Today I spoke with Marianne about #59 and her frustrations with Christmas, Melissa about #12 and her full teaching day on Dec 23rd, thenTruth joined me for #9 after which Jay K got #68.
#9 "The Danger of Extremes"
Having to prove yourself
Will allow challenges to best you.
Focus your attention on money
And lose sight of what is valuable.
Keep in mind outside influence
And you will be its prisoner.
Do what you do and move on,
It isn't yours anyway.
#12 "The Senses"
Colors blind the eyes of men.
Sounds deafen the ears of men.
Flavors dull the tongues of men.
Thoughts will lead a mind to turmoil.
Desires and greed will lead a life to turmoil.
Therefore, the Master satisfies her inner vision
Allowing external cravings to come and go.
#59 "Serving Others"
While serving others, be as reserved as you can be.
Be like Tao, nurture all things without influencing them.
This is possible through moderation
Free yourself from the constraints of your own ideas.
Respect all things as they are and remove their limits.
Embrace this virtue and your limits are removed as well.
Find within yourself both solid ground and yielding sky.
Be at one with Tao and the landscape creates itself.
Limitless you achieve immortality.
#68 "Do What you Love to Do"
Great athletes love to play, not win
Great fighters love to fight, not be angry
Great generals love to strategize, not destroy
Great employers love to employ, not be a boss.
Great musicians love to play, not perform.
They are not attached to identities or outcomes,
They simply dance with what they love to do.
This is in harmony with Tao.