Tao by Matsumoto

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77. No excess

[Chapter 77 / English Translation] - click the line to watch the related video.
Heaven's Tao is like bending a bow!

It suppresses a high one.

It raises a low one.

It reduces excess.

It supplies what is lacking.

Heaven's Tao reduces excess and supplies what it lacking.

Man's Tao is not like that.

It reduces what is already lacking and gives it to those who have excess.


Who can have excess and give it to the world under the sky? Only those with Tao can.

Therefore, although something is done, the sage doesn't rely on it.

Although his great tasks are (successfully) accomplished, he doesn't stay there.

He doesn't want to show off his superiority.


Rapid Decoded
"Heaven" suggests your hologram. Tao's manifestation in your hologram functions "like bending a bow". In other words, it follows the principle of Dark Depth Female.

Tao pushes down something high.

Tao pushes up something low.

If something is excessive, Tao reduces it.

If something is lacking, Tao supplies it.

Tao manifests itself in your hologram, by reducing something excessive and supplying something lacking. This mechanism (=attitude) is called Dark Depth Female.

"Man" suggests your own self. It is part of your hologram and doesn't belong to you. Your own self sometimes doesn't respect Tao's rules. That's the moment you feel frustrated.

In your own self, or your ego, you reduce what is already lacking and increase what is excessive. This is typically recognisable in man's economic activity.


You should avoid excess. Or rather, reduce and reduce everything. (☞See Ch.48) "The world under the sky" signifies your hologram. So, be generous to the rest of the world (=your hologram). If you are generous enough to be completely detached from the world, you are one with Tao. More precisely, you can remember that you are one with Tao.

Therefore, don't "rely on" anything in your hologram. Avoid being attached to it. (☞See Ch.2 There is an identical sentence: "Though something is done, he does not rely on it.")

You don't have to be successful in your hologram. After all, it is an illusion. (☞See Ch.2 There is an identical sentence: "Though his great tasks are accomplished, he does not stay there.")

Everything is one. You have no one to compare yourself with. You don't have to be better than others. In fact, it is impossible to so if everything is one.


Videos / YouTube playlist

- 77-1 Bend a bow
- 77-2 Suppress doubt?
- 77-3 Raise Hossho?
- 77-4 No excess / Why does history repeat?
- 77-5 Lack & Supply
- 77-6 Nirvana / Reduced excess & Supplied lack
- 77-7 Man's self
- 77-8 Rich man's excess
- 77-9 Love & Excess
- 77-10 Attachment
- 77-11 After life / Task successfully accomplished
- 77-12 Secret of superiority


[Related Articles]
-10 points to be One with Tao. You will find easy and practical applications for life.

-One. Everything is one. Everything is a manifestation of Tao.





Read Yama Uba the Zen play

☞Michio Kushi's «The Cancer Prevention Diet» is based of his Macrobiotics. Kushi has been an excellent advocate for a healthier eating habit and received the Award of Excellence from the United Nations Society of Writers. Let's enjoy eating Shiitake mushrooms while reading his book. It doesn't matter whether Shiitake work or not. They are delicious with slightly sugared soy sauce.
  1. Tao

 2. Hologram

 3. The floating world Ukiyo

 4. Play

 5. Gate

 6. Dark Depth

 7. Dark Depth Female

 8. Do nothing

 9. Body soul and Spirit soul

10. You and non-you

11. Yin Yang circle

12. No judgement

13. Resistance

14. Satori

15. Act without acting

16. Colour

(Last modified: 14 November 2011)