Dao De Jing 6 – Feminine Quality of the Dao

Jan 17, 2012

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in Chinese Philosophy, Daoism, Online Class

The valley-like spirit does not die, it is the mysterious femininity.

-> Dao is like a vast valley that is everlasting, Laozi called it the mysterious femininity. Why feminine? In Chinese culture, e.g. Book of Changes, Femininity is associated with giving birth, allowing, and embracing all things, with earth being the most “Yin” and feminine of all phenomena. Just as the earth carries all things without preference or limits, the Dao allows for the arising and disappearing of all things, impartially, without limit, and without ends.

The door of this mysterious femininity, is the root of heaven and earth.

-> When one arrives at the gateway of this mysterious femininity, such as during the moment transiting to or from deep sleep and meditation, one finds the root of heaven and earth within. i.e. when one enters into the door, self disappear and so is the perceived heaven and earth; as the self appears, so is the appearance of heaven and earth and all entails.

It exist gently and steadily, we use it and it has no limit.

-> This source (the mysterious femininity) is everlasting, limitless, and without end.

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Chapter 6 Discussion:

People often associates themselves with the masculine: I am this, i want to do this, i seek this, i will this to happen. Laozi, being a enlightened master, found that the feminine is also useful in cultivating the Dao. Instead of driven by a strong and masculine “self”, he advocates for surrendering the attachment to, and identification of the “self”. Through laying down one’s bias, judgements, desires, one learns to live one’s life in harmony with the natural rhythm of the universe, and will eventually realizes the reality beyond the “self”. The acceptance of our more feminine side, therefore, facilitates the process.

DDJ Chapter 6 bilingual text: http://www.lisiming.net/philosophy/chinese-philosophy/daoist/daoist-philosophy/dao-de-jing-core-33-chapters/ddj1-8/

dao daodejing daoism daoist feminine laozi meditation nature reality self source valley

Comments

2 responses to “Dao De Jing 6 – Feminine Quality of the Dao”

妮基

2012-01-24

Master Li Si Ming,

If this is the valley-like spirit that does not die, the mysterious femininity that must be embraced in order balance the yang, then when do we reach the perfect balance of feminine and masculine… of yin and yang? Is this something found in meditation?

Does such a thing exist or are we only constantly striving towards this, as we might strive to, in motion, to ride the wind like the dragon, but the dragon is a mythical creature, it’s perfection unattainable… something that we strive for but never can reach. Does any of this even matter? And If it doesn’t, then what does?

Reply
1. derek
  
  2012-01-24
  
  When this mysterious femininity is practiced and realized, the duality of yin and yang is transcended. In such state, yin and yang become concepts, and whether they are balanced or even exist become irrelevant and does not affect one’s own reality. The notion of Yin and Yang then, can be looked at as dualistic constructions that comes and goes like other phenomena in the world. Such state of transcendence and non-duality exists, is realizable (as by Laozi and other enlightened masters), and represents a major milestone in spiritual cultivation. Yes, ride the wind like a dragon, and follow the natural rhythm of the universe. Don’t try to conceive intellectually what the wind and dragon are, or what yin or yang are at different scenes, or even think about what matters and what not, just listen, and follow. The universe will guide you as you go along. When you realized it and flow in it, there is peace. Intellectual understanding will come if conditions are right, and if they don’t, one is fine too, as one realized one’s reality is beyond the (thinking) mind.
  
  Reply