an excerpt, by Liu I-Ming
The Flourishing of Trees, the Extension of Streams
When roots of a tree are deep, it's leaves naturally flourish. When the source of a stream is abundant, its flow naturally extends far. This is the way it is with that which has a basis.
What I realize as I observe this is the Tao of preserving and maintaining the fundamental. The original vitality, original energy, and original spirit of human beings are the well-spring of essence and life. When the original vitality is undiminished, the body is complete. When the original energy is undamaged, life is secure. When the original spirit is unobscured, the essence is clear.
When the body is whole, life is secure, and the essence is clear, then myriad things cannot move you, Creation cannot constrain you; your nature and destiny are up to you, not up to Heaven.
This is like leaves flourishing when the roots of the tree are deep, the flow of a stream extending far when it's source is abundant. When the basis is established, the Way develops the living potential is ever present and never ceases.
Most people, however, do not know enough to preserve and maintain the fundamental; instead they act on the outgrowths, imagining falsely that they will thereby attain the Tao.
This is like looking for fish in a tree-- it will turn out to be in vain after all. Is this not foolish?
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