Trusting others

“When you do not trust people,
people will become untrustworthy.”

[Tao Te Ching: Chapter 23, translated by J. H. McDonald; posted here.]

“Give yourself to the Way
and you’ll be at home on the Way.
Give yourself to power
and you’ll be at home in power.
Give yourself to loss
and when you’re lost you’ll be at home.

To give no trust
is to get no trust.”

[Tao Te Ching: Chapter 23, translated by Ursula K. Le Guin; posted here.]

Today’s words from the Tao Te Ching give much over which to ponder. We get what we give. If we don’t trust, we will not be trusted. Furthermore, if we don’t trust others, we ourselves become untrustworthy.

So often it all comes back to ego protection through ego projection, doesn’t it?

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