Knowing the world is intelligent.
Knowing yourself is enlightenment.
Bending the world to your will takes force.
Willing yourself to bend is true strength.
Succeeding in the world yields riches.
Being content with what is yields wealth.
Apply Tao to the physical world and you will have a long life.
See past the physical world to the enduring presence of Tao and death will lose its meaning.
Lao Tzu*
This is one of my favorite passages from the Tao Te Ching.
May it enrich the whole of you and your day. ☯
*Braun Jr., John; Tzu, Lao; von Bargen, Julian; Warkentin, David (2012-12-02). Tao Te Ching (Kindle Locations 492-498). . Kindle Edition.
Find Your Middle Ground 
Reblogged this on At the Table, On my Plate and commented:
so perfect
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Great wisdom, Val, and thanks for sharing it. There’s a big difference between intelligence and wisdom, riches and wealth.
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Thanks Vincent! I sometimes think that as we experience life’s highs and lows, a wisdom settles into our being. It may take a while for the mind to comprehend, but this wisdom is there for all of us to access. xo
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This post is wonderful and echoes Karen’s post on the taunt bow of the archer the other day. You guys are on the same wave length Val! ❤
Diana xo
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Thanks Diana! Sometimes it is uncanny when we are on the same wavelength. I’d love to say Karen is a twin from a different hemisphere … But the age difference is too much …. 😉
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then a sister from another mother. 🙂
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Excellent energy for today, Val. Thank you.
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Glad it touched you Kim 💛
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Thank you, Val, this is a great passage. ❤
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Thanks wise Eliza!
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🙂
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“Willing yourself to bend is true strength” I love these words Val, it does seem easier when we take this approach! Also I would be happy to be you twin soul sister. There is no age or distance between us in the spiritual world. “Synchronized soul sisters” ha 🙂
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Soul sister! Love it 👩❤️💋👩
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The only thing that really matters is being content/grateful for what “one’s world” yields. Lessons are in the ups and downs. Once I really felt this a daily basis, my perspective changed and I became more joyous and relishing the abundance of simplicity. Wonderful passage.
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What a wonderful learning and share. Thank you Olga 💛
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Aah . . . the wisdom of words from the way.
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Agreed Nancy – They never lose their impact 🙂
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An outstanding quote Val – packed with wisdom and insight.
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Thank you Don. It really is one to live by isn’t it 😊
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Sure is, Val.
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Thank you Val, I am eager for this kind of knowledge and life.
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I believe if we keep paying attention to life’s experiences, it will come Colleen 💛
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I believe this too Val. 🙂
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Masterful
a delightful presentation
thank you
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Thank you so much Eddie. 🙏
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Currently reading Thomas Merton’s translation of Chuang Tzu Val – love all this sort of thing! H ❤
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Agreed H! The Tao rocks ☯
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Ah! Enrich…yes, Val! Thank you for nourishing my soul. Hope you have an awesome day! ♡
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Thank you Lorrie! May your day be enriching and loving 💛
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Deep wisdom, indeed! Going to reblog this over on Learning from Dogs.
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Thank you Paul for being here, and sharing the wisdom! xo
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Reblogged this on ENLIGHTENMENT ANGELS.
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Lots of wisdom in this passage, Val. If we just could remember and internalize all of it!
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Our journey is the learning .. And our practice coming back to the freshness of it all 😊 thanks for stopping by Tiny!
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I can see why this is one of your favorites… good stuff here Val. x
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Good stuff on many levels … I love sharing multifaceted wisdom! So glad you enjoyed Julie xo
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Yes! So much wisdom here.
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Let’s soak it in Carol 💛
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Excellent dear Val.. Wonderful wisdom, thank you for sharing and may we keep on bending and going with the flow 🙂 ❤ Love and light my friend xxx ❤
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….and death will lose its meaning.
What wonderful words they are, if realized fully, one more Tao is born.
Namaste!!!
Shiva
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So glad this resonated with you Shiva. Namaste
Val
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