with a line that ended up being a joke on me!
Abandon learning no worries
This reflects an ongoing theme throughout the Tao Te Ching, favoring the natural flow of Tao over conscious, or acquired, knowledge. As we’ve seen in recent chapters, this contrasts with the high value placed on learning in the Confucian system of social harmony.
There is much scholarly debate about the placement of this line. The four characters follow a pattern from the last chapter, so some scholars place this line at the end of Chapter 19. But placing it there ruins the symmetry and rhyming of the last lines of that chapter. Others place it here at the beginning of Chapter 20, but it is out of sync with the lines that follow.
So where is the joke? After spending a lot of time studying commentary and analytically comparing the alternative placements, I was feeling flummoxed and frustrated by the lack of a clear answer. Then I sat back and laughed.
Abandon learning no worries
Oh….
Now I am not worrying. The wisdom of the line has been clearly and effectively demonstrated through my own futile attempts to analyze its precise placement. The line, like Tao itself, can float where it will.
This is an especially meaningful concept for me (and obviously one I need to be reminded of). I always loved school, and loved the study of law as well as my career as a lawyer and a teacher of law. I have, for much of my life, lived in my head, where I was very much at home. I valued cerebral competence and enjoyed cerebral pursuits, and dismissed anything that smacked of feelings or intuition.
Over time, however, I recognized the limitations of such an approach to life. I lived long enough to see that when I disregarded my intuition in favor of a rational path, the result was never satisfactory. I came to understand that intellect has its place, but outside of that place, intellect is not very helpful, and in many cases is detrimental. As I began to seek out and rely on my intuition (inner guidance, divine guidance, Tao, Holy Spirit, whatever you want to call it), my life became infinitely happier, easier, more…um…beautiful, for lack of a better word.
So when I caught myself reverting to intellectual analysis to solve the “problem” of where this line goes, I had a good laugh.
Now that I’ve spent all this time inviting you to share the joke, what about the rest of the chapter? Through several comparisons, the follower of Tao is contrasted to other people in general. While people are going about their busy lives, the follower of Tao is compared to the precognitive purity of a newborn baby.
Some of the words used to describe the follower of Tao sound negative – dim, fool, confused, weak. However, taken in context they represent the undifferentiated formlessness of origin, or, in the words of the anonymous 14th century Christian mystic, the “cloud of unknowing.” When we enter this cloud, we leave all knowing behind. To go back to the first line, we abandon learning. And here is where we meet God.
Or, as the last line of the chapter says, we are nourished by the Great Mother.
When we remember this, as the first line promises, we have no worries. Like the lilies of the field and the birds in the sky, we are created and sustained by an energy we call by many names, but is beyond names and understanding. It is not ours to know, but to have faith. And when we can allow that flower of faith to bloom, then we rest in the perfection of being.
This first line reminds me what a high teaching this is. It reminds me that the infinite cannot be known through the conceptual mind. At the same time, I've seen how investigation and analysis of the right questions can lead to the dropping away of the conceptual into the infinite.
Ecclesiastes 12:12New King James Version (NKJV)
12 And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.
"Abandon learning no worries" – Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Can we ever hope to achieve? Should we even try? As you say, Galen "it is not ours to know, but to have faith." I certainly am placing my trust in God for all I don't know, and will have peace because of it.
Blessings!
Well said, Sandra. We have the ability to think rationally for a reason. The imbalance occurs when we rely exclusively on logical analysis. I love the way you said this–"the dropping away of the conceptual into the infinite." Beautiful.
CW, I laughed at this one because my weakness is books! I love reading and often turn to books to find inspiration as well as information. I always think "just one more book…." Great verse–thanks for sharing it.
Another good verse. Thanks to you, Martha, and CW for providing extra inspiration and wisdom. Your last sentence reminds me of one more verse about having the peace that passes all understanding. Literally! Thanks for commenting.
I must say that I smiled on this one. I know for you, abandoning learning would not be something you could do without worrying. It's clear to me that you have a deep love of learning as do I. I'm especially drawn to teachings and writings that reflect a hope for the presence of a supreme being or simply the presence of order and therefore a purpose to all things.
I find peace in knowing a Heavenly Father who loves each of His children; and a loving brother, Jesus Christ, who nurtures all through "His light".
That being said, your last sentence says it all. "And when we can allow the flower of faith to bloom; then we rest in the perfection of being." Having Faith helps us with the comfort and peace that we need as we go through the adversities of life. As always I enjoyed pondering this 20th chapter of Tao Te Ching.
Blessings and hugs!
I always enjoy your comments, LeAnn, because you are so willing to peek through a different "lens" at what I believe is the same truth underlying all wisdom teachings. It is that willingness to engage in conversation that, I think, models the path towards healing of all the false divisions in this world. So thank you.
I had a friend that wanted her priest to guarantee that there was a heaven and that her deceased mother was indeed there. She asked one priest after another in search of a promise of something that is without knowing. Nor one could give her a guarantee. It was a true test of her faith.
I think the wonder of the unknown is what makes our lives so beautiful.
"It is not ours to know, but to have faith. And when we can allow that flower of faith to bloom, then we rest in the perfection of being."
Thank you Galen.
b+
That is a great story, Barbara. I have thought about that ever since I read your comment. Thank you.
I love this, having had a similar battle to demote the executive in my frontal lobe (ego). He can be on the board of directors, but isn't CEO anymore. The change of season has me thinking of budding and yin filling. All the other plants and animals are experiencing new growth. The factors causing cats to go into heat, grass to grow, flowers to bud are affecting us too, of course. I loved the comment about the conceptual dropping away. Like opening curtains. There is more wisdom in us that we can allow to express. It's hard for control-types to trust self. But the rhododendrons are doing just fine without a lot of busy higher cognition.
Hey, Jessica. I love your connection between the season and this chapter. How perfect. I had not thought of things this way, but now I am, with delight. Thank you.