| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Tao Teh King by Lao-tze: hateful, it may be said, to all creatures. Therefore they who have
the Tao do not like to employ them.
2. The superior man ordinarily considers the left hand the most
honourable place, but in time of war the right hand. Those sharp
weapons are instruments of evil omen, and not the instruments of the
superior man;--he uses them only on the compulsion of necessity. Calm
and repose are what he prizes; victory (by force of arms) is to him
undesirable. To consider this desirable would be to delight in the
slaughter of men; and he who delights in the slaughter of men cannot
get his will in the kingdom.
3. On occasions of festivity to be on the left hand is the prized
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Young Forester by Zane Grey: "I'm all right, only tired. Where's the forest fire?"
"It's most burned out by now. It didn't jump the canyon into the big
forest. Thet back-fire did the biz. Say, kid, wasn't settin' off them pines
an' runnin' fer your life jest like bein' in a battle?"
"It certainly was. Herky, how long will we be penned up here?"
"Only a day or two. I reckon we'd better not risk takin' you back to
Holston till we're sure about the fire. Anyways, kid, you need rest. You're
all played out."
Indeed, I was so weary that it took an effort to lift my hand. A strange
lassitude made me indifferent. But Herky's calm mention of taking me back
to Holston changed the color of my mood. I began to feel more cheerful. The
The Young Forester |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: devices, but remember the Lord's command, which saith, `In the
world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world.' Wherefore, rejoice in the Lord alway; for
he hath chosen and separated thee out of the world, and set thee,
as it were before his countenance. The Master, who hath called
thee with a holy calling, is alway near. Be careful for nothing,
but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let thy requests be made known unto God. For he himself hath
said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." So, by the
hardness of thy life, and by scorn of its rigours, win such
thoughts as these, and rejoice, remembering our Lord God, for he
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