Translation by Sifu John A. Fey
1 the ancient child asks
but where can you find the connection
2 it is a bright moment that cannot be grasped
3 gravity intelligence must have an earth center to find its core and bring auspicious stability to those quarters shallow and not yet complete
4 as foundation and embodied root gravity intelligence
secures profundity in the unprofound
5 for the planet on which we stand and its wonders all around us are both our model and our entry point to the concentration of impervious integrity
6 the wise traveler as gentle soul
is a man reserved and understated who moves over the land cheerfuly
7 carrying the weight of his own existence as a cherished memory forever near
8 only softly at rest and true repose can he visit the honest gravity intelligence
9 of his own existence and rejuvenate himself for journeys anew
10 but what motivates someone to retain a sense of humor
about themselves
while showing true concern for the hearts, minds,
and lives
of people they have never met
11 the only answer is the selfsame gravity intelligence
12 it you have a firm root and core born of its honest weight
then you will not lose your foundation life's movement will then be deliberate and unhurried and will itself protect you
COMMENTARY
1 MIND: This question and answer is crucial in determining the student's grasp of Taoist mind-science.
2 MIND: The true connection to the Tao Source is elusive and reveals itself to the Cultivator during meditation. The Cultivator experiences it as a flash of light or flame that appears on the edge of conscious awareness.
3 HEART: "Gravity intelligence," or chung, is Taoist archaic language for the seed of realization. This seed, experienced as a flash of light, vanishes if the Cultivator focuses on it. If, however, the Cultivator treats it casually, then it stabilizes and grows.
Eventually, it ushers in a profound awakening.
4 MIND: Under the influence of chung the Cultivator is able to perceive the profound depths of any object or event that is encountered-to see the heart, origin, and outcome of experiential reality.
5 MIND: An affinity or appreciation for nature is vital to securing the seed of realization.
6-10 BODY: These stanzas describe how the Taoist lifestyle supports formal cultivation practices like meditation. The entire art of Taoist cultivation is designed to engender and maintain a firm connection to the Tao Source of Life. A meditation practice that does not spill over into everyday life is fundamentally worthless. Likewise, a lifestyle that does not support meditation practice is also worthless. The implications of this world view can become so overwhelming and imposing that beginning Cultivators often lose heart and fall off the path. To remedy this, the Cultivator must learn to maintain a sense of humor about, what is ultimately, a very serious practice. Simply put, a Cultivator must learn to relax and treat the whole affair casually.
11 MIND: The seed of realization, when held casually, imbues the Cultivator with a sense of profound physical, mental, and emotional comfort, as well as an elevated level of compassion for others.
12 MIND and HEART: An alternate translation might be:if you can draw energy from the earth and gather it within you without over-thinking about or fixating on the seed of realization
then you won't retard cultivation practice or lose
what you have gained you will experience your life as deliberate, unhurried and free from worry and the normal ebb and flow of your day to day existence
will comfort you and support your connection to
the tao source.