For governing a country well
there is nothing better than moderation.
Translation of the Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchel
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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
This selection of words is precise and well put. I read it as straight talk about living in this world. The issues vary while the reaction remains the same—moderation and freedom from our own ideas. This means to me that my ideas are not to be held too tightly as if they are the only ideas I will have or that they are better than the ideas of another. In fact, I know my ideas change on a daily basis. If I am bothered by the ideas of another I can be consoled in knowing that their (bad, rotten, horrible) ideas will change, also. As time passes my anger and resentment will dissipate like the fringes of Kansas clouds in summer.
ReplyDelete"Crawling on hands and knees becoming part of the earth. . ." (Bright-Fey) We don't have to elevate to some heavenly realm. The earth is where we are. Let it have you, soak you up. We are of the earth. No surprise when we remember "ashes to ashes, dust to dust." Sit still. We aren't going anywhere else. Now, isn't this a relief? We are already where we need to be.
ReplyDeleteArg. I write a stunning tao-esq comment and then goof up the cut and paste. So here we go again...
ReplyDeleteI was watching the Thunderstorm the other night and while watching the trees, I thought about how they are classic examples of the Tao.
The tips/tops of the tree are yin in the wind, the trunk is yang in contact with the earth, yet turns back to the yin with the roots soft and supple.