The 64th Verse – One Step at a Time

What is at rest is easily managed.
What is not yet manifest is easy to prevent.
The brittle is easily shattered;
the small is easily scattered.

Act before things exist;
Manage them before there is disorder
Remember:
A tree that fills a man's embrace grows from a seedling.
A tower nine stories high starts with one brick.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Act and destroy it;
grasp and lose it.
The sage does not act, and so is not defeated.
He does not grasp and therefore does not lose.
People usually fall when they are on the verge of success. 
So give as much care at the end as at the beginning,
then there will be no failure.

The sage does not treasure what is difficult to attain.
He does not collect precious things;
he learns not to hold on to ideas.
He helps the 10,000 things find their own nature
but does not venture to lead them by the nose.

The interpretation:

This is arguably one of the most well-known verses of the Tao Te Ching and for good reason. The phrase, “A Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” helps set the stage for what is to come. The message of this is that anything is possible if you just take it one step at a time. However, the next couple of lines are what make this a verse truly powerful: “Act and destroy it; grasp and lose it.” This is saying that yes, one is able to reach their dreams with just one small action at a time, but as soon as you leave the present moment, as soon as you leave the current step you’re taking and look to the goal you’re trying to accomplish, you lose your power. For in doing this you bring back into play everything that must be done to succeed.

If I am running a marathon and each step I think, “now I take this step and now I take this step” and so on for half of the race before thinking back to the big picture of the remainder of the race I have to run, I am leaving the meditative present moment and the overwhelming difficulty surmounts. The verse is telling you to break it into easily digestible/manageable steps and stay in the present moment rather than looking to the future and what has to be done (although planning does have its time and place). In staying in the present moment focused on the task at hand, that which is “difficult to attain” simply remains a small, easy, present moment task one must do. Then, and only after that is done, should one move physically and mentally to the next one.

How to practice the 64th verse:

Think of one of your new year’s resolutions. Maybe its to lose 5 pounds, maybe its to gain 5 pounds, maybe its to quit smoking, or maybe its to meditate more. Just focusing on today, with no thoughts of the future, take just one step toward this resolution. Try walking to work today, or meditating before bed. Just take that first step. Once you do that, you’re back in the present moment and can decide what your next step will be. Your resolutions, goals, and dreams will now be just one step closer.