Get out the microscope, because we’re going through this poem line-by-line.
- This chapter is all about what we can learn from the ancient Tao masters.
- The ancient sages knew they could never fully understand the Tao; that they could never fully see into its depths.
- Because they couldn't totally figure out the Tao, they we're forced to describe it. (Kind of a challenge to describe something you don't understand, huh?)
- To be a great Tao master you needed the following qualities on your resume:
- Careful and cautious, but not crazily so.
- Serious in a respectful way, like a guest.
- Loose; kind of easygoing.
- Genuine and simple.
- Open-minded.
- Opaque and hard to read (maybe because of how deep they were?).
- Even though their thoughts were complex, they could still find clarity.
- Even though they had inner peace, that didn't make them inactive. (These dudes were doing all kinds of Tao-y stuff.)
- The Tao master also never wanted to be overfilled.
- With what, we wonder?
- Pride?
- Desire?
- Or did emptying their minds help them to find clarity?
- It could be all of those at once.