Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Overcoming the Hardness of Life

The softest thing in the universe
Overcomes the hardest thing in the universe.
That without substance can enter where there is no room.
Hence I know the value of non-action.

Teaching without words
and work
without doing
Are understood by very few.
The Tao Te Ching - 43rd Verse
Jane English Translation
I had written in an earlier entry of a find of a tree growing through a boulder, located at a museum in Nanjing. While on my sojourn in Zhongshan we came to a little oasis in a park. It isn't often I get drawn to do strange things, but I felt compelled to climb in to and area where I just felt like I would find something similar. There it was, the seemingly impossible, another tree that come up through a boulder. The one above in Zhongshan, the one below in Nanjing.
I reflected on my journey, how the softness in my own life seemed to open more doors than with a hard stance. Often with the hardness, it went against my nature, making the pressures of life seem unbearable at times. When I looked at these trees I thought about the journey from a small seed to go through where no light existed, by a force of faith, that some amount of space came and it reached up towards the light and water. As its roots expanded, the softness made way up and out of the rock.
Should it be an impossible journey? Should it be so hard? Often I wondered about the times I needed to have just a little more patience, just a little more strength to push through. At the same time I looked and actually could observe the action and nonaction at the same time. They may not be perfect trees out there on their own, growing without opposition.
But in this oasis of calm, I saw the harmony of how life can actually be soft even when it appears to be hard.

9 comments:

Savira Gupta said...

Marilyn I love the verse.... May I share this post on my L,L,B page?
I am that place now where I either need more strength to push myself or just curl back and pause!...

Savira Gupta said...

FYI your post did not show up in my blog reading....

Marilyn said...

Of course you can...
You can never tell about the feeds. Some of my friends are showing feeds of over a month ago, but I know they write more often.

Each person needs to find their own pace. There isn't a race. My head is swimming with the class I just taught.

Java said...

Hi Marilyn!!

So nice to meet you!!! All the way from China!!!

I would love to add you to the Over 40 Club! Please add the Over 40 button (pink or blue shirt) to your blog and then let me know so I can add you to the list!!!

Have a great day!
Java

Marilyn said...

Thank you Jane...

Anonymous said...

I, too, find such inspiration from nature! Especially from our desert plants...they not only grow, but thrive, in such harsh, unexpected places. When I hike, each plant I encounter feels like a gift. And a good reminder that there is always something there to help you grow, it just may take some time to find out what it is you need and how to reach it.

Marilyn said...

That is life...even in the harshest environments...nature lets us know we are not the masters but the students. I am glad you still show your beautiful country...and post your pictures. A smile to you this harvest season.

Unknown said...

I love your blog. Found it through Savina.Now following you. Quite beautiful!

Marilyn said...

Thank you for visiting and sharing with me. I am happy to come over and see what you have been creating along the way.