Chinese Inspired 國學啟發 #2 – Laozi

Laozi on nothingness

“Nothingness is emptiness.
Without an empty axlehole in the center, a wheel cannot turn.
If a vessel is not empty, it cannot be filled.
If doors and windows do not contain empty space, they cannot be entered.
If a house does not have empty space, no one can live there.”
Similarly, if you do not consciously maintain space within your left hand, the result will be poor action. If you do not consciously maintain space within your right hand, the result will be pressed sound and a rigid bow. If your mind is not open and receptive to learning and possessing new information, the result will be sadness and fear.

老子論無

「三十輻，共一轂，當其無，有車之用。挻埴以為器，當其無，有器之用。鑿戶牖以為室，當其無，有室之用。故有之以為利，無之以為用。」（道德經十一章）
無即是虛空，老子舉例車輪若無中間的圓泂，便不能轉動。器皿若無空處，便不能裝物事。門戶若沒有空洞，就不能出入。房屋裡若沒有空處，便不能容人。
以此類推，如果拉琴時我們的左手心沒有維持空間，會導致動作不順暢；如果右手心沒有保持中空，便會奏出有壓迫感的聲音，讓運弓變得僵硬、死板；倘若不敞開心胸和不願意吸收嶄新的資訊，將會活在恐懼之下，多麼令人惋惜。