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Inspiration – tao 101
I feel drawn to come back to Tao wisdom again, as we are living in helter skelter times. The Tao te Ching is always grounding. “Life is fleeting, Tao is constant: An eternal emptiness full of bursting” …
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Tao Wisdom from Two Translators
I enjoy reading extracts from the Tao Te Ching and comparing how different writers have translated the wisdom from the original Chinese. The truth is not in the words, but in how the essence of the Tao is felt by the reader. Notice the feelings that arise in these two offerings on Chapter 16. “Empty…
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Tao Inspiration – Returning to Source
Empty your mind of all thoughts. Let your heart be at peace. Watch the turmoil of beings, but contemplate their return. Each separate being in the universe returns to the common source. Returning to the source is serenity. If you don’t realize the source, you stumble in confusion and sorrow. When you realize where you…
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A World in Balance
I am back from a wonderful time in Italy, and getting settled into the rhythm of life here. These words from Lao Tzu resonated with me. Remain quiet. Discover the harmony in your own being. Embrace it. If you can do this, you will gain everything, and the world will become healthy again. ~ Lao…
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Tao Inspiration – Be as nature
“Think of the dirt beneath your feet and the skies above. Do they give any thought to death? Of course not. What one does not have cannot be taken away. Therefore the sage pays no mind to status or rank, and so is always in the perfect position; Is not drawn off by any one…
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Inspiration – the Source
I came across this translation of the Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchell, and am really enjoying the fresh language and approach to the wisdom of Lao Tzu. A part of me also wonders, could it be that I have changed over time, and it is more than fresh words that open up new insight….…
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Inspiration – Knowing
This repost just about sums it up for me today. Its one of my favorite passages from the Tao Te Ching. “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…
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Tao Wisdom – Water
Water teaches the wisdom of Tao: It takes no pride in sustaining life. Live near the flow. Let the mysteries of life wash over you. Be transparent. Give part of yourself to everyone, And remember every part is whole. Allow natural order to lead the way And do what must be done. Do not fight…
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Spinning Compass
“Allow things to flow naturally, And evil will have no power. That is not to say that evil loses its power… Better, perhaps, to say that evil itself is lost. Without a “good” to point away from, Evil’s compass spins aimlessly. And so, the sage leaves things to be what they are, Leaving evil unharmed,…
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Potter and Space
The potter knows she plays with clay but works with space, For the use of the bowl is its empty space. It is the same with the room, Made whole by the emptiness between the walls. Remember that something is not everything. Nothing is also essential.* ~ Lao Tzu Without space there would be no…
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Tao Inspiration – a way of holding things
Express yourself completely, then keep quiet. Strong winds do not last all morning, And the heavy rains do not last all day. What causes them? Heaven and Earth. If Heaven and Earth cannot make things last forever, How can we? Lao Tzu, Tao te Ching Filed under: Be fully present Tagged: balance, Be fully present, impermanence,……
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Tao Inspiration – True Wisdom
True wisdom is a loss of misconceptions rather than an accumulation of knowledge. Do not hoard facts and call yourself wise. Sages realize they have always had enough, And so do not seek more for themselves. * ~ Lao Tzu These words made me pause today. Gathering more and more knowledge doesn’t make us wise.…
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Tao Inspiration – for the times we live In
Water is unquestionably soft and yielding, Yet it can carve massive canyons And sweep away entire cities with ease. This is because it does not rise up in solid fragility like the structures of humanity, But flows in low places, fluid and flexible like humanity itself. There is great strength in what seems weak, Great…
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* Tao Inspiration for our Times
Sometimes a passage from the Tao te Ching comes to light at just the right time. With the storms in the Western US and the upcoming change in government, this seems to be a timely share. Water is unquestionably soft and yielding, Yet it can carve massive canyons And sweep away entire cities with ease.…
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* Tao Inspiration – Truth
“Truth is not fancy, and does not need to be. In fact, decorations only hide it from sight. You can’t force people to see truth. Arguing with them will only draw their attention away from it.” ~ Lao Tzo * Lets keep it simple and true today. *Braun Jr., John; Tzu, Lao; von…
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* Tao Inspiration – Your True Self
If you would seek your true self: Begin with simplicity, Overcome your desire for false adornments, And embrace the nature of the uncarved block. ~ Lao Tzu The uncarved block is a metaphor representing potential and what is possible. It is also a caution against self-imposed limits. May we be like the uncarved block…
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