A Mind Like Still Water
Why do people gather around some who hardly say a word?
Original
常季曰：「彼為己，以其知得其心，以其心得其常心，物何為最之哉？」仲尼曰：「人莫鑑於流水，而鑑於止水，唯止能止眾止。」
In plain words
Changji said, “Wang Tai only works on himself. Through his understanding he found his own mind, and through that mind he found the constant mind. Why do people flock to him?” Confucius said, “No one uses running water as a mirror; people look into still water. Only what is still can still all those who seek stillness.”
Key words
- 止水zhǐ shuǐStill water, which can mirror everything.
- 常心cháng xīnThe constant, unchanging mind.
- 唯止能止众止wéi zhǐ néng zhǐ zhòng zhǐOnly the still can bring others to stillness.
Reading it step by step
The chapter “Signs of Full Virtue” is full of people with damaged bodies and complete virtue. Wang Tai had lost a foot to punishment, yet as many people studied with him as with Confucius. He gave no lectures and held no debates, yet students “went empty and came back full.” Changji can't understand it, so he asks Confucius.
Let's take it in three steps.
First: running water reflects nothing. Crouch by a river and look in: the water keeps moving and the image breaks apart. Only when a pond is still does it show the sky, the trees, your own face. It's simple physics, and also deep psychology. Around someone whose mind is always running, other people can't see themselves.
running water
a racing mind: no one can see themselves in it
still water
Second: the constant mind. Wang Tai “through that mind found the constant mind”: beneath the mind that changes, a mind that doesn't. The wooden rooster on Day 22 and the centre of the ring on Day 24 were saying the same thing. The wind and waves outside carry on, and inside there's one still place. Here, at the end, bending outside and staying steady inside turns into a kind of beauty.
Third: only the still can still those who seek stillness. He didn't try to attract anyone. People came on their own. Why? Because everyone wants, somewhere inside, to be still, and beside him they could see themselves. We usually try to influence people by talking and performing. Zhuangzi says: first become a pool of still water.
When you talk with someone today, try saying one sentence less and listening a little longer. See whether they settle, too.
Be still water first, and people will come to see themselves in you.
Be still water first, and people will come to see themselves in you.
Today's question
Who has been “still water” in your life? Beside them, what did you see in yourself?
Quick check
What does “only the still can still those who seek stillness” mean?
People look into still water: a quiet mind lets others see themselves.
IV · From Truth to Beauty — From skill to Dao; the beauty of everything