Chapter Twelve

Chapter 12

Colors blind the eye.

Sounds deafen the ear.

Flavors numb the taste.

Thoughts weaken the mind.

Desires wither the heart.

The Master observes the world but trusts his inner vision.

He allows things to come and go.

His heart is open as the sky.

This chapter is pretty straight forward. What I get out of it is that Lu is pointing to the very transient nature of things. How temporal and fleeting the material world is! The master (in this case YOU the reader or script and live-er of life.) knows not to trust merely the physical but relies on his/her inner eye to dispel misconceptions and analyze what is being put forth as reality.

I think Lu knew that reality as we know it is relative and not at all what is seems at least not 100% of the time.

Opening ones heart, letting things come and go is the carefree style of the eastern intellect. You know why? Because they know that everything is temporal and life is short.

I think, as deep philosophers of life's ultimate meaning they saw this life as a brief introduction of sorts, into the cosmic experience of life as a whole series of cycles. That is, not to say they were mere passive observers of the human experience. Nay, they were professional practitioners of the divine art of living. They understood the concept of "Doing without trying. Only for them it was simply reality. They knew how to become one with their creations. (i.e. various martial arts disciplines.) They know how to meld their own efforts of mastery into such a part of themselves that they flowed with it. Like the expression "Be the dance" or in sports "Be the ball." It's an urging to "become one" with the art or sport, letting your skill create one smooth action executed by your entire being. So I believe that in all actuality Buddhist were and are (you do come across the ocassional"California Nut") vibrant participants on the Grand Stage. Just reading what Lu-Tzu has to say about life and society shows that he was an avid watcher and learner. He probably worked in a regular Chinese village and led a fairly regular life- enough for him to realize a thing or two about Life's general rhythms.