Knowing Enough is Enough

Discussion Facilitator: Tod Fiste. February 8, 2020.

Tao te Ching Chapter 9

Stephen Mitchell:

Fill your bowl to the brim
and it will spill.


Keep sharpening your knife
and it will blunt.


Chase after money and security
and your heart will never unclench.


Care about people's approval
and you will be their prisoner.



Do your work, then step back.


The only path to serenity.[1]

YiWu:

Holding [a cup] until it overflows, is not as good as stopping in time.


[A sword] beaten to its sharpest, will not last long.


A hall filled with gold and jade, cannot be kept forever.


Pride in riches and honours, creates trouble for oneself.


After achieving merit, retire.


It is the Way of Heaven.[2]

We discussed the challenge of how to do work without attachment to outcome, how to achieve this within an outcome-based culture, and the difference between conceptually knowing, and direct knowledge: I've consumed enough calories vs. I feel full.


[1] “Tao Te Ching.” Tao Te Ching - Chapter 9 - Translation by Stephen Mitchell, www.taoteching.org.uk/chapter9.html.
[2] “Tao Te Ching.” Tao Te Ching - Chapter 9 - Translation by YiWu, taoteching.org.uk/index.php?c=9&a=Yi+Wu.