The five colors can blind, the five tones can deafen, the five tastes cloy. The race, the hunt, can drive men mad. And their booty leave them no peace. Therefore a sensible man prefers the inner to the outer eye." (Ch.12)
This passage obviously refers to the temptations of our senses. When he refers to sight, the pleasing aesthetics of an object can lure people into traps. Everything around us is an enticement. From, the minor things, like what we want to eat for lunch, to the larger more expensive things, like buying a brand new car. Buddhism refers this all this as suffering. When your driving that new Mercedes, everywhere you go, you worry about it. You worry if it is going to be scratched or if it is going to get stolen. This brand new car that is suppose to bring you pleasure, only brings you suffering. The author writes, "Therefore a sensible man prefers the inner to the outer eye," we could say this refers to the Taoist way of living life at a minimal level.......
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Approximate Word Count: 703
Approximate Pages: 3 (260 words per double-spaced page) |