Let's look at the state of balanced expression, neither left nor right, neither up nor down, neither high nor low, not very good, but not very bad. This is a very calm and stable state. We will pursue this balanced state in many aspects, from some large teams, some group enterprises with financial problems to couples.
Enterprises and teams are nothing more than the pursuit of balance in finance and talent reserve, and husband and wife pursue balance in the right to speak and treatment. So what kind of balance is it?
Just like this tree in the picture, the slope on the stone side is slower and the root system is more developed. Correspondingly, the branch in this direction is longer and thicker, so it stands firmly on this stone. This is the way of balance that plants can master. However, people, not plants, have secular desires, but they don't grasp the invisible and intangible balance, so they are easy to trip over.
Failure of Tao Te Ching: Heaven or Bow? The highest person suppresses it, the lower person raises it, the surplus person damages it, and the insufficient person makes up for it. Heaven, the damage is more than enough, but the strength is insufficient; People's ways are different, and the loss is not enough to serve. Who can serve the world? Only Tao. It is a saint who doesn't rely on it, doesn't succeed, and doesn't want to see a sage.
Translated into vernacular Chinese, it means: Is there a difference between Heaven and an archer who shoots with a bow? Press it higher, lift it higher. If it is too full, it will be loose. If it is too loose, it will be harder. Heaven is to reduce excess and make up for deficiency. Human nature is different. It will reduce what is already lacking and cater to those who are in excess. Who can give their surplus to the world? Only enlightened saints. Therefore, saints will not take credit. A lot of credit has been given to others, and I don't even want others to know my talent.
This passage of Laozi seems to be somewhat confusing when read carefully. Is that really the case? Definitely not.
In this passage, Lao Tzu expressed his understanding of heaven and human nature, and also talked about how saints did it. Many readers and friends will ask, since human nature is to lose less and gain more, why should saints give up what they get? This problem is precisely the focus of this chapter. We know that Lao Tzu believes that man should keep the land, the land should keep the sky, the sky should keep the Tao, and the Tao should be natural. Humanism is to obey and abide by heaven, not blindly. Only observe human nature alone, but ignore the truth that heaven is above everything else.
We can argue from some social phenomena, why do the richest people do charity? Why should people who help others be respected? Why do some very learned people give classes to college students who have no money? Why should volunteers be free volunteers and free teaching assistants? It's all about chasing the sky. What do these people get from doing these things? Everyone has sincere respect and admiration, right?
Therefore, human nature does not necessarily cater to the powerful, but also caters to those who know "Tao" and "virtue" and use it. Everyone wants to associate with Dad Wang, Dad Ma and Dad Li, but they are also willing to associate with really virtuous people. This is human nature. Human nature is not independent of heaven.
Having said that, what is the way to balance?