Tao Te Ching, Chapter 13, Excerpt

 "What does it mean that success is as dangerous as failure? 

Whether you go up the ladder or down it, 

your position is shaky.   

When you stand with your two feet on the ground, 

you will always keep your balance."  

 

Tao Te Ching, Chapter 13, excerpt   

Stephen Mitchell  

   

In his notes, Stephen Mitchell writes, "The trick is to go up or down the ladder with both feet on the ground."     

 

I think of Jesus' comments about finding one's place at the table  in Luke 14:10-11: " But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”     

  

Learning to  go up and down a ladder with both feet on the ground is a good spiritual practice.  I suggest starting with a step stool.  

  

photograph:  say