The text discusses the natural human tendency to balance oneself while moving and compares it to a stone moving within a hoop. It describes how people try to correct themselves when they trip or stumble and how dancers and acrobats use this knowledge to maintain balance. The concept is explained with the analogy of a stone balancing in motion, emphasizing the importance of continuous movement to avoid falling.
Various States of Doing
It is a natural state for someone to try to balance themselves; although many stumble and stagger due to the teachings of nature but still continue to take a few steps forward, trying to correct themselves by extending their arms or by jerking the head backward or forward. Sometimes they succeed, but mostly not, until they meet the ground. However, those who unexpectedly step into a hole or an opening while running fast, undoubtedly fall forward for the mentioned reason. When we observe that agile bodies seem to weigh less when moving than when they are still, we can easily understand the nature of a person falling or tripping while running by comparing it to a stone moving in a hoop. Even though a heavy stone set loosely inside a small round hoop and twirled over slowly at first, then rapidly more and more swings according to its nature around and upside-down without falling out, because it stays along the same line of motion. But if it sways elsewhere, approaching an obstacle or being quickly thrown off balance, the stone immediately falls out or flings outward, almost like a stone being thrown from a sling. Dancers, jumpers, and acrobats make excellent use of this knowledge in many situations. What the tightrope walkers do with the aid of a balancing pole, they keep their balance and do not fall as long as they maintain movement along the even line.