Thing #2: 8

I talked to Tim briefly on my way home from work today. (He's good, by the way.) Besides a lightning fast discussion about the impact of the internet on socio-cultural evolution (really...), we came to a decision on which poem from the Tao Te Ching to translate.

Poem 8.

The supreme good is like water,
which nourishes all things without trying to.
It is content with the low places that people disdain.
Thus it is like the Tao.

In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don't try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present.

When you are content to be simply yourself
and don't compare or compete,
everybody will respect you.

Translated by S. Mitchell

This is a very good place to start, as it's one of the first poems that really jumped out at me. Water imagery is very prominent throughout the work, and is something that has significantly influenced how I understand the Tao.

You should check out the Mitchell translation, (which I hope is posted legally). It's a nice translation, particularly if you've never encountered Taoism before.