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StillnessQuote

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

Lao Tzu (attributed)

Philosophy

The story behind the card

Widely credited to Lao Tzu, but it is found in no translation of the Tao Te Ching; it is a modern saying in a Taoist spirit. Tradition names Lao Tzu, 'Old Master', as the book's author, but many historians doubt he was a single real person and think the text, about 5,000 Chinese characters long, grew from several hands. Its real chapters do praise letting go: water is the softest thing yet wears away the hardest, and a bowl is useful because of its empty space.

Türkçe oku
Olduğum kişiyi bıraktığımda, olabileceğim kişiye dönüşürüm.
Lao Tzu (atfedilir)

Lao Tzu'ya yaygın biçimde mal edilir ama Tao Te Ching'in hiçbir çevirisinde geçmez; Taocu bir havada söylenmiş modern bir sözdür. Gelenek, adı “Yaşlı Usta” anlamına gelen Lao Tzu'yu bu kitabın yazarı sayar. Ama birçok tarihçi onun tek ve gerçek bir kişi olduğundan kuşkuludur; yaklaşık 5.000 Çince karakterlik metnin birçok elden çıktığını düşünür. Kitabın gerçek bölümleri de bırakmayı över: Su dünyanın en yumuşak şeyidir ama en sertini aşındırır; bir kâseyi işe yarar kılan, içindeki boşluktur.

Sources and further reading

Background reading: Laozi
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