Tag: Tao

Tao Te Ching – Verse 36 – If you want to shrink something, you must first allow it to expand

Tao Te Ching – Verse 36

If you want to shrink something,
you must first allow it to expand.
If you want to get rid of something,
you must first allow it to flourish.
If you want to take something,
you must first allow it to be given.
This is called the subtle perception
of the way things are.
The soft overcomes the hard.
The slow overcomes the fast.
Let your workings remain a mystery.
Just show people the results. Continue reading “Tao Te Ching – Verse 36 – If you want to shrink something, you must first allow it to expand”

Today: “It is our duty to become more aware than our ancestors.  We can improve on their vision, though be careful about throwing away what they have produced for our benefit.” – from the I Ching

It is our duty to become more aware than our ancestors.  We can improve on their vision, though be careful about throwing away what they have produced for our benefit.

See Yogi Bhajan’s quote for the day

Tao Te Ching – Verse 35 – She who is centered in the Tao can go where she wishes, without danger.

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Musings on Grace and Gratitude

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18 – Eighteen Ku / Repairing the Damage

Winds sweep through the Mountain valley:
The Superior Person sweeps away corruption and stagnation by stirring up the people and strengthening their spirit.

Supreme success.
Before crossing to the far shore, consider the move for three days.
After crossing, devote three days of hard labor to damage control.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

You are blessed with an opportunity to resuscitate that which others have abandoned as beyond repair.
This ruin wasn’t caused by evil intention, but by indifference to decay.
Just by addressing yourself to the problem, you exhibit a new awareness, a fresh perspective.
This is a time of recovery, renewal, regeneration.

Nine in the third place means:

Restoring what his father damaged.
Some regrets, but no great mistakes.

Setting right what has been spoiled by the father.
There will be a little remorse. No great blame.

Writing to Father

‘Writing to Father’ – Eastman Johnson 1863 – Boston Museum of Fine Arts

This describes a man who proceeds a little too energetically in righting the mistakes of the past. Now and then, as a result, minor discords and annoyances will surely develop. But too much energy is better than too little. Therefore, although he may at times have some slight cause for regret, he remains free of any serious blame.

4 – Four. Mêng / Inexperience

A fresh Spring at the foot of the Mountain:
The Superior Person refines his character by being thorough in every activity.
The Sage does not recruit students; the students seek him.
He asks nothing but a sincere desire to learn.
If the student doubts or challenges his authority, the Sage regretfully cuts his losses.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

This is a time of interchange between a mentor and pupil.
Whether you are the teacher or the student, it is a time of companionship along a mutual path.
This hexagram also emphasizes the eternal, cyclical nature of the mentor/student relationship — a mentor is merely a more seasoned pupil, further along on the journey.
A pupil holds within himself the seed of a future Master.

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Today: “The attitude of gratitude is the highest way of living, and is the biggest truth, the highest truth.” Yogi Bhajan

“The attitude of gratitude is the highest way of living, and is the biggest truth, the highest truth. You cannot live with applied consciousness until you understand that you have to be grateful for what you have. If you are grateful for what you have, then Mother Nature will give you more.” Yogi Bhajan

Musings on Grace and Gratitude

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Tao Te Ching – Verse 35 – She who is centered in the Tao can go where she wishes, without danger.

Verse 35 – She who is centered in the Tao can go where she wishes, without danger.

She who is centered in the Tao
can go where she wishes, without danger.
She perceives the universal harmony,
even amid great pain,
because she has found peace in her heart.
Music or the smell of good cooking
may make people stop and enjoy.
But words that point to the Tao
seem monotonous and without flavor.
When you look for it, there is nothing to see.
When you listen for it, there is nothing to hear.
When you use it, it is inexhaustible.

Continue reading “Tao Te Ching – Verse 35 – She who is centered in the Tao can go where she wishes, without danger.”

Today: “Whip up enthusiasm, rally your forces, and move boldly forward.” – from the I Ching

Whip up enthusiasm, rally your forces, and move boldly forward.

See Yogi Bhajan’s quote for the day

Tao Te Ching – Verse 34 – The great Tao flows everywhere

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Meditation: NM0347-20000502-Guru Kriya

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16 – Sixteen. Yü / Enthusiasm

Thunder comes resounding out of the Earth:
Similar thunder roars up from the masses when the Superior Person strikes a chord in their hearts.

Whip up enthusiasm, rally your forces, and move boldly forward.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

There is a rhythmic force, a world music, that lives deep in the Unconscious of each of us.
It’s a primitive drumbeat, a shaking rattle, a tribal chant that invokes the primal self to rise up and join the dance.
This is the enthusiasm that is generated now.
Not rhetorical persuasion, not a play on the emotions, but a charismatic, irresistible Call of the Wild.
Confucius said that the person who could comprehend this could ‘rule the world as though it were spinning in his hand.’
This is a time for instinct, not intellect — the Thunder from the Beneath.

 yin
yin above: Chên / The Arousing, Thunder
yang
yin
yin below: K’un / The Receptive, Earth
yin

 

Chinese banquet

When, at the beginning of summer, thunder – electrical energy – comes rushing forth from the earth again, and the first thunderstorm refreshes nature, a prolonged state of tension is resolved. Joy and relief make themselves felt. So too, music has power to ease tension within the heart and to loosen the grip of obscure emotions. The enthusiasm of the heart expresses itself involuntarily in a burst of song, in dance and rhythmic movement of the body. From immemorial times the inspiring effect of the invisible sound that moves all hearts, and draws them together, has mystified mankind.
Rulers have made use of this natural taste for music; they elevated and regulated it. Music was looked upon as something serious and holy, designed to purify the feelings of men. It fell to music to glorify the virtues of heroes and thus to construct a bridge to the world of the unseen. In the temple men drew near to God with music and pantomimes (out of this later the theatre developed). Religious feeling for the Creator of the world was united with the most sacred of human feelings, that of reverence for the ancestors. The ancestors were invited to these divine services as guests of the Ruler of Heaven and as representatives of humanity in the higher regions. This uniting of the human past with the Divinity in solemn moments of religious inspiration established the bond between God and man. The ruler who revered the Divinity in revering his ancestors became thereby the Son of Heaven, in whom the heavenly and the earthly world met in mystical contact.
These ideas are the final summation of Chinese culture. Kongfu (Confucius) has said of the great sacrifice at which these rites were performed:
“He who could wholly comprehend this sacrifice could rule the world as though it were spinning on his hand.”
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Today: “What are you doing on the planet earth? We are here to realize ourselves and nothing more. That’s it.” Yogi Bhajan

“What are you doing on the planet earth? We are here to realize ourselves and nothing more. That’s it.” Yogi Bhajan

Meditation: LA877-19960604 – Self Realization

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Tao Te Ching – Verse 34 – The great Tao flows everywhere

Verse 34 – The great Tao flows everywhere

The great Tao flows everywhere.
All things are born from it,
yet it doesn’t create them.
It pours itself into its work,
yet it makes no claim.
It nourishes infinite worlds,
yet it doesn’t hold on to them.
Since it is merged with all things
and hidden in their hearts,
it can be called humble.
Continue reading “Tao Te Ching – Verse 34 – The great Tao flows everywhere”

Today: “Use whatever practical means you have to forestall wild and chaotic forces in your life.” – from the I Ching

Use whatever practical means you have to forestall wild and chaotic forces in your life.

See Yogi Bhajan’s quote for the day

Tao Te Ching – Verse 33 – Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.

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Meditation: LA041-780525- Control the Mind

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26 – Twenty-Six. Ta Ch’u / Recharging Power

Heaven’s motherlode waits within the Mountain:
The Superior Person mines deep into history’s wealth of wisdom and deeds, charging his character with timeless strength.

Persevere.
Drawing sustenance from these sources creates good fortune.
Then you may cross to the far shore.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

There are important precedents in this situation.
Others have trodden this Path before you, overcoming the same obstacles facing you now, and making crucial decisions at the same crossroads.
Study their journals, watch for their trail markings.
Gain inspiration and wisdom from the heroes and learn from the mistakes of those who chose a sidepath.
All were Seekers, explorers whose daring mapped a course you can follow.
The words and deeds of the finest can imbue you with the courage necessary to face what lies before you.

Six in the fourth place means:

The headboard of a young bull.
Great good fortune.

Attaching a plank of wood to the brow of this young bull will stunt the growth of his horns.
Such foresight brings great fortune.

Bull horns
This line and the one following it are the two that tame the forward-pushing lower lines. Before a bull’s horns grow out, a headboard is fastened to its forehead, so that later when the horns appear they cannot do harm. A good way to restrain wild force is to forestall it. By so doing one achieves an easy and a great success.
14 – Fourteen. Ta Yu / Great Treasures

The Fire of clarity illuminates the Heavens to those below:
The Superior Person possesses great inner treasures — compassion, economy, and modesty.
These treasures allow the benevolent will of Heaven to flow through him outward to curb evil and to further good.

Supreme success.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

You have become an instrument of Heaven’s will, offering a balance in the world around you.
It is not swashbuckling prowess or uncanny talent that qualifies you for this office, but your simplest gifts — your modesty, your compassion, your economy.
Because you can see clearly who most needs a miracle, Heaven’s bounty is being put at your disposal.

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Today: “Now you will ask me if a mind can be controlled. Yes. Not only can your mind be controlled, your life can be controlled.” – Yogi Bhajan

“Now you will ask me if a mind can be controlled. Yes. Not only can your mind be controlled, your life can be controlled. A situation can be controlled. Sometime you get into very, very, very ugly situation. If you have the practice to switch your breath to the left nostril you will get out of it in two seconds. The moment you start breathing with your left nostril, your elementary self will come in play. Moment your elementary self comes in play, your totality of the mind becomes one unit to confirm and it puts the radiance shield of your body and you will immediately become very pleasant and positive rather than angry and reactive. Some people train themselves to breathe through any nostril they choose. But many of you have not practiced that, and therefore you use your hand to close your right nostril. Long, deep breathing through the left nostril is good for the heart and good for the health. It will calm you down.” Yogi Bhajan

Meditation: LA041-780525- Control the Mind

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Today: “Serving  your family, draw from your skills and strengths.” – from the I Ching

Serving  your family, draw from your skills and strengths.

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Tao Te Ching – Verse 32 – The Tao can’t be perceived. Smaller than an electron, it contains uncountable galaxies.

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Meditation: NM0383-20010213 – Culturing the Self

Meditation: NM091 – 19921110 – Self Emboldenment, Engagement, Vision

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37 – Thirty-Seven. Chia Jên / Family Duties

Warming Air Currents rise and spread from the Hearthfire:
The Superior Person weighs his words carefully and is consistent in his behavior.

Be as faithful as a good wife.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

One in this situation must be keenly aware of his influence on others.
Maintain a healthy respect for the ripple effect of your words and deeds.
To some you serve as a role model.
You can either help shape their world or tilt them into chaos.
Show temperance and consideration to all.

Six in the second place means:

The neglected wife resists temptation and returns to her family duties.
For her, things will improve.

She should not follow her whims.
She must attend within to the food.
Perseverance brings good fortune.

The milkmaid

‘The milkmaid’ – Johannes Vermeer (1632 – 1675)
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam – Holland

The wife must always be guided by the will of the master of the house, be he father, husband, or grown son. Her place is within the house. There, without having to look for them, she has great and important duties. She must attend to the nourishment of her family and to the food for the sacrifice. In this way she becomes the centre of the social and religious life of the family, and her perseverance in this position brings good fortune to the whole house.
In relation to general conditions, the counsel given here is to seek nothing by means of force, but quietly to confine oneself to the duties at hand.

48 – Forty-Eight. Ching / The Well

Deep Waters Penetrated and drawn to the surface:
The Superior Person refreshes the people with constant encouragement to help one another.

Encampments, settlements, walled cities, whole empires may rise and fall, yet the Well at the center endures, never drying to dust, never overflowing.
It served those before and will serve those after.
Again and again you may draw from the Well, but if the bucket breaks or the rope is too short there will be misfortune.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

There is a Source common to us all.
Jung named it the Collective Unconscious.
Others hail it as God within.
Inside each of us are dreamlike symbols and archetypes, emotions and instincts that we share with every other human being.
When we feel a lonely separateness from others, it is not because this Well within has dried up, but because we have lost the means to reach its waters.
You need to reclaim the tools necessary to penetrate to the depths of your fellows.
Then the bonds you build will be as timeless and inexhaustible as the Well that nourishes them.

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Today: “Breaking the barriers of the subconscious mind is the union of the unit consciousness with supreme consciousness” Yogi Bhajan

“Breaking the barriers of the subconscious mind is the union of the unit consciousness with supreme consciousness; you must not have any misunderstanding about yoga. When the conscious mind can break through the barriers of the subconscious block and can penetrate and merge with the supreme conscious mind, that union is known as yoga, a happening, and we seek this happening because the finite must know its infinite potential.” Yogi Bhajan

Meditation: LA935-980608- Connect the subconscious and intuition

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Today: “You must participate in your own governance.  Overcome apathy and engage.” – from the I Ching

You must participate in your own governance.  Overcome apathy and engage.

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Tao Te Ching – Verse 31 – Weapons are the tools of violence; all decent men detest them.

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Meditation: KWTC 19970630 – For Faculty of Self Engagement

Meditation: NM091 – 19921110 – Self Emboldenment, Engagement, Vision

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20 – Twenty. Kuan / Contemplation

The gentle Wind roams the Earth:
The Superior Person expands his sphere of influence as he expands his awareness.
Deeply devoted to his pursuit of clarity and wisdom, he is unconscious of the inspiring, positive example he is setting for others to emulate.

You have cleansed yourself; now stand ready to make your humble, devout offering.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

The situation marks a rising to new heights.
As you climb for a better view of the panorama, you make yourself more conspicuous to those below.
This hexagram is also known as the Watchtower, because the shape formed by its lines resembles the ancient guardposts manned by Chinese soldiers.
These towers were placed on mountainsides to give a better vantage point.
To those below, the watchtowers served as landmarks to help them find their way.
The quality of your search for clarity in this situation serves as such a guidepost for others along the Way.

Six at the beginning [yin at bottom] means:

You look at things like a child.
This is pardonable in a lesser man, but a fatal flaw in one of your calibre.

Boylike contemplation.
For an inferior man, no blame.
For a superior man, humiliation.

Shepherd Boy

The Shepherd Boy – John Opie
This means contemplation from a distance, without comprehension. A man of influence is at hand, but his influence is not understood by the common people. This matters little in the case of the masses, for they benefit by the actions of the ruling sage whether they understand them or not. But for a superior man it is a disgrace. He must not content himself with a shallow, thoughtless view of prevailing forces; he must contemplate them as a connected whole and try to understand them.
42 – Forty-Two. I / Expansion

Whirlwinds and Thunder:
When the Superior Person encounters saintly behavior, he adopts it; when he encounters a fault within, he transforms it.

Progress in every endeavor.
You may cross to the far shore.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

Get ready to ride a tide of accelerated growth toward self-actualization.
A joyful awareness of the best within you, coupled with an acceptance of your Shadow, will provide a greater repertoire, a much bolder vision, and new depth and clarity that will compel you to expand your horizons.

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Today: “In the spiritual world we are responsible to take the person towards Infinity. ” – Yogi Bhajan

“In the spiritual world we are responsible to take the person towards Infinity. We are responsible to the whole self and to the destiny in the person. That is why we are direct. Our guidance may take one minute or many hours. That is why we poke, provoke, confront, and elevate. We must speak in a way that confronts you with your self and that adjusts the relationship to your mind based on your reality, identity, and basic nature.” Yogi Bhajan

Meditation: LA747 921231 Fear 6, to command yourself

What else Yogi Bhajan said

Today: “Expect good things coming your way.  Use them to your best abilities. Be grateful.” – from the I Ching

Expect good things coming your way.  Use them to your best abilities. Be grateful.

See Yogi Bhajan’s quote for the day

Tao Te Ching – Verse 30 – Whoever relies on the Tao in governing men doesn’t try to force issues or defeat enemies by force of arms

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Meditation:  https://www.harinam.com/musings-on-grace-and-gratitude/

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Tell The Magical Story of Mushkil Gusha over your Thanksgiving meal today.

31 – Thirty-One. Hsien / Attraction

The joyous Lake is cradled by the tranquil Mountain:
The Superior Person takes great satisfaction in encouraging others along their journey.
He draws them to him with his welcoming nature and genuine interest.

Supreme success.
This course leads to marriage.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

There is no greater natural law in the Cosmos than Attraction.
From the magnetic pull of an atom’s nucleus to the centrifugal force that spirals a galaxy, the face of the universe is shaped by Attraction.
On a human scale, it is Attraction that fuels procreation and furthers our species.
Yet it is also Attraction that spawns greed and covetousness, threatening our extinction.
Attraction is the underlying force of the situation in question.
You are refined or debased by the objects of your desire.
What gravitational pull are you now under?
Around what sphere of influence do you circle?
Can you use your own ability to attract?

 yin
yang above: Tui / The Joyous, Lake
yang
yang
yin below: Kên / Keeping Still, Mountain
yin

 

The name of the hexagram means “universal,” “general,” and in a figurative sense “to influence,” “to stimulate.” The upper trigram is Tui, the Joyous; the lower is Kên, Keeping still. By its persistent, quiet influence, the lower, rigid trigram stimulates the upper, weak trigram, which responds to this stimulation cheerfully and joyously. Kên, the lower trigram, is the youngest son; the upper, Tui, is the youngest daughter. Thus the universal mutual attraction between the sexes is represented. In courtship, the masculine principle must seize the initiative and place itself below the feminine principle.
Just as the first part of book 1 begins with the hexagrams of heaven and earth, the foundations of all that exists, the second part begins with the hexagrams of courtship and marriage, the foundations of all social relationships.

THE JUDGEMENT

Influence. Success.
Perseverance furthers.
To take a maiden to wife brings good fortune.

The weak element is above, the strong below; hence their powers attract each other, so that they unite. This brings about success, for all success depends on the effect of mutual attraction. By keeping still within while experiencing joy without, one can prevent the joy from going to excess and hold it within proper bounds. This is the meaning of the added admonition, “Perseverance furthers,” for it is perseverance that makes the difference between seduction and courtship; in the latter the strong man takes a position inferior to that of the weak girl and shows consideration for her. This attraction between affinities is a general law of nature. Heaven and earth attract each other and thus all creatures come into being. Through such attraction the sage influences men’s hearts, and thus the world attains peace. From the attractions they exert we can learn the nature of all beings in heaven and on earth.
 

Stone Mountain Summit Lake

Stone Mountain Summit Lake – The highest point on the Alaska Highway – British Columbia

THE IMAGE

A lake on the mountain:
The image of influence.
Thus the superior man encourages people to approach him
By his readiness to receive them.

A mountain with a lake on its summit is stimulated by the moisture from the lake. It has this advantage because its summit does not jut out as a peak but is sunken. The image counsels that the mind should be kept humble and free, so that it may remain receptive to good advice. People soon give up counseling a man who thinks that he knows everything better than anyone else.
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Today: “God gave you the body with praana and apaana. Apaanas are there to eliminate negativity.” Yogi Bhajan

“God gave you the body with praana and apaana. Apaanas are there to eliminate negativity. People who have strong praana and do not have equally strong apaana are very cluttered people. They do not know how to eliminate things and elimination is very important. It is the balance of praana and apaana which creates the power of the Shushmana, the central being, the equilibrium being. The Supreme being will awaken in you only when the praana and apaana both work together. One gives the power and the other eliminates negativity; all you will be left with is the plus.” Yogi Bhajan

Kriya:  KYB053 841107 – Balancing Life (Prana & Apana) 

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Today: “Interact and stay close with your companions for mutual encouragement and expanding your awareness  of everything..” – from the I Ching

Interact and stay close with your companions for mutual encouragement and expanding your awareness  of everything.

See Yogi Bhajan’s quote for the day

Tao Te Ching – Verse 29 – Do you want to improve the world? I don’t think it can be done.

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Meditation:  Meditation: LA741 – 921125 – Dance of Shiva

Recap: Healing Intensive at Park Slope Brooklyn June 2-3, 2017

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58 – Fifty-Eight. Tui / Empowering

The joyous Lake spans on and on to the horizon:
The Superior Person renews and expands his Spirit through heart-to-heart exchanges with others.

Success if you stay on course.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

This is the sign of true companionship.
The principals in this situation exchange energy, ideas and feelings, constantly invigorating and encouraging each other to new heights of Spiritual achievement and Self-discovery.
This exchange is not for the glory of the Team, but for furthering the process of each individual’s ‘Te’, or pure potentiality.

 yin
yang above: Tui / The Joyous, Lake
yang
yin
yang below: Tui / The Joyous, Lake
yang

 

This hexagram, like Sun – The Gentle / The Penetrating, Wind (hexagram 57), is one of the eight formed by doubling of a trigram. The trigram Tui denotes the youngest daughter; it is symbolised by the smiling lake, and its attribute is joyousness. Contrary to appearances, it is not the yielding quality of the top line that accounts for joy here. The attribute of the yielding or dark principle is not joy but melancholy. However, joy is indicated by the fact that there are two strong lines within, expressing themselves through the medium of gentleness.
True joy, therefore, rests on firmness and strength within, manifesting itself outwardly as yielding and gentle.THE JUDGEMENT

THE JOYOUS. Success.
Perseverance is favorable.

The joyous mood is infectious and therefore brings success. But joy must be based on steadfastness if it is not to degenerate into uncontrolled mirth. Truth and strength must dwell in the heart, while gentleness reveals itself in social intercourse. In this way one assumes the right attitude toward God and man and achieves something. Under certain conditions, intimidation without gentleness may achieve something momentarily, but not for all time. When, on the other hand, the hearts of men are won by friendliness, they are led to take all hardships upon themselves willingly, and if need be will not shun death itself, so great is the power of joy over men.

Golden Trout Lake

Golden Trout Lake

THE IMAGE

Lakes resting one on the other:
The image of THE JOYOUS.
Thus the superior man joins with his friends
For discussion and practice.

A lake evaporates upward and thus gradually dries up; but when two lakes are joined they do not dry up so readily, for one replenishes the other. It is the same in the field of knowledge. Knowledge should be a refreshing and vitalising force. It becomes so only through stimulating intercourse with congenial friends with whom one holds discussion and practices application of the truths of life. In this way learning becomes many-sided and takes on a cheerful lightness, whereas there is always something ponderous and one-sided about the learning of the self-taught.
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