This morning started out in classic New England November fashion: dusting of snow on the ground; chilly temperature; gray overcast; a few flurries floating in the air. Sitting in my office, gazing out the window, I found myself following the fitful flight of individual snow flakes as they drifted down the sky. There was no breeze, so they tumbled gently, randomly, intermittently. Brought passage 34 of the Daodejing (Hendricks translation) to mind:
The Way floats and drifts; it can go in left or right.
It accomplishes its tasks and completes its affairs, and yet for this it is not given a name.
The ten thousand things entrust their lives to it, and yet it does not act as their master.
Thus it is constantly without desires.
It can be named with the things that are small.
The ten thousand things entrust their lives to it, and yet it does not act as their master.
It can be named with the things that are great.
Therefore the Sage's ability to accomplish the great comes from his not playing the role of the great. Therefore he is able to accomplish the great.
Almost two years ago, I was also thinking about snowflakes. There were many more of them at that moment, and there will surely be many more soon. But today, it is their sparseness and smallness that comes to the fore.
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