Chapter 12 – Fast of the Heart The five colors make man’s eyes blind; The five notes make his ears deaf; The five tastes injure his palate; Riding and hunting Make his mind go wild with excitement; Goods hard to come by serve to hinder his progress. Hence the sage is for the belly Not for theContinue reading “CHAPTER 12- FAST OF THE HEART”
Category Archives: Tao Te Ching
CHAPTER 11 – THE END OF ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES: LAO TZU, NEILS BOHR AND JERRY GARCIA
Chapter 11 – The End of Endless Possibilities: Lao Tzu, Neils Bohr and Jerry Garcia Thirty spokes are united around the hub to make a wheel, But it is on its non-being that the utility of the carriage depends. Clay is moulded to form a utensil, But it is on its non-being that the utilityContinue reading “CHAPTER 11 – THE END OF ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES: LAO TZU, NEILS BOHR AND JERRY GARCIA”
CHAPTER 10 – TAI CHI
Chapter 10 – Tai Chi Can you coax your mind from its wandering and keep to the original oneness? Can you let your body become supple as a newborn child’s? Can you cleanse your inner vision until you see nothing but the light? Can you love people and lead them without imposing your will? CanContinue reading “CHAPTER 10 – TAI CHI”
CHAPTER 9 – ON THE NATURAL
Chapter 9 – On the Natural Filling a cup to the brim is not as good as stopping in time. Staying constantly sharpened can wear out the blade. One cannot protect a home full of jewels. Position and prestige lead to arrogance and eventual downfall. When your work is done, gently withdraw. This is theContinue reading “CHAPTER 9 – ON THE NATURAL”
CHAPTER 8 – WATER
Chapter 8 – Water The highest goodness is to be like water. Water benefits all the Ten Thousand Things, yet does not compete. Water will go to the low places everyone despises and be content. This is like Tao. Tao dwells in low places. Tao dwells with all people. A home prefers level ground. AContinue reading “CHAPTER 8 – WATER”
CHAPTER 7 – THE TAO OF MIRABEHN
Chapter 7 – The Tao of Mirabehn Heaven and Earth are Eternal because they do not live for themselves. This is the reason they exist consistently through time. The sage puts herself last and ends up first. She identifies herself with the Universal Self and thus remains constant. Isn’t this so because she lacks personalContinue reading “CHAPTER 7 – THE TAO OF MIRABEHN”
CHAPTER 6 – THE DIVINE FEMININE
Chapter 6 – The Divine Feminine The Valley Spirit never dies. It is named the Mysterious Female. The gate of the Mysterious Female Is the root of heaven and earth. It is continuous and seems to be always existing. Use it and you will never wear it out. A picture, they say, is worth aContinue reading “CHAPTER 6 – THE DIVINE FEMININE”
CHAPTER 5 – STRAW DOGS
Chapter 5 – Straw Dogs Heaven and earth are not humane: The 10,000 things are straw dogs to them. Sages are not humane: People are straw dogs to them. Yet heaven and earth And all the space between are like a bellows: Empty and inexhaustible, Always producing more. Longwinded speech is exhausting. Better to stayContinue reading “CHAPTER 5 – STRAW DOGS”
CHAPTER 4 – GOD AND THE LEXICOGRAPHERS
Chapter 4 – God and the Lexicographers Tao is empty (like a bowl), It may be used but its capacity is never exhausted. It is bottomless, perhaps the ancestor of all things. It blunts its softness, It unties its tangles. It softens its light. It becomes one with the dusty world. Deep and still, itContinue reading “CHAPTER 4 – GOD AND THE LEXICOGRAPHERS”
CHAPTER 3 – 1984 AND THE MEADOW BEYOND
Chapter 3 – 1984 and the Meadow Beyond Placing one person above another encourages competition. Collecting rare things causes theft. Openly displaying valuable possessions causes desire and disturbs the mind. The sage eases people’s hearts by reinforcing one’s true center, Weakening ambition And strengthening character. The sage encourages people to live simply without desire andContinue reading “CHAPTER 3 – 1984 AND THE MEADOW BEYOND”
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