So the unwanting soul sees what's hidden, and the ever-wanting soul sees only what it wants.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that those who desire less can perceive deeper truths, while those driven by desire only focus on their wants.
Laozi's quote reflects the duality of perception shaped by human desire. The 'unwanting soul' represents a person who is content and thus capable of seeing beyond superficial layers, uncovering hidden insights about life and existence. In contrast, the 'ever-wanting soul' symbolizes someone consumed by their desires, limiting their perspective to a narrow view that only acknowledges what they personally wish to see. This idea encourages a mindset of detachment to attain greater understanding.
In practice
This quote can be shared in a meditation group discussion to emphasize the value of inner peace.
If you understand others you are smart._x000D_ If you understand yourself you are illuminated._x000D_ If you overcome others you are powerful._x000D_ If you overcome yourself you have strength._x000D_ If you know how to be satisfied you are rich._x000D_ If you can act with vigor, you have a will._x000D_ If you don't lose your objectives you can be long-lasting._x000D_ If you die without loss, you are eternal.
When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.
A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.
Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is enlightenment.
In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it.
Rule your mind with serenity rather than with force and manipulation.
What does it mean, exactly, for a given system to be a 'neural correlate of consciousness'?
Melt all the guns, I thought, break the knives, burn the guillotines-and the malicious will still write letters that kill.
When we come to judge others it is not by ourselves as we really are that we judge them, but by an image that we have formed of ourselves from which we have left out everything that offends our vanity or would discredit us in the eyes of the world.
The more man becomes irradiated with Divinity, the more, not the less, truly he is man.
The morality of an action depends on the motive from which we act. If I fling half a crown to a beggar with intention to break his head and he picks it up and buy victuals with it, the physical effect is good. But with respect to me the action is very wrong.
There is no river at all, and no boat, and no boatman._x000D_ There is not even a rope to tow the boat, and no one to pull it._x000D_ There is no earth, no sky, no time, no thing, no shore, no ford!
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