“Trascending Decline” the ninth passage of the Tao Te Ching;
‘Holding to fullness
Is not as good as stopping in time.
Sharpness that probes
Cannot protect for long.
A house filled with riches
Cannot be defended.
Pride in wealth and position
Is overlooking one’s collapse.
Withdrawing when success is achieved
Is the Tao in nature.’
The last line speaks deeply, truly, personally. It means much, though it says little. It makes sense, though what it says is not how society works currently.
Instead of a fish scrabbling to keep it’s place in the perceived waterfall of life and success, this passage speaks of a needle dipping in and out of the fabric of the universe, staying above the material only long enough to secure a stitch in place before diving back down beneath. The longer-lasting mark on the world belongs to the needle; The fish fights to hold its place only for reasons of the self, but the needle strives to strengthen and beautify the fabric of all.
To stand only as long as the effect holds, and to dip back down below the threshold instead of milking the deed -the attention bestowed upon the deed- for all it’s worth.
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