hourglass 
Life
is like an hourglass.
Consciousness is
the sand.
Imagine an hourglass.
Its shape is like the symbol for infinity. Its form recalls the
double helix of DNA. Its two sections represent polarity.
The material on one side, the immaterial on the other. The
male on one side, and the female on the other. Hot and cold, positive
and negative, or any other duality.
The sand runs in a stream, the same stream as the course of energy that
runs up your spine, the same stream that is the road of life.
The movement of that sand is what we call Tao. Our consciousness
alternates between the various states represented by the hourglass.
It is as difficult to grasp as a stream of sand. Therefore,
it is foolish to examine things
minutely. It is unwise to focus on the material. It is
wisdom to understand the movement.
hourglass
365 Tao
daily meditations
Deng Ming-Dao (author)
ISBN 0-06-250223-9