19 - RAW SILK AND UNCUT WOOD

Stop being holy, forget being prudent,

it’ll be a hundred times better for everyone.

Stop being altruistic, forget being righteous,

people will remember what family feeling is.

Stop planning, forget making a profit,

there won’t be any thieves and robbers.

But even these three rules

needn’t be followed; what works reliably

is to know the raw silk,

hold the uncut wood.

Need little,

want less.

Forget the rules.

Be untroubled.

UKLG: This chapter and the two before it may be read as a single movement of thought.

“Raw silk” and “uncut wood” are images traditionally associated with the characters su (simple, plain) and p’u (natural, honest).