Fundamentals

After completion

Come new beginnings.

To gain strength,

Renew the root.

In music, the fundamental tone is the lowest, or root, tone of a chord. Without its  presence, no true character is established. Our actions in life are as similarly varied  and complex as music. Without a thorough grounding, there is no harmony.

Followers of Tao emphasize cycles. This must include a sound understanding  of what to do whenever a cycle comes to an end. New ones will begin:

Some of  them will be engendered by the old one, others may simply be in the background  and will now come forward. If we are to properly shape these new movements and  if we are to prevent unwanted cycles from beginning, we must take stock and renew  our basis in the fundamentals.

Everyone wants to be daring, creative, and original. Everyone wants to do things  in new ways. But unless we return over and over again to the basics, we will have  no chance to truly soar.

Do not forget the root. Without it, we can never issue forth  true power.