Bahá’í Explorations

This passage emphasizes the Taoist philosophy that flexibility and adaptability are essential for life, while rigidity leads to stagnation and death. It uses the natural world as a metaphor, illustrating that living beings, like humans and plants, are at their most vital when they are soft and pliable. This imagery suggests that to thrive, one should embrace change and remain open to new possibilities. In contrast, those who are inflexible and resistant to change may find themselves spiritually or emotionally stunted. The passage encourages readers to cultivate gentleness and openness as a way to align with the forces of life and growth.

We are born gentle and weak. At death we are hard and stiff. Green plants are tender and filled with sap. When they die they are withered and dry. Therefore the stiff and unbending are the disciples of death. The gentle and yielding are the disciples of life.


Various, Taoist Prayers, 5
https://oceanlibrary.com/link/JipPq/taoist-prayers/

Let your vision be world-embracing…” — Bahá’u’lláh