The Tao masters of antiquity
Subtle wonders through mystery
Depths that cannot be discerned
Because one cannot discern them
Therefore one is forced to describe the appearance
Hesitant, like crossing a wintry river
Cautious, like fearing four neighbors
Solemn, like a guest
Loose, like ice about to melt
Genuine, like plain wood
Open, like a valley
Opaque, like muddy water
Who can be muddled yet desist
In stillness gradually become clear?
Who can be serene yet persist
In motion gradually come alive?
One who holds this Tao does not wish to be overfilled
Because one is not overfilled
Therefore one can preserve and not create anew
What does this Mean?
Even though I think the Tao Te Ching is an extremely good source of guidance on how to live, I am more of a fan and philosopher of it than a practicioner. I use it in small ways, but I am no true sage.
For a Tao practicioner, you would barely know they are there. If they spoke up, though, it would be a clear thought that strikes true at the heart of the discussion: a unrealized ephiphany that illuminates the truth of the entire conversation. For the sage, they only speak with clear thoughts.
One who is more practiced than that I doubt is even in our culture. There is a reason that there is a stereotype of the wise hermit living in the mountains, not being filled up with the desires of modern industrial living.
How can I use this?
Hesitant, like crossing a wintry river. Think of this: other than for things like racing, when is it ever useful to go first? By letting others go ahead of you, you can see the best way to do things or let them take the brunt of the failure of the unknown. The best modern example is being in line to get a new gadget only to have to deal with problems for weeks simply because you got it first.
Cautious, like fearing four neighbors. Each action you take causes a ripple in time and space that will affect all of your future actions. The safer and more flexible you act, the better chance you'll make a correct decision. At least, making more cautious plans allows you to correct unintended mistakes easier or to incorporate the actions of others.
This does not mean slow, due to the fact that one should seize good opprotunities. This also does not mean passive, either. That butterfly that causes a hurricane with one wing flap would have to fly to live, even if it knew what the consequences are.
Solemn, like a guest. I like to think that, personally, one should take everyone serious and be respectful of their opinions. Even if there is an obvious flaw in the logic for them or that they are just believing something with bad information. There is a slice of truth to every good joke and something to learn in everything if one has respect. It is hard to truly see good in something without an example of what bad is.
Loose, like ice about to melt. Be like snowcone ice? That is actually a good analogy. Be solid enough to support things and be useful, but fluid enough to conform to the weight and challenge of the tasks presented.
Genuine, like plain wood. Be natural. You don't need paint and decorations to make plain wood useful or beautiful. You can paint over rotten wood to hide it's bad qualities, just like you can paint over your vulernabilities with sarcasm, shyness, humor, or other little defensive habits . The sage embraces his weakness, and as such, is not afraid or hurt when it's pointed out.
Open, like a valley. The sage has a lot of emotional room for others and a lot less personal stake in things than your average person. The sage use that lack of self-interest to make the most possibilities open to them. Through that, they can be open to act on kindness, generosity and necessity as opposed to the desires and egos of themselves or others.
Opaque, like muddy water. Being open, honest, generous and respectful is fine. Bragging about how virtuious you are is not. At that point, the things you can give to others are greatly diminished. Selfish people will prey on your kindness and righteous people will say you are looking to boost your own ego. When one has true humility, others think that they simply have good luck or they did it themselves instead of having a hidden benefactor.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Chapter 14 - Energy
Look at it, it cannot be seen
It is called colorless
Listen to it, it cannot be heard
It is called noiseless
Reach for it, it cannot be held
It is called formless
These three cannot be completely unraveled
So they are combined into one
Above it, not bright
Below it, not dark
Continuing endlessly, cannot be named
It returns back into nothingness
Thus it is called the form of the formless
The image of the imageless
This is called enigmatic
Confront it, its front cannot be seen
Follow it, its back cannot be seen
Wield the Tao of the ancients
To manage the existence of today
One can know the ancient beginning
It is called the Tao Axiom
What does this mean?
How does one interact with the Tao? We can not look at it, see it or touch it. How is it useful?
Think of the various states of water in terms of matter. With ice, for example, you can do all sorts of things. You can grab it, see it, break it and manipulate it. Virtually anything you can think of you can do with a solid. Ice is only a little useful on a daily basis, as it can keep things cold but you do not need specifically ice to meet any basic needs. In fact, other than our bodies are made of solids, the only solids we need are food and we can go a week or two without it.
With a liquid, things become more difficult. You have to cup your hands a certain way to hold it. You need tools like cups and bowls to interact with it. Even then, if you want to change it, you need even more complex things like chemicals or tempature. However, liquid water is valuable to us even though all we do is drink it.
Now, think of how we interact with air. We don't on a daily basis. An expert archer or golfer might account for wind speed, and an engineer might account for air pressure, but these are very situational and complex tasks compared to eating and drinking. The process we do with air, breathing, is tremendously important as we would die without breathing in only a few minutes. For something so important, it is amazing we are unconscious of our breathing most of the time.
The pattern seems that the less substantial it is, the more important it is. The Tao is even less substantial than air.
Bundles of energy make our consciousness through our nervous system. Electrical charges travel from our eyes, ears and skin to our brains and make us aware of reality. That energy is impossible to touch, see or hold. Science cannot even tell you exactly what that energy is and where it comes from.
Science has even revealed that there might be a type of energy or law of nature which glues the whole universe together. Even still, there are other quantum forces around the energy regarding molecules and atoms that are incomprehensible and seem contradictory. Theories behind those forces are ones we can only guess at. The forces of nature continue to be a mystery the deeper you go.
That sounds very much like the Tao.
How do I use this?
like people who meditate and do yoga to improve breathing, I think you can focus and improve your internal energy. I recommend trying out Tai Chi.
Practicing it is one of the safest, low-impact versions of a martial art that you can do and is good for strength and flexibility at any age. Like yoga, doing it properly puts yourself in a meditative state, but unlike yoga, you are moving instead of posing.
Trying it myself, you can definately feel something different if practiced correctly. Even if you don't stick with it, being aware of the energy is worth it to help with mindfulness in applying the Tao.
It is called colorless
Listen to it, it cannot be heard
It is called noiseless
Reach for it, it cannot be held
It is called formless
These three cannot be completely unraveled
So they are combined into one
Above it, not bright
Below it, not dark
Continuing endlessly, cannot be named
It returns back into nothingness
Thus it is called the form of the formless
The image of the imageless
This is called enigmatic
Confront it, its front cannot be seen
Follow it, its back cannot be seen
Wield the Tao of the ancients
To manage the existence of today
One can know the ancient beginning
It is called the Tao Axiom
What does this mean?
How does one interact with the Tao? We can not look at it, see it or touch it. How is it useful?
Think of the various states of water in terms of matter. With ice, for example, you can do all sorts of things. You can grab it, see it, break it and manipulate it. Virtually anything you can think of you can do with a solid. Ice is only a little useful on a daily basis, as it can keep things cold but you do not need specifically ice to meet any basic needs. In fact, other than our bodies are made of solids, the only solids we need are food and we can go a week or two without it.
With a liquid, things become more difficult. You have to cup your hands a certain way to hold it. You need tools like cups and bowls to interact with it. Even then, if you want to change it, you need even more complex things like chemicals or tempature. However, liquid water is valuable to us even though all we do is drink it.
Now, think of how we interact with air. We don't on a daily basis. An expert archer or golfer might account for wind speed, and an engineer might account for air pressure, but these are very situational and complex tasks compared to eating and drinking. The process we do with air, breathing, is tremendously important as we would die without breathing in only a few minutes. For something so important, it is amazing we are unconscious of our breathing most of the time.
The pattern seems that the less substantial it is, the more important it is. The Tao is even less substantial than air.
Bundles of energy make our consciousness through our nervous system. Electrical charges travel from our eyes, ears and skin to our brains and make us aware of reality. That energy is impossible to touch, see or hold. Science cannot even tell you exactly what that energy is and where it comes from.
Science has even revealed that there might be a type of energy or law of nature which glues the whole universe together. Even still, there are other quantum forces around the energy regarding molecules and atoms that are incomprehensible and seem contradictory. Theories behind those forces are ones we can only guess at. The forces of nature continue to be a mystery the deeper you go.
That sounds very much like the Tao.
How do I use this?
like people who meditate and do yoga to improve breathing, I think you can focus and improve your internal energy. I recommend trying out Tai Chi.
Practicing it is one of the safest, low-impact versions of a martial art that you can do and is good for strength and flexibility at any age. Like yoga, doing it properly puts yourself in a meditative state, but unlike yoga, you are moving instead of posing.
Trying it myself, you can definately feel something different if practiced correctly. Even if you don't stick with it, being aware of the energy is worth it to help with mindfulness in applying the Tao.
Chapter 12 - Excess
The five colors make one blind in the eyes
The five sounds make one deaf in the ears
The five flavors make one tasteless in the mouth
Racing and hunting make one wild in the heart
Goods that are difficult to acquire make one cause damage
Therefore the sages care for the stomach and not the eyes
That is why they discard the other and take this
What does this mean?
Look directly into a bright light for a minute, and you will get blinded temporarily. Play your favorite music too loud and you will go deaf. Dump all of your spices into a bowl and you cannot taste any of them. Too much of anything dulls you to it, no matter how wonderful it is.
This richness permeates not just sight, sound and taste, but our own mental narratives and desires.
We are increasingly bombarded with more intense colors, sounds and flavors. We accept it because it overcomes our dullness to those sensations. As time has progressed, those who advertise and tell stories simply turn up the volume to get our attention again.
We end up envisioning our own lives as a mythic story.
Our lives are not three act plays with villains out to get us and ourselves the center of a hero's journey, but it feels disappointing that nothing like that happens. We know that we are not Han Solo or Neo or a Disney princess, but are a bit sad or angry when real life doesn't follow that narrative. It is hard to accept life as it is when we are told how it could be.
For some, they force that fantasy into their lives. That fantasy should just be mere entertainment at best. Without a level of detachment, it becomes another way to want something and all the suffering that desire brings.
The Tao is barely perceptible and hard to grasp. If our senses and minds have been dimmed by indulging in pleasures and fantasies, how can we get close to the Tao?
How can I use this?
To keep the five colors or sounds or whatever else exists from desensitizing us, we must get rid of them. We expand our comfort zone to the possibility of live without these things.
In other words, perform a fast.
Fasting builds self-discipline, which is needed to practice other virtues like mindfulness. Fasting is practiced by every old spiritual practices to this day, so by consensus it is endorsed as a spiritual exercise. By fasting, you learn more about what your body and mind are capable of. Breaking the fast itself can be great experience. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, after all.
Fasting is hard to do, but it is a skill that can be built up over time. You do not have to starve for days. Buddha simply skipped dinner every day; one meal out of three.
You do not even need to start with food.
Instead of food, start with television and video games, or Facebook, or a specific genre of music, or alcohol. Anything at all, but make sure not having it makes you uncomfortable. Meditate on why you are anxious without it. Find the good things in not having it, like having more free time or how good it will be to enjoy it afterwards.
If it's not food, give it 30 days. That is how long the brain chemically needs to rewire with your new paradigm. If it's entire meals, most religions average a single day or 3 meals in a row with plenty of water. Check with a doctor before you do any food fast.
Cultivating the Tao this way is not in acts of self-denial, but expanding the possibilities in your life. The more you are capable of saying "No", the more things you can say "Yes" to.
The five sounds make one deaf in the ears
The five flavors make one tasteless in the mouth
Racing and hunting make one wild in the heart
Goods that are difficult to acquire make one cause damage
Therefore the sages care for the stomach and not the eyes
That is why they discard the other and take this
What does this mean?
Look directly into a bright light for a minute, and you will get blinded temporarily. Play your favorite music too loud and you will go deaf. Dump all of your spices into a bowl and you cannot taste any of them. Too much of anything dulls you to it, no matter how wonderful it is.
This richness permeates not just sight, sound and taste, but our own mental narratives and desires.
We are increasingly bombarded with more intense colors, sounds and flavors. We accept it because it overcomes our dullness to those sensations. As time has progressed, those who advertise and tell stories simply turn up the volume to get our attention again.
We end up envisioning our own lives as a mythic story.
Our lives are not three act plays with villains out to get us and ourselves the center of a hero's journey, but it feels disappointing that nothing like that happens. We know that we are not Han Solo or Neo or a Disney princess, but are a bit sad or angry when real life doesn't follow that narrative. It is hard to accept life as it is when we are told how it could be.
For some, they force that fantasy into their lives. That fantasy should just be mere entertainment at best. Without a level of detachment, it becomes another way to want something and all the suffering that desire brings.
The Tao is barely perceptible and hard to grasp. If our senses and minds have been dimmed by indulging in pleasures and fantasies, how can we get close to the Tao?
How can I use this?
To keep the five colors or sounds or whatever else exists from desensitizing us, we must get rid of them. We expand our comfort zone to the possibility of live without these things.
In other words, perform a fast.
Fasting builds self-discipline, which is needed to practice other virtues like mindfulness. Fasting is practiced by every old spiritual practices to this day, so by consensus it is endorsed as a spiritual exercise. By fasting, you learn more about what your body and mind are capable of. Breaking the fast itself can be great experience. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, after all.
Fasting is hard to do, but it is a skill that can be built up over time. You do not have to starve for days. Buddha simply skipped dinner every day; one meal out of three.
You do not even need to start with food.
Instead of food, start with television and video games, or Facebook, or a specific genre of music, or alcohol. Anything at all, but make sure not having it makes you uncomfortable. Meditate on why you are anxious without it. Find the good things in not having it, like having more free time or how good it will be to enjoy it afterwards.
If it's not food, give it 30 days. That is how long the brain chemically needs to rewire with your new paradigm. If it's entire meals, most religions average a single day or 3 meals in a row with plenty of water. Check with a doctor before you do any food fast.
Cultivating the Tao this way is not in acts of self-denial, but expanding the possibilities in your life. The more you are capable of saying "No", the more things you can say "Yes" to.
Chapter 13 - Ego
Favor and disgrace make one fearful
The greatest misfortune is the self
What does "favor and disgrace make one fearful" mean?
Favor is high; disgrace is low
Having it makes one fearful
Losing it makes one fearful
This is "favor and disgrace make one fearful"
What does "the greatest misfortune is the self" mean?
The reason I have great misfortune
Is that I have the self
If I have no self
What misfortune do I have?
So one who values the self as the world
Can be given the world
One who loves the self as the world
Can be entrusted with the world
What does this mean?
Favor and disgrace can be redefined in a modern setting simply by caring about what others think of you. If you care about keeping in good standing with those around you, you will fear losing other people's respect.
However, having the "self" is tricky. It is another word for ego.
If you have a high self-esteem, you risk losing your confidence each time you act for others. One might avoid those situations that make one look bad. Others might act, not to do the right thing, but to protect their own ego. When you find out there is someone better than you or others simply thing you aren't good enough, your ego hurts.
If you have a low self-esteem, you risk not acting at all and missing out on opportunities. If you feel you are worthless, it makes it hard to see how acting will change things. It is easy to slip into a rut just to get by, which is it's own sort of dull pain.
We can all be so fixated on what we do in the world and our self-importance, or lack of it, that we forget the Tao. To find contentment, you do not help the world with whatever skills you have. The world doesn't need help and doesn't care about you. It will keep going irregardless. We do not exist just for ourselves either. Doing that is just selfish and un-fulfilling.
What is best is to have a zero-sum self-esteem. A balanced ego. We should value the world equally compared to ourselves. We are not more or less important than the world no matter what skills or talents we have or riches we own. We just are.
Imagine giving your food and time to the homeless in your community, but your family might be jealous of the time spent even if your family's needs are well met. Imagine taking on a task and the best way to do it breaks with culture and taboos, angering the community. Imagine not empathizing and caring for a dying loved one simply because your friends did not like that person. If one valued other's opinions in these scenarios, one would not do the right thing.
Kindness, right action, sympathy and other virtues do not contest. They are self-evident to the point of being incontestable. Do not let the fear of what others think stop you.
How can I use this?
Do not change your actions because of other people's desires. What other people want and believe are their own responsibility. One that causes themselves pain because they want things they don't need or believe things that are not true cannot be taught the Tao. They can only teach themselves.
Sharpen up your thinking. Having a basis in critical thinking keeps you from being afraid of what others think of you. True, well-thought out things are simple and cannot be argued away. Be wary of others using logical fallicies to attack ideas of yours that they do not like.
Do not be stubborn or defensive. If you are holding fast to an idea but someone offers up infallable solid logic that counters it, rethink your idea.
Understand, empathize and be kind to those don't like your views or actions. We are all the same humans, merely with different perspectives. Some of us have exaggerated beliefs and desires, which is fine. It goes beyond humoring someone to understanding the person. You do not have to believe their actual belief, but you have to understand that they believe it and why.
The greatest misfortune is the self
What does "favor and disgrace make one fearful" mean?
Favor is high; disgrace is low
Having it makes one fearful
Losing it makes one fearful
This is "favor and disgrace make one fearful"
What does "the greatest misfortune is the self" mean?
The reason I have great misfortune
Is that I have the self
If I have no self
What misfortune do I have?
So one who values the self as the world
Can be given the world
One who loves the self as the world
Can be entrusted with the world
What does this mean?
Favor and disgrace can be redefined in a modern setting simply by caring about what others think of you. If you care about keeping in good standing with those around you, you will fear losing other people's respect.
However, having the "self" is tricky. It is another word for ego.
If you have a high self-esteem, you risk losing your confidence each time you act for others. One might avoid those situations that make one look bad. Others might act, not to do the right thing, but to protect their own ego. When you find out there is someone better than you or others simply thing you aren't good enough, your ego hurts.
If you have a low self-esteem, you risk not acting at all and missing out on opportunities. If you feel you are worthless, it makes it hard to see how acting will change things. It is easy to slip into a rut just to get by, which is it's own sort of dull pain.
We can all be so fixated on what we do in the world and our self-importance, or lack of it, that we forget the Tao. To find contentment, you do not help the world with whatever skills you have. The world doesn't need help and doesn't care about you. It will keep going irregardless. We do not exist just for ourselves either. Doing that is just selfish and un-fulfilling.
What is best is to have a zero-sum self-esteem. A balanced ego. We should value the world equally compared to ourselves. We are not more or less important than the world no matter what skills or talents we have or riches we own. We just are.
Imagine giving your food and time to the homeless in your community, but your family might be jealous of the time spent even if your family's needs are well met. Imagine taking on a task and the best way to do it breaks with culture and taboos, angering the community. Imagine not empathizing and caring for a dying loved one simply because your friends did not like that person. If one valued other's opinions in these scenarios, one would not do the right thing.
Kindness, right action, sympathy and other virtues do not contest. They are self-evident to the point of being incontestable. Do not let the fear of what others think stop you.
How can I use this?
Do not change your actions because of other people's desires. What other people want and believe are their own responsibility. One that causes themselves pain because they want things they don't need or believe things that are not true cannot be taught the Tao. They can only teach themselves.
Sharpen up your thinking. Having a basis in critical thinking keeps you from being afraid of what others think of you. True, well-thought out things are simple and cannot be argued away. Be wary of others using logical fallicies to attack ideas of yours that they do not like.
Do not be stubborn or defensive. If you are holding fast to an idea but someone offers up infallable solid logic that counters it, rethink your idea.
Understand, empathize and be kind to those don't like your views or actions. We are all the same humans, merely with different perspectives. Some of us have exaggerated beliefs and desires, which is fine. It goes beyond humoring someone to understanding the person. You do not have to believe their actual belief, but you have to understand that they believe it and why.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Chapter 11 - Space
Thirty spokes join in one hub
In its emptiness, there is the function of a vehicle
Mix clay to create a container
In its emptiness, there is the function of a container
Cut open doors and windows to create a room
In its emptiness, there is the function of a room
Therefore, that which exists is used to create benefit
That which is empty is used to create functionality
What does this mean?
Space is valuable. If I offered you a space in a New York penthouse apartment, it would still be nothing. That same "nothing" exists everywhere, irregardless of where it is, and provides the same usefulness.
As you fill your space, whether it be a box, a drawer or a house, you lose more of it's usefulness. Something completely full is extremely limited in its usefulness. A full toybox is only good for pulling out toys. Once a photo album is filled with pictures, it's only good for those specific pictures. What use is a house that you can barely walk into?
This doesn't just apply to physical things, but also to your mind and how you feel. The space in your mind is more valuable than any penthouse or mansion.
Your comfort zone is the full part of your mind, and leaving it is symbolizes empty space.
Do not get filled in by thinking you know with great certainty. At its logical conclusion, once you think you know it all, that makes all others who present new information seem wrong. Knowing everything makes it that much harder to learn new ways. The more you fill your mind, the more uncomfortable and even painful it is to empty it.
Imagine your mind as a vegetable. Do not be an onion with many thick layers that has to be peeled to be of any use. Try to be a green pepper, with space for the seeds that are ready to grow.
How do I use this?
Make space everywhere. Go through each thing in your life and ask, "Does having this make my life better on a regular basis?" If it doesn't, get rid of it responsibly. No littering!
If you are keeping it because it hurts to throw it away, think about it. It is OK to feel bad about it but the idea of losing things is ingrained in our culture as painful when it should not. If it causes you stress and anxiety to even think about losing something, it really needs to be worth it. Otherwise, that looming potential stress is over your head all the time.
Keeping your best photo of a beloved grandmother is worth it. Keeping fifty pounds of plastic collectibles because they might be worth something in storage is not.
Here is a short list why you should do this.
* More space lets you have the room for new things mentally, emotionally and physically.
* Less things means that you can organize your space easily.
* Having only the things that are important let you better focus on those things.
* Experiencing how much less you actually need improves self-discipline and mindfulness.
* Finding someone that needs your things gives you a chance to feel kind and generous.
* Helping rid your life of excess helps you clear your brain of desires.
* Being responsible for too many things is a mental burden. Having less things alleviates the burden.
Think broadly about all the areas you live where you can find more space:
* Your closets, garages, toyboxes and junk drawers full of unorganized stuff you never use.
* Your file cabinets full of papers and mail you no longer need.
* Your countertops and tables full of things that are not in their proper places.
* Your pantries and fridges full of junk food you shouldn't eat.
* Your daily calendar full of comforts you do out of habit.
* Your bias towards things different than what you are used to.
* Your judgements and values that make others wrong.
* Your knowledge that the world works a specific way.
I'm sure there's more examples, but having a list with plenty of space lets you fill in the blanks.
In its emptiness, there is the function of a vehicle
Mix clay to create a container
In its emptiness, there is the function of a container
Cut open doors and windows to create a room
In its emptiness, there is the function of a room
Therefore, that which exists is used to create benefit
That which is empty is used to create functionality
What does this mean?
Space is valuable. If I offered you a space in a New York penthouse apartment, it would still be nothing. That same "nothing" exists everywhere, irregardless of where it is, and provides the same usefulness.
As you fill your space, whether it be a box, a drawer or a house, you lose more of it's usefulness. Something completely full is extremely limited in its usefulness. A full toybox is only good for pulling out toys. Once a photo album is filled with pictures, it's only good for those specific pictures. What use is a house that you can barely walk into?
This doesn't just apply to physical things, but also to your mind and how you feel. The space in your mind is more valuable than any penthouse or mansion.
Your comfort zone is the full part of your mind, and leaving it is symbolizes empty space.
Do not get filled in by thinking you know with great certainty. At its logical conclusion, once you think you know it all, that makes all others who present new information seem wrong. Knowing everything makes it that much harder to learn new ways. The more you fill your mind, the more uncomfortable and even painful it is to empty it.
Imagine your mind as a vegetable. Do not be an onion with many thick layers that has to be peeled to be of any use. Try to be a green pepper, with space for the seeds that are ready to grow.
How do I use this?
Make space everywhere. Go through each thing in your life and ask, "Does having this make my life better on a regular basis?" If it doesn't, get rid of it responsibly. No littering!
If you are keeping it because it hurts to throw it away, think about it. It is OK to feel bad about it but the idea of losing things is ingrained in our culture as painful when it should not. If it causes you stress and anxiety to even think about losing something, it really needs to be worth it. Otherwise, that looming potential stress is over your head all the time.
Keeping your best photo of a beloved grandmother is worth it. Keeping fifty pounds of plastic collectibles because they might be worth something in storage is not.
Here is a short list why you should do this.
* More space lets you have the room for new things mentally, emotionally and physically.
* Less things means that you can organize your space easily.
* Having only the things that are important let you better focus on those things.
* Experiencing how much less you actually need improves self-discipline and mindfulness.
* Finding someone that needs your things gives you a chance to feel kind and generous.
* Helping rid your life of excess helps you clear your brain of desires.
* Being responsible for too many things is a mental burden. Having less things alleviates the burden.
Think broadly about all the areas you live where you can find more space:
* Your closets, garages, toyboxes and junk drawers full of unorganized stuff you never use.
* Your file cabinets full of papers and mail you no longer need.
* Your countertops and tables full of things that are not in their proper places.
* Your pantries and fridges full of junk food you shouldn't eat.
* Your daily calendar full of comforts you do out of habit.
* Your bias towards things different than what you are used to.
* Your judgements and values that make others wrong.
* Your knowledge that the world works a specific way.
I'm sure there's more examples, but having a list with plenty of space lets you fill in the blanks.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Chapter 10 - Perfect
In holding the soul and embracing oneness
Can one be steadfast, without straying?
In concentrating the energy and reaching relaxation
Can one be like an infant?
In cleaning away the worldly view
Can one be without imperfections?
In loving the people and ruling the nation
Can one be without manipulation?
In the heavenly gate's opening and closing
Can one hold to the feminine principle?
In understanding clearly all directions
Can one be without intellectuality?
Bearing it, rearing it
Bearing without possession
Achieving without arrogance
Raising without domination
This is called the Mystic Virtue
What does this mean?
In all of these statements, the one underlying theme is that they are "perfect" challenges. When speaking them, it sounds as if it is possible with enough dedication and work. When doing them, it is a different story to accomplish even one.
Can we be mindful every moment each day? Not without decades of practice. How about devaluing what society tells us we should value? Can we completely get rid of every desire? Not unless we exclude ourselves from all of society and culture. Yet we should still strive to do those things.
This is achieving perfection in the very things one needs to use the Tao: mindfulness, relaxation, disregard of popular culture, generosity, tolerance, wisdom. However, let’s say we do achieve all of these things. There is still one more thing to keep in mind that directly affects whether you truly succeed.
Humility.
This is the "mystic virtue". If you have the wrong attitude about enlightenment, you will never achieve it.
I learned this the hard way a few weeks ago. I took pride in myself on how much I've learned over everyone I knew. I thought I was awesome that I was getting my personal struggle with memory and focus under much better control through mindfulness meditation. However, when I read on Facebook that a family member I've written off spiritually was taking time to give food to the needy just because she had free time, it made me realize that my focus on the work I've been doing mentally is only one part of the Tao. Her actions were very inspiring and humbling.
How do I use this?
Since it is so difficult to find the Tao, one must work on travelling all of the paths. Do not just travel down one path. Take many roads. They all complement and intersect with each other.
Learn from others. Keep in mind that everyone travels down these paths differently. Placing value on your own practice in the Tao will push you and others father away from the Tao. Instead of putting yourself above others, look to others as reminders of self-improvement, especially if they are down a different path further than you.
In all of these statements, the one underlying theme is that they are "perfect" challenges. When speaking them, it sounds as if it is possible with enough dedication and work. When doing them, it is a different story to accomplish even one.
Can we be mindful every moment each day? Not without decades of practice. How about devaluing what society tells us we should value? Can we completely get rid of every desire? Not unless we exclude ourselves from all of society and culture. Yet we should still strive to do those things.
This is achieving perfection in the very things one needs to use the Tao: mindfulness, relaxation, disregard of popular culture, generosity, tolerance, wisdom. However, let’s say we do achieve all of these things. There is still one more thing to keep in mind that directly affects whether you truly succeed.
Humility.
This is the "mystic virtue". If you have the wrong attitude about enlightenment, you will never achieve it.
I learned this the hard way a few weeks ago. I took pride in myself on how much I've learned over everyone I knew. I thought I was awesome that I was getting my personal struggle with memory and focus under much better control through mindfulness meditation. However, when I read on Facebook that a family member I've written off spiritually was taking time to give food to the needy just because she had free time, it made me realize that my focus on the work I've been doing mentally is only one part of the Tao. Her actions were very inspiring and humbling.
How do I use this?
Since it is so difficult to find the Tao, one must work on travelling all of the paths. Do not just travel down one path. Take many roads. They all complement and intersect with each other.
Learn from others. Keep in mind that everyone travels down these paths differently. Placing value on your own practice in the Tao will push you and others father away from the Tao. Instead of putting yourself above others, look to others as reminders of self-improvement, especially if they are down a different path further than you.
Can one be steadfast, without straying?
In concentrating the energy and reaching relaxation
Can one be like an infant?
In cleaning away the worldly view
Can one be without imperfections?
In loving the people and ruling the nation
Can one be without manipulation?
In the heavenly gate's opening and closing
Can one hold to the feminine principle?
In understanding clearly all directions
Can one be without intellectuality?
Bearing it, rearing it
Bearing without possession
Achieving without arrogance
Raising without domination
This is called the Mystic Virtue
What does this mean?
In all of these statements, the one underlying theme is that they are "perfect" challenges. When speaking them, it sounds as if it is possible with enough dedication and work. When doing them, it is a different story to accomplish even one.
Can we be mindful every moment each day? Not without decades of practice. How about devaluing what society tells us we should value? Can we completely get rid of every desire? Not unless we exclude ourselves from all of society and culture. Yet we should still strive to do those things.
This is achieving perfection in the very things one needs to use the Tao: mindfulness, relaxation, disregard of popular culture, generosity, tolerance, wisdom. However, let’s say we do achieve all of these things. There is still one more thing to keep in mind that directly affects whether you truly succeed.
Humility.
This is the "mystic virtue". If you have the wrong attitude about enlightenment, you will never achieve it.
I learned this the hard way a few weeks ago. I took pride in myself on how much I've learned over everyone I knew. I thought I was awesome that I was getting my personal struggle with memory and focus under much better control through mindfulness meditation. However, when I read on Facebook that a family member I've written off spiritually was taking time to give food to the needy just because she had free time, it made me realize that my focus on the work I've been doing mentally is only one part of the Tao. Her actions were very inspiring and humbling.
How do I use this?
Since it is so difficult to find the Tao, one must work on travelling all of the paths. Do not just travel down one path. Take many roads. They all complement and intersect with each other.
Learn from others. Keep in mind that everyone travels down these paths differently. Placing value on your own practice in the Tao will push you and others father away from the Tao. Instead of putting yourself above others, look to others as reminders of self-improvement, especially if they are down a different path further than you.
In all of these statements, the one underlying theme is that they are "perfect" challenges. When speaking them, it sounds as if it is possible with enough dedication and work. When doing them, it is a different story to accomplish even one.
Can we be mindful every moment each day? Not without decades of practice. How about devaluing what society tells us we should value? Can we completely get rid of every desire? Not unless we exclude ourselves from all of society and culture. Yet we should still strive to do those things.
This is achieving perfection in the very things one needs to use the Tao: mindfulness, relaxation, disregard of popular culture, generosity, tolerance, wisdom. However, let’s say we do achieve all of these things. There is still one more thing to keep in mind that directly affects whether you truly succeed.
Humility.
This is the "mystic virtue". If you have the wrong attitude about enlightenment, you will never achieve it.
I learned this the hard way a few weeks ago. I took pride in myself on how much I've learned over everyone I knew. I thought I was awesome that I was getting my personal struggle with memory and focus under much better control through mindfulness meditation. However, when I read on Facebook that a family member I've written off spiritually was taking time to give food to the needy just because she had free time, it made me realize that my focus on the work I've been doing mentally is only one part of the Tao. Her actions were very inspiring and humbling.
How do I use this?
Since it is so difficult to find the Tao, one must work on travelling all of the paths. Do not just travel down one path. Take many roads. They all complement and intersect with each other.
Learn from others. Keep in mind that everyone travels down these paths differently. Placing value on your own practice in the Tao will push you and others father away from the Tao. Instead of putting yourself above others, look to others as reminders of self-improvement, especially if they are down a different path further than you.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Chapter 9 - Moderation
Holding a cup and overfilling it
Cannot be as good as stopping short
Pounding a blade and sharpening it
Cannot be kept for long
Cannot be as good as stopping short
Pounding a blade and sharpening it
Cannot be kept for long
Gold and jade fill up the room
No one is able to protect them
Wealth and position bring arrogance
And leave disasters upon oneself
No one is able to protect them
Wealth and position bring arrogance
And leave disasters upon oneself
When achievement is completed, fame is attained
Withdraw oneself
This is the Tao of Heaven
Withdraw oneself
This is the Tao of Heaven
What does this mean?
At first glance, this is very straightforward. Once you've overdone something or have too much, it loses it's usefulness and causes more problems than having it in the first place.
This is the philosophical argument of moderation.
Moderation also refers back to our needs. Isn't anything outside of the basics past moderation? With this, I agree. However, for those reading this, making a transition to a need-based life is hard. It is like chiseling a statue: you keep knocking chunks off the rock until it matches what you envision.
How do I use this?
Addressing the physical things are easy. At worst, the anxiety you feel when thinking about having less stuff is akin to pulling off a band-aid on a fully healed scratch. It hurts at first, but once it's done, you are free. Free space means something completely new as it frees up your mind.
Addressing the mental space is hard.
It is the difference between a wound and a chronic disease. With a wound, you clean it, bandage it and in time, it heals. With a disease, you must analyze and figure out what it is in the first place and why you feel bad, care for the symptoms, and have the mental discipline to do unpleasant things to feel better. For some, there is no cure and instead your life must find a way to live with it.
Imagine your emotions as things: expectations of the future; regrets of the past; mistakes that you or others have made; desires of what you want; qualities you like and dislike about yourself; the circumstance that led you to this moment, the religion and culture that shapes your values.
Thinking of these things make you feel something and usually not for the better.
My theory is all of these things occupy a box called your brain which can only hold so much. If your brain is filled with these memories and expectations, the good feelings and pleasures you could enjoy are washed away in a torrential sea of suffering that make you feel something else quickly.
Start chiseling the emotional values away. The only thing you truly need is the very moment you are in. This is mindfulness.
When you are done, what is left brings you closer to the Tao.
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