When the world knows beauty as beauty, ugliness arises
When it knows good as good, evil arises
Thus being and nonbeing produce each other
TTC 2 (Lin)
When we experience anything as a specific thing, we create a dualistic world. Can anyone experience life as a happening?
If we did experience life as if it were merely phenomena, what would be the point of all of us here? We would be no different than water or air if that were the case.
We are here to experience all of life as a unique critique on all creation because water already experiences life as pure essence.
Air experiences life as pure essence.
Humans experience life as pure being, and being is this and that some days.
Essence and manifestation emerge as one. The unity of these is the mystery of the Universe. It is the secret to everything.
Be in essence with out labeling or naming that which you experience. To do so is to experience oneness with everything. Experience everything as distinct and unique to be filled with wonder.
It can seem over whelming and confusing but this is really a practice of not judging or labeling any experience as a fixed reality. What we think it is to us is different to another, see the wholeness of each experience by living in the essence of what is happening in each moment.
To do this practice sitting quietly with your self, until the mind becomes a clear mirror reflecting without pre-judgement everything that passes infront of it.
The only way to experience it is to experience it.
Thus, constantly without desire, one observes its essence
Constantly with desire, one observes its manifestations
TTC 1 (Lin)
Having the dreams of a million versions of life I spend the night in trees. I walk the molten pathways of chocolate rivers and dive the depths of endless space.
To desire is to create from the vastness of the endless Tao.
To be desire-less, I experience all of everything and all of nothing in a single glance.
What would you rather experience, one thing you want now? Or all of eternity in every moment?
The name that can be named is not the eternal name
The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth.
TTC 1 (Lin)
We weigh things here on planet Earth. The gravity makes it so. I call it The Gravity, because it asked me too. It said, “listen, Matt, can I call you Matt?
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
“Ok good, listen. I want you to call me The Gravity from here on out, ok?”
“Yeah, I can do that. Can I ask why?” I shrug.
“I guess you just did, didn’t ya?” Gravity chuckled.
It was like a great balloon was beeing bounced inside my skull at the sound of it’s laugh.
“I know everyone has an opinnion of me. They all think, “wow, ain’t gravity a bitch, always keeping me down.” And the optimist say, “thank goodness for gravity for keeping my feet on the ground.” Well, guess what, I don’t do it for anyone but me.”
“Wait, you don’t do what?” I asked very confused by this whole conversation.
“Are you kidding me? Have you been listening to a word I said? I don’t weigh on people for them. I do it for me.”
“Oh, you mean it brings you joy? To weigh people down, to the earth?”
“Yeah, it’s my purpose in life, you know.”
“Ok, but what does that have to do with calling you The Gravity?”
“Along time ago, when I was just a little gravity, everyone on this planet had super long necks and stretchy arms and legs. They all walked around with their heads in the clouds, like they owned the place. If you ask me you all are lucky that I grew up so big and strong.” The Gravity poked it’s chest out and bounced its pecks.
“Yeah, I mean I am pretty glad to not have super long arms and legs. These regular sized ones are great.” I said holding my arms up in amusement.
“Exactly, you’re welcome,”
“Alright, The Gravity, thanks for the story and the new information. I am gonna get going now.”
“Hey, thanks for calling me The Gravity, it means alot.”
“My pleasure. Well, keep… Um… Holding it down.”
“That a joke?”
“No, it’s the Law—of gravity.” I ran away screaming and laughing. The Gravity’s laugh bounced around my head again as I disappeared into a Chipotle.
I can not believe I have read and written about the Tao Te Ching for 90 days in a row. I have not even brushed my teeth that many days in a row. (jk, I think)
Do I understand the Tao Te Ching any better today than I did 90 days ago? Absolutely.
Do I think I have a full grasp of it? Hell, no.
What I do realize about the Tao Te Ching is a simplicity and authenticity to life that most religions could only pray to attain. The Tao Te Ching is, “The Authentic Way.”
It is saying whoever “You” are, that is great, be “You” to the fullest even if that is different than anyone around you.
It is saying, “Stop trying so damn hard, sit down, chill out, enjoy life. It is not so damn serious, we are all going to the same place, and we all came from the same place.”
It is saying, “Get into life. Really dig the shit you are doing that is who you are.”
It is saying, “breath, bend, flow, like water, just keep moving.”
It says, “Everyone has their role; let them have it.”
It says, “There is nothing to prove and no one to impress. You Are It.”
It actually doesn’t say exactly any of that, but I paraphrased.
It says, “your greatest treasure is inside you, and it’s not your brain or your heart or your guts, it’s the thing you can’t find when you cut us open but is there for all of us, we all hear its voice and feel its presence.
The more they assist others, the more they possess
The more they give to others, the more they gain“
TTC 81 (Lin)
I love the Tao Te Ching, because the ultimate universal truth is that in giving we recieve. By emptying are selves we are filled. In helping others we help ourselves. In loving we are loved.
Gratitude in life even if you only have a small amount comes back multiplied.
I am grateful today for all that I do have and so happy to be alive.
My life is a beautiful work of art thanks to all that is in it, not one thing is out of place.
Although they have armors and weapons They have no need to display them
Let the people return to tying knots and using them
Savor their food, admire their clothes
Content in their homes, happy in their customs
Neighboring countries see one another
Hear the sounds of roosters and dogs from one another
The people, until they grow old and die
Do not go back and forth with one another
TTC 80 (Lin)
We see a Utopia in a dream world of the Tao Te Ching. A place of forever peace and contentment.
When asking how is this possible or is it possible, remember those times when you have known peace and contentment. The reality is the utopia, the heaven, the paradise we envision does exist right now.
Eternity is happening now. Heaven is happening now. The choice is ours to make. It doesn’t matter the weapons or the war outside if there is no peace within, there will never be peace outside.
I believe Lao Tzu was describing his internal world the way he experienced the world even in a time of war and strife.
Therefore, the sage holds the left part of the contract
But does not demand payment from the other person
Those who have virtue hold the contract
Those without virtue hold the collections
The Heavenly Tao has no favorites
It constantly gives to the kind people”
TTC 79 (Lin)
In Derek Lin’s translation of the Tao Te Ching, he notes in this chapter that the holding of the contract is about the way agreements were made in Lao Tzu’s time. They would write a contract on the left piece of wood and the collection agreement on the right.
When it was time for payment, the collection agreement was brought to the party’s door that needed to pay.
So, what Lao Tzu is saying is that regardless of payment or not, the virtuous hold to the left contract, meaning they give without thought of repayment.
Like the Tao of Heaven, which gives without thought of what it is getting in return, giving freely of oneself is the way of the Tao.
Only doing things to get something in return is to be without virtue.
When I really feel this in my life is when I begin to do things without motive, without some contrived end in mind. I can be of service to another human being without thinking, “maybe this will make me look good, or that it will advance my career.” Instead, I am of service because service is what I want to do. It no longer is a means to an end but instead becomes an end in itself.
Why can this not be put into practice, because to try and practice is an assertive act? Water does not assert itself. It lets itself be moved. It trusts the universe.
Jesus said if some one sues you for your shirt, give him also your jacket.
This is allowing like water. When someone takes water more water comes to replace what is taken.
At the beach 😎
I believe that you can not take what is freely given.
Seeking Purpose Today 