TAO: 'THE WAY'
TAO: ‘THE WAY’
PROLOGUE
In our culture we are not so familiar with the notion of ways or paths. It is a concept that comes from China, the notion of a law of being, called the ‘Tao’, or simply ‘the way’. The Tao is the world unfolding according to its own laws. Nothing is done or forced, everything just comes about. To live in accord with the Tao is to understand non-doing and non-striving. Your life is already doing itself. The challenge is whether you can see in this way and live in accordance with the way things are; to come into harmony with all things and all moments. This is the path of insight, of wisdom, and of healing. It is the path of acceptance and peace. It is the path of the mind-body looking deeply into itself and knowing itself. It is the art of conscious living.’ Jon Kabat-Zinn
Time and again the Tao talks about ‘water’, because it is so soft and flowing, but yet nothing can resist it. Water can make the Grand Canyon. But it does so effortlessly and methodologically without struggle. So, Water is the essential metaphor used to explain how to live the Tao. We shall begin with Chuang Tzu, the most prominent Taoist scholar and philosopher. In fact, he is considered by many as the most Influential Chinese philosopher in history and is often seen by Zen scholars to be the true inspiration for the emergence of Zen a thousand years later.
Nothing is softer or more flexible
Than water yet,
Nothing can resist it.
Nature does not hurry,
Yet, everything is accomplished. Chuang Tzu
When I began my blog here on Sub Stack I called it Ancient Wisdom Traditions and the Lost Art of ‘Being’. I had to throw in the Lost Art of ‘Being’ because I knew that I would be dealing with the Tao. And the Tao, is more than just a philosophy, it is a roadmap and a gateway for ‘Being’. I call Stoicism the ‘Art of Living’, and I refer to Buddhism as the ‘Art of Healing’- ourselves and all other beings. And when I hear Tao referred to as ‘the chill philosophy’ or just ‘go with the flow, bro’, they are missing out on the essential teachings of Tao.
Humans have an overactive habit of running after things, of always being in a hurry for the fear of missing out on something. In modern parlance this is referred to as FOMO: The Fear Of Missing Out, which is a large part of our addictions to our smartphones. Often we are not running after something but running away from something, which usually entails an unhealthy refusal to come to terms with the reality of our lives.
‘There was a man so displeased by the sight of his own footsteps, that he was determined to get rid of both by running away from them. But every time he put his foot down, there was another step, and his shadow kept up with him without the slightest difficulty. He thought he must not be running fast enough, so he ran faster and faster and faster, without stopping, until he finally dropped dead of exhaustion. He failed to realize that if he merely stepped into the shade, his shadow would vanish, and if he sat down and stayed still, there would be no more footsteps.’ Chuang Tzu
PERFECT JOY: CHUANG TZU
Is there to be found on earth a fullness of joy, or is there no such thing?’ What the world values is money, reputation, long life, achievement. What the world counts as joy is health and comfort of the body, good food, fine clothes, beautiful things to look at, and pleasant music to listen to.
What it condemns is lack of money, a low social rank, a reputation of being no good, and an early death. What it considers misfortune is bodily discomfort and labour, no chance to get your fill of good food, not having fine clothes to wear, having no way to amuse or delight the eye, and no pleasant music to listen to. If people find that they are deprived of these things, they go into a panic or fall into despair. They are so concerned for their life, that their anxiety makes life unbearable, even when they have the things they think they want. Their very concern for enjoyment makes them unhappy.
‘If men would stay as they really are, taking or leaving these eight delights would make no difference. But if they will not rest in their right state, the eight delights develop like malignant tumors. The world falls into confusion. Since men honor these delights and lust after them, the world has gone stone-blind. When the delight is over, they will not let go of it: they surround its memory with ritual worship, they fall on their knees to talk about it, play music and sing, fast and discipline themselves in the honor of the eight delights. When the delights become a religion, how can you control them?’ Chuang Tzu
We have discussed before, the ever-elusive pursuit of happiness, causing us to worship material things, consumption, greed and power. Once you go down that path you will never have enough!
I have chosen the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path and embraced the Tao because anything else you worship will eat you alive. If you worship money and things, if they are where you tap real meaning in life, then you will never have enough, never feel you have enough. Worship your body and beauty and sexual allure and you will always feel ugly. And when time and age start showing, you will die a million deaths before they grieve you. Worship power, and you will feel weak and afraid, and you will need ever more power over others to keep the fear at bay.
‘My greatest happiness consists in doing nothing whatsoever that is calculated to obtain happiness; and this, in the minds of most people, is the worst possible course. I will hold to the saying that ‘Perfect Joy’ is to be without Joy. Perfect Praise is to be without Praise. If you ask ‘what ought to be done’ and ‘what ought not to be done’ on earth to create happiness, I answer that these questions do not have an answer. There is no way of determining such things.
Yet, at the same time, if I cease striving for happiness, the ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ at once become apparent all by themselves. Contentment and well-being at once become possible the moment you cease to act with them in view, and if you practice non-doing (wu wei), you will have both happiness and well-being.’ Chuang Tzu
Heaven does nothing; its non-doing is its serenity.
Earth does nothing; its non-doing is its rest.
From the union of these two non-doings
All actions proceed; all things are made. Lao Tzu
Silence is a great source of strength
To the mind that is still
The whole universe surrenders! Chuang Tzu
CHUANG TZU: THE FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES OF LIVING ACCORDING TO THE TAO
Chuang Tzu spoke of the four cardinal virtues, teaching that when we embrace them as a way of life, the truth of the universe reveals itself. The ancient Chinese master said that practicing and living these teachings can open you to a higher wisdom and a greater happiness. This is because they bring you closer to your innermost source- a place of balance and peace.
THE FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES
KINDNESS OR GENTLENESS:
Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates wisdom.
Kindness in giving creates love.
Essentially, being gentle means giving up the need to be right; being kind is more important than being correct and asserting your own beliefs. When we are gentle, we stop trying to dominate others and instead live in harmony with others. Gentleness or Kindness both signify compassion to others. Sometimes we can lose ourselves and forget what is important. I would say that being kind to others is the most powerful tool that we have for fostering kindness in others and making our world a better place.
REVERENCE FOR ALL LIFE:
Living in the moment brings you a sense of reverence for all of life’s blessings. Lao Tzu believed that respecting all forms of life was essential for harmony: ‘All creation and creatures are equally important and they require equal respect.’ Trying to dominate and control all life only leads you away from enlightenment, as you can’t find peace in the midst of a struggle for control. A truly spiritual perspective tells us that love is freedom.
‘All creation and creatures are equally important and they require equal respect.’ Chuang Tzu
NATURAL SINCERITY:
When pure sincerity (authenticity) forms within, it is outwardly realized in other people’s hearts. Without being authentic, we can’t live in harmony. Being swayed by outside forces makes us lose sight of who we really are and who we want to be. By accepting the truth about ourselves and others, we not only find peace in this life but we can help others along their paths as well.
SUPPORTIVENESS:
Be supportive, but let go of the outcome. Just like the other virtues, supportiveness applies to everything and everyone, including ourselves. It allows us to come from a healthier place and to be there for others who might need help along their own path.
EMPTY YOUR BOAT
If a man is crossing a river
And an empty boat collides with his own skiff,
Even though he be a bad-tempered man,
He will not be angry.
But, if he sees a man in the boat,
He will shout for him to stay clear.
If the shout is not heard, he will shout again
And yet again, and begin cursing.
And all because there is somebody in the boat.
Yet, if the boat is empty
He would not be shouting and not be angry.
If you can empty your own boat
Crossing the river of the world,
No one will oppose you,
No one will seek to harm you. Chuang Tzu
Empty your boat? Let your ‘ego’ go!
THE NATURAL WORLD
The Tao te Ching was inspired by the observation of the harmony and beauty of the natural world: the ebb and flows of the tides, the phases of the moon which tells us when to sow and when to harvest, the cyclical nature of the seasons, rivers flowing effortlessly to the sea, returning to their source, the clouds nourishing all life with precious water, and the sun setting at dusk and rising again at dawn. One only needs to spend some time in nature to feel the pulsating harmony of life. Rachel Carson referred to them as the Repeated Refrains of Nature. Over and over again central themes of the Taoist scholars and the original text of the Tao te Ching speak of ‘the flow’ , of all things eventually ‘returning to their source’, and water. The Taoist would not fear death because it is part of a grander scheme of us effortlessly returning to our source and is simply the yin and yang of existence. But theTao Te Ching recognised that the harmony and ease of the natural world had been lost by mankind.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT: At the time, the Tao Te Ching was written as a response to the era known as the Warring States Period (circa 481-221 B.C.E.) during which seven states fought each other nearly constantly for supremacy and control of the Chinese government.
Well, the first challenge in understanding the Tao is its definition. Translated literally ‘The Tao’ means ‘The Way’. The very first verse of this ancient teaching warns that it is useless to try to define or name The Tao:
Verse One {1}
The tao that can be told
Is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named
Is not the eternal Name.
Note how the tao (with a small ‘t’) refers to efforts to describe it. So it is not the eternal Tao (with a capital ‘T’; the real Tao) So efforts to define it are useless. In the second part -the name (small ‘n’ signifying attempts to name it, is not not the eternal Name. (Capital N) signifying the real Name. So all efforts to describe or name it are useless, even counterproductive.
Despite this warning, the Western mind needs to label everything and by doing so, believe that they understand it. And so we get this cosmic tripe:
‘The intangible formless essence of all things. It is the noumenon at the root of all phenomena, the invisible caused by the presupposed by the visible world of effect. Without it, nothing could exist, and yet our senses perceive only the outer manifestations.’
Anon- If I were to hazard a guess, the source would be a professor of Phenomenology and Philosophy at a prestigious university. So this cosmic debris is so helpful, we can all pack up our bags and go home because now the Tao has been explained to us.
Despite all the failed attempts to describe the Tao by Western scholars and their need for logic and the rejection of paradox, there is much wisdom to be found in the Tao. One analogy for understanding the practical application of the Tao is to imagine a fish tank full of muddy water. Eventually, if we calmly wait, the mud settles to the bottom. If we try to remove all the dirt from the tank with our hands we end up worse off than before. I actually apply that same analogy to my mindfulness practice, where I just allow all the mud and debris to settle a little. Ancient Taoist scholars such as Chuang Tzu came to realize that the human mind works on the same principle. Instead of trying to grasp, seek, and control, when we allow ourselves to be peaceful and still, we find we return to balance effortlessly. This is practical advice.
WU WEI
One of the key principles of Taoism is called wu wei, which can be translated as ‘doing without doing’ or ‘effortless action.’ This is difficult to describe but it fundamentally means that instead of straining to force things to happen which usually entails fighting against the current of life, the Taoists yield to the flow, allowing the right action to spontaneously arise. In Western parlance we could use the age-old adage, ‘haste makes waste’. How many times have we rushed projects faced with unreasonable deadlines or multi-tasked everything so that the results are not what we would wish for.
Living the Tao means living in a state of wu wei and by doing so our actions become effortless and the results far more likely to yield positive results. It is like planting seeds and then having the patience to have them sprout and grow to fruition.
The Tao te Ching warns that forcing actions are likely to lead to chaos. Lao Tzu spells this out in Verse 15 of the Tao te Ching
VERSE 15
Rushing into action you fail
Trying to grasp things, you lose them.
By forcing a project to completion
You ruin what was almost ripe.
Can you remain still and tranquil
Until the right action appears spontaneously?
I love that verse. In a society and culture where everything has to be done now and our desperate need for instant gratification and all of us running through our lives as if life was some kind of race to the finish line! The human race! Clever! Thanks!
YIN AND YANG
We tend to categorize our experiences as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and we cling to and resist things accordingly. But this is not how reality is constructed. Instead, life consists of polar opposites: hot and cold, suffering and joy, light and darkness, night and day, pleasure and pain, sunshine and rain, mad and sane, praise and blame, loss and gain, empathy and shame. I'm a poet, but don’t know it. They are simply two sides of the same coin. If we have never experienced pain in our lives, then we would never experience pleasure. . I recollect a winter night in my apartment during the freezing winter of Canada when I was struggling to ‘let go’ of something that was causing me distress. I got dressed and went out into the freezing dark night and walked around until all I wanted was warmth. Once I got inside I was so grateful for the warmth that my troubled mind was at peace.
Taoists, therefore, seek to live with humility and acceptance; to take the good with the bad without rejecting anything that comes our way on our journey through life. Peace of mind is not found in the absence of conflict and heartbreak, but in the acceptance of conflict and heartbreak. ‘Pain is not the enemy; fear and resistance are the real enemy.’ The Buddha
I find that living in accordance with Tao and Zen Buddhism are completely compatible. However, The Buddha laid out a very precise path to liberation. The Buddha dealt with the connection of the mind and body, and real practices that can lead to transformation of your own suffering, but also to tend to the suffering of others. There is a workable blueprint for liberation in Buddhism.
“When the heart is right, ‘for’ and ‘against’ are forgotten.” Chuang Tzu
If we are in harmony with life by living the Tao, when we start to feel anxious or depressed instead of asking ourselves, ‘What do I need to be happy?’, the question becomes ‘What am I doing to disturb the inner peace that I already have?’
Rather than trying to make life conform to the whims of our ego, a powerful Taoist practice is to be still, go within, and find out what ‘life’ wants-what life wants us to do, have, and create.
There is a lot of misunderstanding about the practice of wu wei. Does it mean doing nothing? No, it means that when we undertake any task, project, or endeavor, we give it our undivided attention. In other words, do it mindfully. When we find ourselves in doubt over the appropriate next step, we slow down or stop until the next action becomes clear. Once we are satisfied that we have given a task, endeavor, or project our very best effort, we let go of the outcome: a powerful practice in Stoicism.
‘Be content with what you have. Rejoice in the way things are. When you realize nothing is lacking, the whole world belongs to you. He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough. If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you are not afraid of dying, there is nothing you cannot achieve.’ Lao Tzu
THE THREE JEWELS OF LIVING THE TAO
Lao Tzu outlined what he called the three jewels or three values that are key to a life of virtue, integrity, and harmony. These three jewels are:
ONE: Compassion
TWO: Moderation
THREE: Humility
‘With compassion you will be brave. With moderation you will be able to give to others. With humility you will be able to live with integrity.’ Lao Tzu
COMPASSION
These three jewels should be natural. Compassion for others comes about with the awareness of our shared connection with others as embodiments of the Tao. This interconnectedness of all living things is also taught in the dharma of Buddhism.
But the human ego often feeds off of judgment, competition, and negative comparison. When this happens we become alienated and disconnected from our fellow humans and we lose touch with the natural world. Perhaps, at no time in human history have we become so alienated. This leads to isolation, conflict, and disaster: war, crimes against humanity, and the impending problem of global warming. Lao Tzu and Taoist scholars who followed his teachings warned of this and concluded that this type of human behavior utterly violated the laws of the Tao. The metaphor of water is used throughout the original text of the Tao te Ching, and by the prominent Taoist scholar Chuang Tzu. When we consider the direction that our planet is going, potable water will be the world’s most valuable and rare commodity.
We are rather like whirlpools in the river of life. In flowing forward, a river or stream may hit upon the rocks and branches, or irregularities in the ground, here and there. Water entering one whirlpool, causes other whirlpools to spring up here and there. Water entering one whirlpool quickly passes through and rejoins the river, eventually joining another whirlpool and moving on. Though for short periods it seems to be indistinguishable as a separate entity, the water in the whirlpools is just the river itself.
However, we want to think that our little whirlpool isn’t part of the river. We want to see ourselves as permanent and stable: that we are completely separated from the river of life.. Our whole energy goes into trying to protect our supposed separateness. To protect this separateness, we set up artificial boundaries; as a consequence we consume and accumulate excess baggage, so that neighboring whirlpools may get less water because of our frantic holding on and eventually the river itself ceases to flow and becomes inhabitable.
When we are faced with the cold, hard truth that 1% of the population owns and controls 99% of the planet’s wealth and resources, it is easy to understand ourselves as living in little whirlpools along a river and without regard for anyone else, we consume and continue to consume so much ‘stuff’ that many whirlpools get no water whatsoever. This may very well be our epitaph- our legacy to our children and our children’s children. As a father and a grandfather, I am willing to look at the principles of living the Tao or as I like to call it, ‘The Way of Water,’ and look deeply to understand it- because quite frankly, Western philosophy has done nothing to dispel the ludicrous notion that we are completely ‘separate’ from our fellow human beings and from nature, from our beautiful planet. The Cartesian methodology of ‘I think, therefore I am’, explains the difference between Western Civilization and Asian, Oriental, and First Nations Beliefs and Values Systems. We are much more than our thoughts, and we should think with the heart, not the head.
One only has to look at what the Europeans did to entire civilizations as soon as they encountered them. We believe that we are alone, so we must grab as much as we can and do anything to keep it. Western education teaches how to do things- for the most part how to acquire wealth. But, we are not taught how to ‘be’. Instead of being a great source of strength, silence frightens us and we have to keep busy and check our smartphones constantly.
MODERATION
Moderation is a key principle as the second ‘Jewel’ of the Tao. Lao Tzu and the Chinese sages noted how the balance of the natural world appeared to be maintained in an effortless manner or by the principle of wu wei.
Once again they observed how water ‘nourished all of creation without trying to compete with it.’ When one considers that the lack of the most valuable resource on the planet , fresh water, will be humanity’s greatest challenge as global warming continues, one realizes just how important the study and living by the principles of the Tao should be taken seriously.
Never compete or compare. This leads to an unhealthy striving towards what other people are doing. Wherever you are, be your own true person.
HUMILITY
Humility is the third jewel or value that Lao Tzu frequently references. Humility is to be grateful for life, for the very breath that keeps us alive. But we don’t own it. It is on loan to us and thus all the more precious and eventually we will have to give it back. If you watch the waves on a fast-running river, you will see a wave and then you may think it is gone. But the wave comes from the water, has a brief appearance or manifestation as a wave, and then it simply returns to the water again. It returns to its source. There is no birth, no death here. After a brief appearance as a wave it doesn’t die, it simply becomes water again.
WHEN THE WAVE RISES
The river and the water are one surf:
Where is the difference between
The river and its wave?
When the water rises,
It is water.
And when it falls,
It is the same water again.
Tell me Sir, where is the distinction?
Because it has been named as wave,
Shall it no longer be considered as water? Kabir
To the wise person who truly understands the nature of reality, there is no place for complacency or arrogance, there is no time for that! The wise person lives with utmost humility and gratitude, and in constant awe and wonder at the miracle of existence. Life is full of miracles. That is why the Tao can’t be described. All life is a mystery. To try to explain existence in terms of noumena and phenomena - all of that is pointless- just words: naming. Embrace the mystery of life. Be silent and look around and pay attention and you will begin to experience the utmost gratitude and humility for the gift of life and live in a sense of awe and wonder.
VERSE EIGHT OF THE TAO TE CHING
The supreme good is like water
Which nourishes all things without trying to.
It is content with the low places that people disdain.
Thus, it is like the Tao.
In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don’t try to control.
At work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present.
When you are content to simply be yourself
And don’t compete or compare,
Everybody will respect you.
TAOISM: PRINCIPLES FOR LIVING THE TAO The confusing aspect for many is its definition. It doesn’t have one. Many religions teach philosophy and dogma. But Taoism and Zen stand this tendency on its head. The first chapter of the Tao Te Ching simply states the Tao is indefinable- teaching that each person can discover the Tao for themselves. Most people have a tendency to grasp after concrete definitions and conclude that without rules and dogma the Tao is impossible to ‘grasp’. But, ‘grasping’ is an impediment to self-realization.
Here are three easy steps to begin.
ONE: Don’t concentrate on the meaning of Tao.
TWO: Taoism is more than a philosophy or religion. It is to be understood as a ‘way’ of being
THREE: The path of understanding Taoism is accepting yourself. Live your life and discover who you are for yourself. Your nature is ever-changing (impermanence) and at the same time is always the same (basic goodness). This, however, is a paradox: something that the human mind resists. But if we examine most spiritual and religious traditions they all have one element in common- the embracing of paradox- for the human condition, itself, is a paradox. Don’t try to resolve the various paradoxes of life- rather, accept them. You will find the Tao Te Ching chock-full of paradoxes. Embrace them.
PRACTICING TAOISM:
Taoism teaches a person to flow with life. Taoism doesn’t apply labels to its nature, because it would limit a person. Taoism teaches us to live in the heart. It teaches that by living the Tao, you will express your own true nature. Here are some guidelines:
ONE: With care, aid those who are merely extended expressions of our own nature. We are all fundamentally connected. We often think that we have nothing to give. But we can give away information, give our time to help others, give love to all we encounter and give away smiles.
‘There is no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to helping others without expecting anything in return. What counts is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.’ Nelson Mandela
‘Giving is the highest expression of potency. In the very act of giving, I experience my wealth, my power, and my strength. This experience of heightened vitality and potency fills me with joy. I experience myself as overflowing, spending, alive, hence, as joyous. Giving is more joyous than receiving, not because it is a deprivation, but because in the act of giving lies the expression of my aliveness’ Erich Fromm
TWO: At the same time, be true to yourself. Be authentic. Allow yourself to be vulnerable and imperfect. ‘Society tells us we never have enough. We aren’t good enough. We aren’t safe enough. We are not enough. We are not certain enough. We aren’t perfect enough. We are not extraordinary enough. An ordinary life has become synonymous with a meaningless life. So we are on a quest for the extraordinary. We chase after extraordinary experiences, extraordinary states of being and we purchase material goods that we don’t need, not realizing that it is in our ordinary lives that meaning, joy and beauty are to be found.’ Brene Brown
THREE: Connect to the world as you wish to be treated. ‘Do unto others’
FOUR: To those unwilling to accept you for who you are, no action is required. If you become angry with someone who is always arguing, then you have already conceded defeat.
FIVE: Own nothing. You are merely a passing custodian of items outside of your nature. Material things will never bring you peace of mind, gratitude or joy and clarity.
My hut lies in the middle of a dense forest.
Every year the green ivy grows longer-
No news of the affairs of men.
Only the occasional song of a woodcutter.
The sun shines and I mend my robe.
When the moon comes out, I read
Buddhist poems.
I have nothing to report my friends-
If you want to know the meaning,
Stop chasing after so many things. Ryokan
SIX: Take time, relax, and just explore the world. Taoism has no fixed plans. Follow your instincts. It’s in the pause of the breath that each step of living becomes visible for your larger life to unfold and improve. ‘A good traveler has no fixed plans.’ Chuang Tzu
SEVEN: Smile when you need to pick a possible next step. Breathe when needing a break since to breathe is to become one with yourself. Alternate the two and the path will become free and clear for a lifetime of wonder to explore. Anything is possible within this simple practice. As a wise Master once exclaimed, ‘When the path is clear, why do you hurl stones and rocks before you.’ In other words, Simplify, Simplify, Simplify your life.
EIGHT: Let go of expectations. The more expectations you have of your life, the less you will accomplish or become. A Taoist lives life without expectations, living fully in the here and now. However, as we know, people need a few expectations as it is part of navigating life. We can practice healthy-striving, but like the Stoics, let go of the outcome of your own actions. Here’s the secret. Create only a single expectation at a time for any future experience: an expectation that you will smile or have some fun. Don’t place any expectations of learning or changing into your endeavours. Changing yourself for the better will occur on its own without the burden of expectations. Expectations plant the seeds for the opposite to occur- you won’t learn, change, or grow from your efforts or your experiences.
(Commentary: Letting go of expectations is another way of saying letting go of concepts. Concepts cloud our perceptions , lead to certainty, and stifle creativity.)
By creating a single, simple expectation such as smiling, this then becomes something you can always fulfill since you can empower that action to happen. Letting go of expectations is also practiced in Zen. In Zen Mind: Beginner’s Mind, ‘In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s there are few. When starting meditative practices, the less you know about any concepts on Mindfulness or the Buddha is the best way to begin your journey.
NINE: The process of learning Taoism is also a process of healing. Take time to heal. Don’t rush. Be patient. Embrace your body and mind with healing. We have the habit of running after things, we are bombarded by messages that tell us we had better get this now or we will lose it. We need to take care of ourselves: mind and body and be patient enough to allow healing to take place. Mindfulness practice is the most effective method of healing. And we all truly need to slow down, to think before we speak and accept our lives. Peace of mind is not achieved by the absence of conflict and heartbreak but rather an acceptance of conflict and heartbreak. Once we learn this fundamental truth we can be liberated.
TEN: Embrace silence. Take time off for silence. Nothing could be more important. Silence is the soul’s break for freedom.
Silence is a great source of strength
To the mind that is still,
The whole universe surrenders. Chuang Tzu
ELEVEN: Let go of perfection. Work at being good at something but also embrace the faults of life and your individual flaws. Imperfections make us individuals- imperfections make us beautiful. Accept the good and bad or more accurately, blur the distinctions between the unhealthy labels of ‘good’ or ‘bad’. It is best to not compare or compete.
TWELVE: Explore your essence. Learn how to trust your own intuition. Listen to your own heart. If something doesn’t feel right, then you need to examine why. Let go of judgements that hold you back. Remove conflict and anger from your relationships. If you find yourself in dysfunctional relationships either set up firm boundaries for yourself, or remove yourself from the relationship altogether. Life is too short. And finally, and most importantly, be kind to yourself and pace your life to match your own true essence.
‘The key is to keep company only with people that uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.’ Epictetus
THIRTEEN: And finally, and most importantly, be kind to yourself and pace your life to match your own true essence
Taoism is acceptance of your life.
Taoism is following your breath to find peace.
Taoism is opening up a smile to enable possibility.
To smile is to say yes to your life.
The birds have vanished into the sky
And now the last clouds drain away
We sit together, the mountain and me
Until only the mountain remains. Li-Po
Why chatter about delusion and enlightenment?
Listening to the night rain on my roof,
I sit comfortably, with both legs stretched out. Ryokan
When you turn around, starting here, lift this
New glimpse that you found; carry into evening
All that you want from this day. This interval
You spent reading or hearing this; keep it for life.
Take what you need and leave the rest behind and as you are writing the story of your life, make sure that you are holding the pen.