The Bond of Tao

-
Lin Hui of Kia took to flight,
Pursued by enemies.
He threw away the precious jade,
Symbol of his rank,
And took his infant child on his back.
Why did he take the child
And leave the jade,
Which was worth a small fortune,
Whereas the child, if sold,
Would bring him only a paltry sum?

Lin Hui said:
“My bond with the jade symbol
and with my office
Was the bond of egoism.
My bond with the child
was the bond of Tao.”

“Where egoism is the bond,
Friendship is dissolved
When calamity comes.
Where Tao is the bond,
Friendship is made perfect
By calamity.”

“The friendship of wise men
Is tasteless as water.
The friendship of fools
Is sweet as wine.
But the tastelessness of the wise
Brings true affection.
The savor of fools’ company
Ends in hatred.”
✍ Thomas Merton (Prades, France, January 31, 1915 ~ Bangkok, Thailand, December 10, 1968). 'The Way of Chuang Tzu'.
◙ Gustave Doré


 *******

La Huída de Lin Hui

Lin Hui de Kia emprendió la huida.
Perseguido por enemigos,
tiró todos los preciosos símbolos
de jade de su rango
y se echó a la espalda a su hijo pequeño.
¿Por qué cogió al niño
abandonando el jade
que valía una pequeña fortuna,
mientras que el niño, de venderlo,
sólo le proporcionaría una suma miserable?

Lin Hui dijo:
"Mi atadura al símbolo de jade
y a mi cargo
era la atadura del egoísmo.
Mi atadura al niño
era la atadura del Tao.

Allí donde el egoísmo es la atadura,
se disuelve la amistad
cuando la calamidad llega.
Allí donde el Tao es la atadura,
la amistad se hace perfecta
por medio de la calamidad.

La amistad de los hombres sabios
es insípida como el agua.
La amistad de los tontos
es dulce como el vino.
Pero la insipidez de los sabios
trae consigo un afecto verdadero,
y el sabor de la compañía de los tontos
acaba convirtiéndose en odio."

Extraído de 'El Camino de Chuang Tzu'. Thomas Merton.
*******

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