your taoist thought for the day: being humble
 

Being humble
(Quotations from Chuang Tzu)

If a man is crossing a river and an empty boat collides with his own skiff, even though he be a bad-tempered man he will not become very angry. But if he sees a man in the boat, he will shout at him to steer clear. If the shout is not heard, he will shout again, and yet again, and begin cursing. And all because there is somebody in the boat. Yet if the boat were empty, he would not be shouting, and not angry.

If you can empty your own boat crossing the river of the world, no one will oppose you, no one will seek to harm you....

Who can free himself from achievement, and from fame, descend and be lost amid the masses of men? He will flow like Tao, unseen, he will go about like Life itself with no name and no home. Simple is he, without distinction. To all appearances he is a fool. His steps leave no trace. He has no power. He achieves nothing, has no reputation.

Since he judges no one, no one judges him.
Such is the perfect man:
His boat is empty.

Re: your taoist thought for the day: being humble
 

Doesn't this mean you have to jump overboard? :confused:

Re: Re: your taoist thought for the day: being humble
 

no, but you might want to avoid *flaring* your nostrils or other part of the anatomy ;)

If an empty boat struck my boat, I'd sink the other one. If an empty car hit my 911, I'd sue.

I guess I flunked Taoism 1A. :D

Re: Re: Re: your taoist thought for the day: being humble
 

Hey, speaking of flaring, did I tell you I'm going to Japan for the shin splint surgery. I'm coming back 6-3. :D

On being humble.

Todd:

You know how (living in SoCal) many reasonably nice 911's you see every day? What, maybe 3 or 4 max in one day?

I am in Sun Valley Idaho.

Noonish, I took my crew to a rooftop Grill and drinking establishment for an open air lunch and an adult beverage.

In the 90 minutes we were sitting there, I saw, and remarked to the other members of my crew, no less than TEN (10) 911's drive by. Nine of them were SC's, and one lime green with palomino interior SWB earlier 911.

Every single one had Idaho plates, and every single one was immaculate.

Coming from someone who is jaded by the sheer numbers of p-cars in SoCal, I am humbled.

No matter who hit my boat.

all i need are 2 more 911s and then i can be humble :)

"Who can free himself from achievement, and from fame, descend and be lost amid the masses of men? He will flow like Tao, unseen, he will go about like Life itself with no name and no home. Simple is he, without distinction. To all appearances he is a fool. His steps leave no trace. He has no power. He achieves nothing, has no reputation."

This explains why Cindy's box stock looking '99 Ford Ranger is mostly my vehicle of choice these days. There is safety in anonyminity... Fame AND fortune? They can have it. Gimme fortune alone...
;)

nostatic:

I have no idea what that boat stuff means. All I know is--

2 happiest boat days of your life.

The day you buy your first boat.

The day you finally sell it.

"He achieves nothing..."

Sorry, but that's not my goal in life.

Never saw a Brinks Truck follow a hearse.

Dantilla? Ahhh, but one person's "nothing", meaning no fame or untold riches, can be another person's "everything"...when he has enough to be happy. Dig? ;)

"he who dies with the most toys...still dies."

I'm way more humble than any of you...

I like Asian women, but there's one drawback: an hour later you're horny again!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1089345788.jpg

Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead! Ramming speed.......

Hey my username is power whaddya expect?

When struck by an empty boat while crossing a river, there is no need to be angry because:

-you have full coverage and a good attorney and need a new boat
-the owner of the empty boat will have to pay for your sore neck and your friend psychotherapy to get you through the anguish of the horrifying incident.
-it's funny how many people at the resteraunt upstream are going to lynch a certain valet boat parker who didn't feel like tying them up.:)

I take from todays lesson that if I take the Taoist road of life, I can go around ramming anything I want to because others will perceive my vessel as empty. Hmm ramming anything I want to....

I can't afford a boat, so I guess it doesn't matter.

I do have a kayak though. . .