April 10, 2025
Principle 4. The Principle of Proportion. Second Week
Things Are Good When They Move Together Not In Isolation.
Last Time: Four Magicians and One Lion.
This Time: Moving Harmoniously Through a Very Inharmonious World
For this week:
- Consider this principle in light of the past
-Play the game of Ask About It!
Last time, we looked at the overall structure of this month’s principle and tried to understand it in general terms. We considered its implications, whether it might be useful, and in what ways.
This week we will look at how I applied it, or at least how I could have applied it in the past.
For example, perhaps at one moment I had difficulty finding a work/life balance. Perhaps, I tried to improve my health and made an effort to “get in shape” or to “watch my diet”, but then ended up not taking care of my spiritual, psychological, or social health. Perhaps, focused on fixing one problem I let others get worse. Perhaps, seeking social change, I forget to change myself — or lost my balance focusing on internal change and forgot I am also a system of relations. There are seemingly endless ways we can cultivate disequilibrium in our activities. Just as there are endless opportunities to cultivate harmony.
Can I think of one situation in the past where I applied or could have applied this principle, or on the other hand, where I violated it? Can I see why I went down this road? What particular consequences resulted? How would I characterize these results?
Our next meeting will be a chance to compare and discuss our thoughts, insights, examples, and questions about this month’s principle and related matters.
This Week’s Game
What could be difficult about a game where you have almost nothing to do beyond listening? Why is it often so hard? Don’t avoid giving yourself a real answer to this question.
The idea is simple: turn to someone and ask them what these words might mean.
Try it out. Simply say to a friend, your neighbour, family member, or some stranger on the street: “I’ve been discussing this saying with some friends, and everyone had a different take on it. What’s yours?”
Obviously, you don’t need to use those words. The point is to solicit their opinion, and then the hard part. You need to listen — even when they say, “I think that’s stupid”.
Remember, there’s four parts to the game. Each is important:
Ask. Shut up. Listen. Say Thanks.
General Considerations and Personal Reflections:
Here are some personal reflections. I offer them in the spirit of dialogue and exchange, and look forward to hearing your musings about, and experiences with, this principle.
Thinking about the principle I realize that for me the “register” (the direct experience as experienced) of things moving together, or being proportionate to each other, is a register of harmony and equilibrium.
In trying to deepen my understanding of this principle and its applications, I once again begin by asking myself some simple questions, things like: what kind of relations, or actions, give me a sense of things being in harmony with myself and the situation? For example, in general when it comes to others, do I isolate myself from them, or do I get along with them? What does “get along with them” mean? Does it mean to “go along to get along”? If not, how do I find a harmonious way of being in a very non-harmonious world?
In the Analects (e.g. 13:23) Confucius is quoted as saying:
The Master said, a person with true power acts in harmony with others but does not seek to be like them; the small man seeks to be like others and does not act in harmony.
His older contemporary Laozi had this to say about harmony and various aspects of our behaviour:
Standing on tiptoe balance is soon lost.
Run and you’ll quickly be exhausted.
Seeking the spotlight is not enlightenment.
The self-righteous are far from righteousness.
The boastful gain no credit.
Braggarts reveal their weakness.
These are unsatisfying like crumbs from a meal,
or unnecessary baggage.
Those who follow the way leave all that aside.
(chapter 24 of the Tao Te Ching)
Thinking about all this I discovered that I had lots of questions but few answers as pithy or insightful as those. Only, as Boldy reminded us in our last meeting, that to bring your thoughts, feelings, and action into agreement means to have them moving together, in equilibrium — harmoniously.
Worth Repeating:
If you are not indifferent to the pain and suffering of others, in order to help them you must bring your thoughts, feelings, and actions into agreement.
Silo_The Path
Remember
Silo explained that idea of “moving together” did not imply that all my activities should get the same time, or energy. Rather that it was a matter of being clear about my priorities. Things are moving together only when each activity, each ambit (family, friends, work, etc.), and each project gets the attention it needs according to how I have prioritized them.
That means I need to get my priorities right. That in turn means I need to make my aims, goals, and purpose clearer.
Note:
These notes have been posted on Facebook and sent to our email list. You will also find them along with other comments, and reflections on my website: dzuckerbrot.com
