The weak can overcome the strong;
The supple can overcome the stiff.
Under heaven everyone knows this,
Yet no one puts it into practice.
~ Tao Te Ching, Chapter 78
A Taoist nun in the Sung Dynasty commented on this:
“The reason people know this but don’t put it into practice is because they love strength and hate weakness.”
We are taught all our lives to avoid weakness at all cost. Too bad. It closes our minds to possible benefits of weakness. As a matter of fact, weakness, when used correctly, has as much value as strength. In fact, in the Tai Chi Classics we are told that perfect strength comes from perfect weakness. When you meet another person’s strength with weakness you are able to neutralize their strength.
What is weaker than thin air? And yet no matter how hard you strike at it, you can’t hurt it!
