What does it mean that success is as dangerous as failure?Whether you go up the ladder or down it,your position is shaky.When you stand with your two feet on the ground,you will always keep your balance.
As an athlete, this reminds me of my mentality that I have instilled in my mind. Winning/losing does not validate/invalidate the work that I put in. Also, it is important to not get too high in my highs and to not fall too low during my lows.
Sounds deafen the ear.Flavors numb the taste.
After listening to one of my favorite songs or eating one of my favorite foods, the things that come after that seem more unsatisfactory than they usually would. Learning that things come and go and enjoying the moment can keep you grounded in the present moment.
having without possessing,acting with no expectations,leading and not trying to control:this is the supreme virtue.
This section explains that being able to live without any external desires/distractions is "the supreme virtue".
Do your work, then step back.The only path to serenity.
These lines remind me of a saying I once heard: "Process over results". Although this saying implies that if you have the correct process, the results will come eventually and the text seems to disregard results all together, I believe that they have a similar message in that if you are doing the right thing, you will eventually find success.
Long and short define each other.
This whole stanza refers to nature of how some traits exist as opposites of another, these traits such as rich/broke, happy/sad, loved/hated are what people wrongly chase.