A man said to the universe: “Sir, I exist!” “However,” replied the universe. “The fact has not created in me a sense of obligation.”
If you seek to understand the whole universe you will understand nothing at all but seek to understand yourself and you will understand the whole universe.
You may control a mad elephant; You may shut the mouth of the bear and the tiger; Ride the lion and play with the cobra; By alchemy you may earn your livelihood; You may wander through the universe incognito; Make vassals of the gods; be ever youthful; You may walk on water and live in fire; But control of the mind is better and more difficult.
Each man is a microcosm of the universe. Your body is made of all the elements of the world. Nature supplied all the ingredients that make your body, which means that the universe made you by donating itself. You could accurately say that you are a small walking universe that can move, whereas the cosmic universe is stationary.
Vacuity, tranquillity, mellowness, quietness and taking no action characterise things of the universe at peace and represent the ultimate Tao and virtue. Therefore abide in them.
The universe has been created out of knowledge and action and seems also possessed of consciousness.
The cosmos is interesting rather than perfect, and everything is not part of some greater plan, nor is all necessarily under control.
