Birds of a Feather
| Original | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 希 言 自 然 | hope speaks for herself |
| 故 飄 風 不 終 朝 | why doesn't the strong-wind blow all morning? |
| 驟 雨 不 終 日 | or sudden-rain not last all day? |
| 孰 為 此 者 | who causes these things? |
| 天 地 | heaven-and-earth |
| 天 地 尚 不 能 久 | heaven-and-earth can't sustain them long |
| 而 況 於 人 乎 | and so it is with people! |
| 故 從 事 於 道 者 | this is why,some people ride the Way through life's-moments |
| 道 者 同 於 道 | Way-practicers become like the Way |
| 德 者 同 於 德 | Virtue-practicers become like Virtue |
| 失 者 同 於 失 | error-practicers become like error |
| 同 於 道 者 | becoming like the Way-practicers |
| 道 亦 樂 得 之 | the Way happily accepts them |
| 同 於 德 者 | becoming like the Virtue-practicers |
| 德 亦 樂 得 之 | Virtue happily accepts them |
| 同 於 失 者 | becoming like the error-practicers |
| 失 亦 樂 得 之 | error happily accepts them |
| 信 不 足 | trusting not enough |
| 焉 有 不 信 | one becomes untrusted |
My Comments:
much of the ddj focuses on how yin causes yang, or how opposites precede one another this one recognizes that likes congregate.
how, if we attempt to do, or have a particular attidude or characteristic, that which has that characteristic will gather to us like family.
for instance, when we are trusting, others who are trusting will recognize that, and connect with us. when we are virtuous, other virtuous things will want to be near us. when we follow the way, others who do so will be drawn to us.
ultimately, the way itself will draw near to us when we are its kindred.