41 – Pruning – Reducing – Lake under the Mountain

The bushes have grown too large and spill onto the street. The ends of his hair are dead and mangled, he must cut a fingers width. The pruning is a time of reduction, it is the time to take inventory of the players and circumstances and cut away that which is not needed. By doing so, we allow for fresh growth. If there is doubt about what to prune, then we should begin with the most basic element.

1^st – A Hasty Pruning – There is no harm in accomplishing work quickly, as long as this does not suffer the quality of the work. The wise man waits for the acknowledgement of his superiors before stamping his seal upon the work.

2^nd – No Pruning Today – Instead of clipping the bushes, he augments what is already there by posting a stake to hold them upright.

3^rd – Pruning the Companions – Three is a crowd, and with two all they do is look at each other. Better to set forth alone with the confidence that a valuable companion will be met upon the road.

4^th – Pruning the Thorns – Overwhelmed by a score of various troubles, the wise man takes a deep breath and methodically begins tackling his adversaries one by one. He begins with that which is most simple to remedy.

5^th – Reward for the Pruning – Diligent in his work, someone presents him a wonderful gift. This should not be refused. The wise man accepts what is offered.

6^th – An Honorable Pruning – Pulling the weeds, he takes care not to harm the flowers. An action or gain can only be considered faultless if it does not harm another in the process. At this juncture, the wise man turns his attention away from family and focuses on subordinates.

All Six – After the Pruning – After the work is done and the first rains fall, life shoots forth like an excitable young bull. Charge forth with confidence.