pebble in the pond

What is planted right is not uprooted
what is held right is not ripped away
future generations worship it forever
cultivated in the self virtue becomes real
cultivated in the family virtue multiplies
cultivated in the village virtue increases
cultivated in the state virtue prospers
cultivated in the world virtue abounds
thus view the self through the self
view the family through the family
view the village through the village
view the state through the state
view the world through the world
how do we know what the world is like
through this
-- Red Pine, Chapter 54, Tao Te Ching

The surface of the pond was smooth.

"Drop a pebble in," said Jesus.

I did.

"What happened?" asked Jesus.

"The pebble sank," I said.

"Naturally," said Lao Tzu. "That's 'weight underside.'"

"What else?" asked Jesus.

"It made a splash," I said.

"That's fame, boy," said Lao Tzu. "Notice it and let it go."

"Something else happened," said Jesus. "Something still happening."

"Ripples went out and are going out in all directions," I said.

"That's what happened to us," said Jesus, pointing to himself and Lao Tzu.

"Still happening," said Lao Tzu.

"No end to it," said Jesus.

"Same with you," said Lao Tzu."Virtue is a name for the energy of the Tao."

"Creative and transformative," said Jesus. "Healing."

"When you move in accord with the Tao," said Lao Tzu. "creative energy flows in all directions.

"How do I move in accord with the Tao?" I asked.

"Like this," said Jesus.

I looked at him. He wasn't doing anything.

Lao Tzu laughed. "Through being, dummy!"