Lien. To combine, to connect. On the left of the character is the symbol for “ear.” On the right is a phonetic, a picture of silk on a loom that symbolizes union.
The correct approach to life is to pay attention — and harmonize — both sides of every issue.
If you are weight lifting, it is good to do pulling movements as well as pushing movements.
If you are a musician, it is good to sing the notes as well as play them on your instrument.
If you are an artist, sketching is as valuable as painting.
If you are a boxer, dodging has as much tactical usefulness as striking.
If you are a doctor, diagnosis is as critical as treatment.
If you are introspective, it is still beneficial to spend time with others.
If you are extroverted, it is still helpful to spend time alone.
Those who follow Tao understand that combining methods, rather than isolating them, yields the greatest results. It is not that we will never specialize. But whatever discipline we enter, we must make sure to survey the whole of it. Each technique we learn will then fit into the next one, until we amass a contiguous set of methods. By combining, we compuound learning to extrordinary dimensions.
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I think our greatest challenge in the next few years will be to combine the best ideas of both sides of our poitical spectrum and come up with good solutions to our problems. There is so much separation in our viewpoints, and yet our children must become the ones who can take the best of these viewpoints and combine them to generate something that really works.
In my own practice, I’ve learned a lot about combining techniques. I practice both pilates and yoga, and the strength I build in Pilates makes my yoga practice better, while the flexibility from yoga makes the Pilates better. Both of these disciplines emphasize both stretching and strength. I work on strength training using weights, and do cardio, and find myself both stronger and with greater endurance. To be doing these exercises at my age makes me feel a lot better both physically and mentally.
But I have a lot to learn about combining techniques and methods. I’m a pretty introverted person, although I enjoy the company of others as well. But I still tend to get tired of others quickly and need my own space. I need to be more open to others and less stuck in my own head.
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