7 The Tao is infinite, eternal.
Why is it eternal?
It was never born;
thus it can never die.Why is it infinite?
It has no desires for itself;
thus it is present for all beings.
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Layer upon layer
She finds deep in her own experience the central truths of the art of living, which are paradoxical only on the surface: that the more truly solitary we are, the more compassionate we can be; the more we let go of what we love, the more present our love becomes; the clearer our insight into what is beyond good and evil, the more we can embody the good. Until finally she is able to say, in all humility, "I am the Tao, the Truth, the Life." S. Mitchell
Translation of the Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchell, Harper & Row, 1988. In keeping with copyright law only the chapter under study is fulltext. All other chapters show only the first stanza.
Study Group Contac: Lissa Lord:lissalord@gmail.com
Tao in WordLayers
Layer upon layer
I remember, sometime around the age of 3, sitting on a large dirt mound next to a house under construction. I was sitting at the peak with legs crossed and hands folded in my lap. It seemed I was there for quite some time before I heard voices – mother, father, brother, sister voices – calling my name: “LEEsa, LEEsa where ARe you? Time to come HOome.” My response was to sit on the mountain and observe. I recognized separation from those people calling my name. My heart was at peace, settled. I was spotted – probably by my brother – and jubilant words followed: “I FOUnd her. FOUND her!” My reaction to being found was slight disappointment joined with acceptance. I was a part, after all, of this family of people who loved me and whom I loved always. One of the family came up the mound, took my hand and we descended my mountain together.
ReplyDelete"To keep what the soul needs." Sometimes I read a line from the Tao and it "impacts" me ... hits straight on, a signal to stop and absorb what I'm reading. "To keep what the soul needs." And, just what does my soul need? The answer is "I know it when I see it" ... the answer is wordless. I'll carry "To keep what the soul needs" with me this day and maybe come up with a word or two but for sure my heart will be full of Tao thinking and that is a pleasure. Thanks, Small Fish!
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