Crawl to begin.
Triumph to complete.
Renounce to leave.

What is the anatomy of any phase of life? First comes a learning stage full of awkward struggles for mastery. Then comes a phase of testing yourself in competition. Finally, there is gracious retirement from the field, for constant competition is not a lasting way of life.

Competition is always a thorny problem. True, it challenges you to be your very best. Cultivating skill without using it is like learning a foreign language and never leaving your house. If we think of winning all the in the narrow sense of vanquishing others, we fall into a dangerous egotism. Winning can be thought of as attainment. For example, if you learn to swim, that is winning over your ignorance and sloth. If you enter into a meet and win, then that is winning not over others, but achieving your personal best. The other competitors are secondary; it is more important that you know where you stand, that you consolidate your position, and that you look for further achievement. That is true triumph.

Triumph in the right amounts is the greatest tonic to the soul. Triumph carried to extremes corrodes the soul. Once you have had your share of triumphs, know when to get out. Once you have gained the top, renounce competition.




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365 Tao
daily meditations
Deng Ming-Dao (author)
ISBN 0-06-250223-9

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FU BAO SHI

            
        Springtime in Jiang Nan   1964
     (this is the artist’s title of the work)

see FU BAO SHI
for a complete biography of this artist and his work
http://www.chinafinearts.com/

**Suggested reading of daoist texts ancient poetry and contemporary Chinese literature is available at the site.

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