Practical Taoism - Thomas Cleary

„The third thing is true observation. This true observation is the way the wise attain prior awareness, the way the able practice skillful examination. Even a meal or a nap is a source of loss or gain; even a single act or a single word can be the root of disaster or fortune. Even clever maintenance of the branches is not as good as clumsy preservation of the root. Observing the root and knowing the branch is not a sense of haste either. So stop the mind, minimize concerns, and reduce contrivance. Body tranquil, mind free, you can then observe the subtle. “