Heaven and earth are ruthless;
they see the ten thousand things as dummies.
The wise are ruthless;
they see the people as dummies.
The space between heaven and earth is like a bellows.
The shape changes but not the form;
the more it moves, the more it yields.
More words count less.
Hold fast to the center.
Sit With This
In what areas of your life are you trying to make the universe take your side, when stillness and center might serve you better?
Western Commentary
Nature does not favor anyone. The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike. The earthquake does not consult the goodness of those in its path. This might seem harsh — but Lao Tzu is pointing to a kind of impartial grace: the universe operates without prejudice, and in that impartiality there is a profound fairness. The sage mirrors this — serving all without favoritism, speaking little, remaining centered.