無為

This thought/concept/idea has sprung to mind lately as I am trying to learn and understand powerlessness. Two passages that I came across that illustrate this well.

The first one is:

THE DIVINE SON IN THE VALE OF THE SOUL by John Ruysbroeck

'Now understand this: when the sun sends its beams and it's radiance into a deep valley between two high mountains, and, standing in the zenith, can yet shine upon the bottom and ground of the valley, then three things happen: the valley becomes full of light by reflections from the mountains, and it receives more heat, and becomes more fruitful, than the plain and level country. And so likewise, when a good man takes his stand upon his own littleness, in the most lowly part of himself, and confesses and knows that he has nothing, and is nothing, and can do nothing of himself, neither stand still nor go on, and when he sees how often he fails in virtues and good works: then he confesses his poverty and his helplessness, then he makes a valley of humility....
...Then, this valley, the humble heart receives, receives three things: it becomes more radiant and enlightened by grace, it becomes more ardent in charity, and it becomes more fruitful in perfect virtues and in good works.

...yep... It says right there "and can do nothing of himself". My understanding to be 無為。

And of course the second is in our own 道德經:

王邦雄教授說：「『反』就是復歸其自身的法則，而此法則，就是天之道之均衡和諧的作用。道就在天地相合的均衡中，為天地之始...道之所以能長久的生養化成天地萬物，就在其『不自生』的虛，此即老子所謂的弱。」

...yep... 物極必反。而最精彩的，竟然這就是 balance and harmony.
...yep... 不自生 的虛，non-generating emptiness. 舍利子 是諸法空相 不生不滅 不垢不淨 不增不減...
...yep... 所謂的弱，and here it comes. Powerlessness!!! Putting it in contrast. 強者, power-ful(l). 弱者, power-less.

Oh, so much to appreciate and contain in this two short little paragraph.