Zhen. True, real, genuine, superior, simplicity. In the past, people accomplished in Tao were called Zhen Ren — True Persons — in part, perhaps, because it was they who pointed out the way.
The paintbrush doesn’t make pictures without a hand.
The zither makes no music in its case.
A votive painting cannot stop a bullet.
Place a shuttle in a loom and it cannot weave alone.
Put a key in a lock and it cannot turn by itself.
A plane needs a carpenter.
A book needs a reader.
A field needs a farmer.
A wheel needs a potter.
A boat needs a sailor.
An altar needs a worshipper.
In all these cases, it is the person who makes things true.
Why blame an object for being something it isn’t?
That is why, in olden times, one who followed Tao
Was called a True Person.
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What is the image of the ideal person, the sage (sheng ren), the real person (zhen ren) in the DDJ? Well, sages wu wei, (chs. 2, 63). In this respect, they are like newborn infants, who move naturally, without planning and reliance on the structures given to them by others (ch. 15). The DDJ tells us that sages empty themselves, becoming void of pretense. Sages concentrate their internal energies (qi). They clean their vision (ch. 10). They manifest plainness and become like uncarved wood (pu) (ch. 19). They live naturally and free from desires given by men (ch. 37) They settle themselves and know how to be content (ch. 46).
Why do we blame other people for not behaving in the way we would like to see them behave? If we don’t show others the way, by our example and our teaching, we cannot blame them for being as they are. True, some will choose not to follow where we lead, or follow the path when it is shown to them, but at least we will know then that it is not that they haven’t been shown the way.
Why blame an object for not being as you would like it to be? Either find the right way to use it, find a way to fix it to your purpose, or find a different object. Sometimes a tool needs sharpening. Sometimes you must use a different tool. Sometimes, you must simply choose to do something else for a while until you find the right tool. Sometimes you need to create a tool that does what you want.
I’ve found myself much more patient and calm in my life lately, mostly thanks to studying Tao. The daily lessons I read help a lot, but it is really observing the world with Tao in mind that helps the most. I am more patient with other people, seeing that they simply haven’t learned a lesson yet. I am more patient when I need something, knowing it will come into my life. I am more patient with the world, knowing it will change.
When the time is right to do something, you will know it. Until then, be patient with yourself. That is a hard lesson to learn, but the most important. Things will come into your life at the right time if you let them. When something new wants to come into your life, ask if it is the right time. If not, let it go. If you are not sure, accept it and then see if it fits in. If it is the right time, embrace it as your own.
When something want to leave your life, that is much harder. But it still has to be accepted. Losing things, especially losing people, is so painful. But when the time is right for them to leave, they must. Accept it, and move on. The path continues on. Be a Zhen Ren, and follow your path.
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I remember my father’s amusement when I would run into a chair at about 9 years of age, and proclaim “Stupid chair!” He was fond of saying, “Oh, the perversity of inanimate objects!”
Well, there are those who believe that inanimate objects have souls.
I, on the other hand, am convinced that many animate objects, including people, do not have souls…. and a few of them have even told me so. But I have no idea if they were just ignorant of the existence of their own souls or lying. In those couple of people, I could actually see their souls quite clearly in front of me. Go figure.