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being courageous
December 2008 
The Power in Compassion
Posted on Jun 22nd, 2008
by 
cosmicbdog
cosmicbdog
Again, borrowing the words of another friend Lao Tsu interpreted at http://www.cit.gu.edu.au/~davidt/tao/the_power_in_compassion.htm
"All the world thinks that my Tao is great; and yet it seems inconceivable. Only it's greatness makes it seem inconceivable. If it could be conceived of it would have become insignificant long ago."
"I have three Treasures that I support and protect: the first is compassion, the second is moderation, the third is not to be the first in the world."
"With compassion, one becomes courageous. With moderation, one becomes expansive. In daring not to be the first in the world, one becomes the instrument of leadership."
"Now if one is courageous without compassion, or expansive without moderation or first without holding back, one is doomed!"
"Compassion always triumphs when attacked; it brings security when maintained. Nature aids it's leaders, by arming them with compassion."
The three treasures - compassion, moderation and the courage not to be first - are the emotional foundations of Lao Tzu's whole approach. Enduring leaders are those with the most compassion. They are endurin g because compassion is a mysterious intellectual force that allows reality to act on the mind in a deeply affecting way, and in return endows the mind with the power to act on reality. Compassionate leaders are able to make decisions with foresight and vision - this is how they endure and triumph.
Lao Tzu opens this passage with a paradox - the idea that something can be so large, so ever-present and so profound that it becomes inconceivable. He suggests that anything that can be fully conceived of and comprehended by the mind becomes small and manageable. Yet true power does not come from controlling the small and manageable, but from the mind-expanding exercise of conceiving of the inconceivable. (67)
Compassion is a transforming force of nature - through a mysterious process, those who practice compassion transform themselves and in the process transform those around them to be more in harmony with nature. Witness the deeds of Jesus Christ when he healed the sick. These acts of compassio n made such an impression on people that it helped to establish a religion that has endured for two thousand years.
"All the world thinks that my Tao is great; and yet it seems inconceivable. Only it's greatness makes it seem inconceivable. If it could be conceived of it would have become insignificant long ago."
"I have three Treasures that I support and protect: the first is compassion, the second is moderation, the third is not to be the first in the world."
"With compassion, one becomes courageous. With moderation, one becomes expansive. In daring not to be the first in the world, one becomes the instrument of leadership."
"Now if one is courageous without compassion, or expansive without moderation or first without holding back, one is doomed!"
"Compassion always triumphs when attacked; it brings security when maintained. Nature aids it's leaders, by arming them with compassion."
The three treasures - compassion, moderation and the courage not to be first - are the emotional foundations of Lao Tzu's whole approach. Enduring leaders are those with the most compassion. They are endurin g because compassion is a mysterious intellectual force that allows reality to act on the mind in a deeply affecting way, and in return endows the mind with the power to act on reality. Compassionate leaders are able to make decisions with foresight and vision - this is how they endure and triumph.
Lao Tzu opens this passage with a paradox - the idea that something can be so large, so ever-present and so profound that it becomes inconceivable. He suggests that anything that can be fully conceived of and comprehended by the mind becomes small and manageable. Yet true power does not come from controlling the small and manageable, but from the mind-expanding exercise of conceiving of the inconceivable. (67)
Compassion is a transforming force of nature - through a mysterious process, those who practice compassion transform themselves and in the process transform those around them to be more in harmony with nature. Witness the deeds of Jesus Christ when he healed the sick. These acts of compassio n made such an impression on people that it helped to establish a religion that has endured for two thousand years.
Access: PublicTagged with: the tao, inconceivable nature, love, compassionate, leadership, being the change, being expansive, being moderate, being courageous
