Matthew Whiteside

Tao Te Ching Day 15: Duality

Duality is layered heavily within the teaching of the Tao. You want light, you must accept heavy. You want joy, you must accept sadness. You want pizza, you must accept calzones. Alright, I don’t know about that last one, but you get the point. Gravity is the root of lightness, Stillness is the master ofContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 15: Duality”

Tao Te Ching Day 14: The Holographic Universe

Therefore, Tao is great, and heaven, and earth, and humans. Four great things in the world aren’t humans one of them? TTC- chp. 25 (Addiss & Lombardo) There are four great things, Tao followed by Heaven, followed by Earth, followed by humans. Humans are sovereign and follow Earth. Earth follows heaven, heaven follows Tao, TaoContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 14: The Holographic Universe”

Tao Te Ching Day 13: Arrogance

Those who are on tiptoes cannot stand. Those who straddle cannot walk. Those who flaunt themselves are not clear.” TTC- chp. 24 (Derek Lin) The opposite of humility is arrogance and the Tao Te Ching does not mince words about living arrogantly. I have lived a life of trying to find a way to onlyContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 13: Arrogance”

Tao Te Ching Day 12: You Choose

I am struck by an insight today. Studying chapter 23 of the Tao Te Ching, an insight hit me from a place of thinking I understand, to grasping what is being taught. Shakespeare said, “Brevity is the soul of wit.” Well Lao Tzu said, “Spare words; nature’s way.” (Addiss & Lombardo) Nature only say’s whatContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 12: You Choose”

Tao Te Ching Day 11: The River

“Crippled becomes whole…” TTC – Chp. 22 Addiss & Lombardo What does this refer to, some sort of miracle healing practice? Those with out legs, will walk again? Maybe, or maybe it means that, like a person who looses one sense, other senses become stronger. Another translation of this is, “yield and reman whole…” TTC-Continue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 11: The River”

Tao Te Ching Day 10: The Fruit of Uncertainty

I am using multiple translations of the Tao Te Ching in this study and one thing is certain, chapter 21 is like using water vapor to quench thirst after a marathon. “Great Te appears, flowing from Tao. Tao in action- only vague and intangible.” TTC-Chp.21 version translated by Stephen Addiss & Stanley Lombard The versionContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 10: The Fruit of Uncertainty”

Are You Anxious?

I don’t know what it is about Monday (even if you are reading this on a different day) but I am full of anxiety. And, if I know anything about the human condition, its that if I am feeling a certain way, it is a guarantee that there are a bunch of other people feelingContinue reading “Are You Anxious?”

Tao Te Ching Day 8: Letting Go (With Audio)

Check out the Audio Version on my podcast Upon Awakening: https://anchor.fm/matthew-whiteside/episodes/Tao-Te-Ching-Day-8-Letting-Go-e10ch52 “Gold and jade fill up the room, no one is able to protect them. Wealth and position bring arrogance, and leave disasters upon oneself?” Tao Te Ching- Chp. 9 This passage has been sitting on me all day. I am holding on desperately toContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 8: Letting Go (With Audio)”

Tao Te Ching Day 7: The Cycle (With Audio)

Audio available on Podcast Upon Awakening https://anchor.fm/matthew-whiteside/episodes/Tao-Te-Ching-Day-7-The-Cycle-e103c4u “Attain the ultimate emptiness, hold on to the truest tranquility. The myriad things are all active, I therefore watch their return.” Tao Te Ching – Chp. 16 The world that we live in is a natural world, full of natural beauty and natural processes. From the tree’s blossoms,Continue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 7: The Cycle (With Audio)”

Tao Te Ching Day 6: The Mystery (With Audio)

Audio available on my podcast Upon Awakening: A Beginners Guide https://anchor.fm/matthew-whiteside/episodes/Tao-Te-Ching-Day-6-The-Mystery-ev764k “The named is the mother of myriad things. Thus, constantly without desire, one observes its essence. Constantly with desire, one observes its manifestation.” Tao Te Ching – Chp. 1 There have been many a mystery in my life. Mystery’s such as, why is theContinue reading “Tao Te Ching Day 6: The Mystery (With Audio)”