OPPOSING FORCE

ADAMAROCK


When rocks are thrown,
the balance teeters:
To build or to crush?
 
When knives are drawn,
the sage trembles:
To slice fresh fruit or living flesh?

When arms are displayed,
but do not clash:
Then harmony can be restored.
From opposing?
To reposing!

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From a Taoist viewpoint, the fear and destruction wrought by armaments is an extreme manifestation of imbalance
in a culture or civilisation; to be countered by the 'subtle arts' of diplomacy and negotiation in attempts to regain stability.

At a personal level, resorting to violence indicates that someone has 'lost it' - 'it' being the composure or refined response
that Taoism aims to foster. Tao's ethos is to defuse, deflect and disarm such threats, as demonstrated in the 'martial arts'.

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