Water is good….
It is fundamental to life on Earth
Here’s some photos of our Opuntia ficus-indica getting some fresh water…..
They are so efficient at getting water from the ground, that a day after watering, the soil already seems dry.
~Eddie Money~
‘Give me some water’
Chapter 8
The highest goodness is like water.
Water effortlessly benefits all things without struggling.
It is content to flow to the low places that people scorn.
In this way water is in accordance with the Tao.
Chapter 15
The ancient masters of the Tao
had a subtle, perceptive, penetration.
Their wisdom was unfathomable and cannot be comprehended.
It is because they were unknowable
that we can only describe the way they appeared.
They were as careful as someone crossing an iced-over stream,
They were as aware as a warrior in hostile territory.
They were as considerate and humble as a guest,
as changeable as melting ice.
They were as unpretentious as an un-carved block of wood,
and as approachable as a wide open valley.
They were as clear as a glass of water.
Do you have the patience to wait…
till the mud settles and your water is clear?
Can you remain motionless…
till the right action arises by itself?
The Master doesn’t seek fulfillment.
Not seeking, not expecting,
He is at hand in every moment,
His vigor will not be easily exhausted,
And his need for renewal will be reduced.
Chapter 34
The Tao flows all around like a great river,
To the left and to the right it surrounds all.
It gives rise to all, and nourishes and clothes them,
but lays no intention on control.
It is merged in all things, and hidden in their inner being;
Thus it may be termed small.
All things return to it at the end of life;
Thus it is called great.
The sage models himself after the Tao,
Unburdened, not striving, content with what is.
Chapter 44
Fame or integrity, which do you hold most dear?
Your wealth or your life, to which will you cling?
Gain or loss, which one increases your anxiety?
In fame and wealth and gain can be found the seeds of failure,
And in integrity and life and loss can be found the root of treasures.
Thus it is that a contented person is never ashamed of what they have,
Having self-restraint he can avoid trouble,
In this way he can endure long, and live contentedly.
Chapter 46
When the world is in accord with the Tao
horses work and fertilize the fields with their droppings,
When The Way is forgotten,
warhorses are bred and feed on the people’s autumn harvest
in the parks of the cities.
There is no worse calamity than desire,
There is no greater misery than knowing no contentment,
There is no greater catastrophe than losing self-control.
Contentment can come from realizing one has enough,
Attaining contentment, one can attain internal peace.
Chapter 78
There is nothing more flexible and yielding than water.
And yet there is nothing better for attacking the hard and rigid,
there is nothing that can do what it can do.
So it is that the rigid can be overcome by the flexible,
and the haughty by the humble.
Yet even knowing this;
still no one will put this into adequate practice.
For this reason it is said that the ones who accept the humiliation
of the country are fit to be its rulers.
Those who take the sins of the people
onto themselves are able to act as King.
This is the paradox of truth!
Therefore:
In dwelling, live close to the Earth.
For the mind, depth should be sought.
In conflict, be fair and righteous.
In government, self-mastery, competence and timing is preferred.
The sage does not strive,
Therefore no one can strive against him.