HIDDEN SHALLOWS
Be enraptured by peaceful skies;
but alert to creeping fog.Revel in placid waters;
but beware of engulfing tides.Gales and storms rage noisily;
but icebergs approach in silence.
Waves and surf make a spectacle;
but quicksands lie concealed.
Sublime?
Subliminal!
The interplay between Yin &
Yang, portayed as opposed but complementary powers or
energies, is a recurring central motif of Taoism.
It can be perceived in a multitude of ways: from forces of
nature, aspects of the personality, or human relationships on
many scales.
Dramatic gestures or
grand plans easily impress or beguile; but the power of
gradual, 'stealthy' influences may be even more effective.
This reflects Taoism's inclination to avoid heavy-handed
actions, which arouse such substantial opposition
that they become self-defeating.
Tao reminds us that barely perceptible changes can
outwit or out-manoeuvre, to gain control of a situation
and shape its consequences.
Never underestimate the value of subtlety in
attempts to 'win over hearts and minds'.