I love this chapter because it starts with several lines that reveal a lot more about the reader than whatever point the author was trying to make.
The high scholar hears Tao and diligently practices it
The middle scholar hears Tao and sometimes keeps it, sometimes forgets it
The low scholar hears Tao and has a great laugh
Without laughter it wouldn’t be Tao
What do you first think when you read these lines? Do you identify with the high, middle, or low scholar?
I always loved school, and I was a diligent student. I worked hard and enjoyed my academic success. So I gravitate toward wanting to be the good student at the top. Indeed, many commentators and translators appear to place more value on being the high scholar. “High” and “low” are sometimes translated here as “superior” and “inferior.”
But as I considered this chapter more deeply, I began to question the assumption that we should strive to practice Tao diligently like the high scholar. Nowhere else in the Tao Te Ching are we encouraged to make such effort. On the contrary, we are taught that the way to harmony with Tao is not to learn, but to unlearn. Not to practice diligently, but to flow effortlessly.
Perhaps we have missed the point in these opening lines by so quickly admiring the high scholar. The low scholar hears Tao and laughs. This seems more in keeping with other descriptions of the sage as innocent like a child, without ambition, acting without effort, even appearing foolish to others.
The image of the person hearing Tao and laughing reminds me of the Dalai Lama. He laughs a LOT! True, he does have a diligent practice of meditation, but I get the sense that he never takes himself too seriously.
The second part of this chapter revisits a familiar theme in the Tao Te Ching of opposites, listing twelve contrasts. For example,
Bright Tao seems dark
High virtue seems like a valley
Genuine truth seems uncertain
To me, this supports the consideration of the first lines as not meaning what they first appear to mean. That is, what seems like high achievement is not necessarily in harmony with Tao. And what we might dismiss as the fool’s laughter is really the sage’s deep awareness of Tao’s essence.
My quick identification with the high scholar has given me a great laugh ... at myself!
I immediately resonated with the middle line, since I cannot ever do something diligently all the time. I'm glad I read the rest of this post, because I too think the Dalai Lama is always laughing, and he's filled with the Tao (in my opinion). :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan, realistically most of us are in the middle, don't you think? And speaking of the joyful Dalai Lama, Buddhism teaches the middle way. So perhaps the middle is the place to be!
DeleteLike you, Galen, I loved school and worked so hard to be the "high scholar." I am reminded in these phrases from the Tao about the essence of Christianity - one need not be a theological scholar to grasp the essence of Jesus' sacrifice and forgiveness of sins. I think it was Karl Barth, when asked about his Christian beliefs, responded simply, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."
ReplyDeleteI think I'll choose to laugh.
Blessings!
What a great story about belief, Martha. It really doesn't have to be complicated. I always appreciate how you build bridges and find common ground. That seems to be the essence of all wisdom teachings.
DeleteBy the way, I sing a song I made up with my grandson to the tune of Jesus Loves Me, except we add multiple verses substituting the names of all the people who love him.
It goes like this, using me as an example:
Nana loves me this I know
Because she always tells me so
She loves me more than the stars above
I am blessed to be so loved
Yes, Nana loves me
Yes, Nana loves me
Yes, Nana loves me
She always tells me so
He enjoys listing all the people who love him! This includes all his pets and his favorite stuffed animal. Very fun.
Wow, I'm not sure where I fall in place in this one. I tend to be project oriented and work very hard to finish whatever I am involved in. Then I need a breather before starting something new. I guess, I am probably in the middle.
ReplyDeleteI do think laughter is highly important in whatever we are involved and we should take ourselves too seriously.
Always love to ponder on your thoughts! Blessings and hugs!
I don't think this means that we shouldn't be diligent in completing projects. Otherwise we will never get anything done! And by the way, I admire your stick-to-it-iveness.
DeleteBut here, in relation to Tao, diligent practice might divert us from the simple allowing awareness of the ever present truth. Does that make sense?
And true, no matter what, no need to take ourselves so seriously.
Thanks, as always, LeAnn, for stopping by.
Yes,when I read about the Tao with Casey Kochmer in Hawaii, I found that the idea of the practice being simple and flowing very attractive after reading about and putting into practice more highly diligent philosophical and psychological approaches to inner peace etc The idea of simplicity and truth belonging together resonated strongly with by then...and now it's my fallback position, if you know what I mean.So I suppose I'm number 2, if I have to pick one of the categories, but really I just try to keep the Tao in my heart for when I most need it.Cheers for now!
ReplyDeleteA lot of us are drawn to the middle position, perhaps because it reflects our experience of life -- we rarely are 100% consistent. But maybe the "low scholar" approach recognizes that Tao is always there. We don't really keep it or lose it. So laugh and enjoy!
DeleteYes, and maybe it's a wariness of being 'taken over' completely by one spiritual kind of practice or outlook. I was told by someone who has a Zen monk female friend that Zen practice has to be undertaken repeatedly to free the mind of all thought, that they have to be forever vigilant. That is just too extreme for me, and the simplicity of the Tao is far more attractive, whilst feeling so right. So the low scholar it may well be for me!
DeleteMaybe the low scholar appeals to us because we just lack the self discipline of your Zen friend! Ha, just kidding. The low scholar approach is consistent with everything else in the Tao Te Ching, so I'm puzzled by most commentators' conclusion that the high scholar's diligence is superior.
DeleteThat is a good take on this Galen. I would not have noticed the subtle humor in this chapter, with the low scholar being the one with the highest acknowledgement of Tao.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if that is a "correct" interpretation, but perhaps the point is that there is not a right or wrong here. However, my own understanding of the Tao Te Ching suggests to me that we might be too quick in aspiring to be like the high scholar. Elsewhere the author says "I am a fool." So again, I think there is an embrace of a simple approach to Tao rather than an analytic study of it. Glad you appreciated it. And I agree that there is humor there. We take ourselves, especially our spiritual selves, so seriously! We all need to lighten up perhaps.
DeleteI never noticed it either, but now I'm certain you're correct (haha I'm certain there's something wrong with being certain. sigh.) Any depiction of the sage would for sure have the sage laughing, not striving.
ReplyDeleteOops sorry I always talk before listening. The Zen comment. Totally. I was thinking about the Zen advice to practice "as though your hair's on fire." It seems to separate from Taoism there. But "when the opposites arise, you have almost lost the way to salvation." My "True Dragon" is still chewing on this question. These are from the Shobogenzo by Dogen (13th century Japanese, brought Chan to Japan). Maybe your hair being on fire actually means calmly and slowly since more air will fan the flames? Then it wouldn't disagree with the low scholar?
ReplyDeleteHmm, now you've got me thinking about this because I love Pema Chodron's observation that if we realized how much misery we cause ourselves with our habitual patterns we would practice like our hair is on fire. Is there such a thing as practicing without striving? I'm going to strive/not strive to reconcile this!
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