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Through the fullness of Form
And its vibrant potential。
Here is Lao Tzu's guide to those involved in what are today called 〃the helping professions。〃 If you are a therapist； a counselor； a doctor； a financial advisor； or involved in any work that offers help to others in the form of information and supportive services for the furtherance of physical； psychological； or material well…being； then you may have something to learn from this poem。
Lao Tzu's first point is crucial： helping others is not about sacrificing yourself。 To 〃give of yourself〃 in the sense of sacrifice is the self…indulgent vanity of the hero； and Lao Tzu would like us to have none of this nonsense； for that is of no help to anyone。
Helping in the Cosmic Way is more about 〃reflecting nurturance〃梩hat is； allowing oneself to be a 〃camera obscura of help；〃 through which the true source of help reflects itself and is made effective。 This true source of help comes from nature and the universe in their simple and often unseen energy…flows。
In the I Ching； such supportive currents of nature were known as 揾elpers。？Curiously； and as quaint as it may sound to the modern ear； the term 〃helpers〃 has cognate variants in contemporary English； even within the icily objective field of scientific medicine。 〃Helper T Cells〃 are essential cellular elements of the body's immune system： when they are not present in the bloodstream； or are killed by a viral attack such as that which causes HIV/AIDS； the results can be disastrous for the organism。 In the treatment of cancer； there is a type of therapy known as 〃adjuvant therapy。〃 The word 〃adjuvant〃 is Latin for 〃helping。〃 Other examples could be given； but the point is that the idea of helping presences； even from within ourselves； is not a strange or esoteric notion。 Lao Tzu would like us to keep this in mind wherever we propose to help others； for when we can successfully include these helpers of the Cosmic Consciousness in our daily lives and our professional endeavors； we clear the way for the 〃continual nourishment of the harvest；〃 which can only come （for humans） in the presence of Te； or Modesty。 Modesty； in turn； is present wherever we deny ego； with its intrusive and clumsy interference； any influence in the helping process；。 Modesty enables transformation： it can arouse the helpers and thus be 〃indomitable〃 because it is pure consciousness； which has the quantum ability to reach past time and space； into the subatomic realm where true healing occurs。
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In leading others； use care and restraint；
As if you were frying a small fish。
Let the Tao be your guide；
And the demons of power will return
To their original nature。
For their power is a delusion…
An empty； noisy abstraction。
All power is harmless
To one whose true self leads。
Such a leader can protect the people；
For he is protected by the Sage；
And the Sage is protected by the Tao。
When a follower of Modesty leads；
Then all are made safe…
The leader； the people； the nation…
These unite with the Sage
In a continual return
To a deeper understanding。
Lao Tzu； with his characteristic gentle humor； uses a seemingly mundane image to make a point about a matter of immense substance to both his own time and ours。 Cooking a fish may seem mundane indeed compared to governing a nation； but it wasn't for a common person living in Lao Tzu's time in ancient China。 You had to work to catch a fish and prepare the materials necessary for cooking it； and you weren't likely to get a second chance at dinner if you did it wrong。 Aside from the work of catching the fish； a fire had to be built and tended until it was a bed of hot coals appropriate for cooking。 The ting； or cooking pot used in those days； had to be properly set over the heat for optimal results； and attention had to be directed toward the entire process。 This might have involved shaking the ting regularly； so that the fish cooked itself； as it were； in its own fat； and then recognizing the visual signs of 〃done…ness。〃
This kind of care and attention is what Lao Tzu would like leaders among people to apply to their governmental and administrative functions； for it is this non…intrusive and modest attention that allows the Tao and its helpers to complete the work of both cooking （providing outer nourishment） and leadership （providing inner nourishment）。 Even where the details vary （according to the kind of fish you are cooking； or the population you are leading）； there is a common element to the experience： removing power and its trappings from the relationship； and allowing it to be transformed from a demonic display of force and manipulation； into a natural harmony between the leader and the led。 At all events； it must be remembered that the nourishment and protection come not from ourselves； but from the hidden consciousness that is aroused by Modesty （Te）。
There is a palpable lesson in this poem for modern leaders梕specially those who contemplate the invasion of foreign lands with the most spurious and concocted justification。 To thus attack and destroy the land and homes of others； when there exist far more efficient means of resolving a conflict； is to 〃burn the fish〃 and rob the people of the nourishment they most need梩heir own individual； inner independence。
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How does a great nation know its neighbors？
As a river modestly accepts its feeding streams；
As a woman blissfully receives the man she loves。
The way of Nature is attraction：
Pure strength rests below；
And thus absorbs what lies above。
Genuine love receives its complement；
The greatest nation yields。
Small and great are mutually fulfilling：
Set them into opposition；
And you have made your first and final error。
Therefore； let your nation follow Nature抯 way：
If it is big； let its actions be small。
If it is small； it is already complete；
So it need not strive for greatness。
In the service of the Cosmic Teacher；
Borders and boundaries； fences and flags
Have no meaning。
In this there is benefit for all。
Thus among both hearts and nations：
If you would discover the great；
You must look first below。
All sense of territory is the mark of ego； and is repugnant to the cosmic order。 Thus the poet declares that 〃borders and boundaries； fences and flags〃 are meaningless to one who follows the Sage： this applies to both 〃hearts and nations〃梚ndividuals and entire civilizations。
Here； a personal meditation image may help to illustrate Lao Tzu's point。 It is a meditation that I have sometimes wished I could offer to members of the armed forces。 It is very simple： you close your eyes and take a space flight； journeying out to an orbiting distance of the earth。 Then； as many astronauts have done梠ften in a transformational experience； as was the case with Edgar Mitchell梱ou look back onto the earth and see both what is there； and what is not。 Water and clouds； light and shadow； earthen colors of varying hues； from tawny mountain to verdant plain； all appear to the eye。 But no borde