After a conversation with an acquaintance a few weeks ago, I felt a bit off, sort of drained, unsatisfied. At first I couldn’t figure out why. It was a pleasant conversation and I enjoyed catching up. We didn’t talk about anything upsetting. She didn’t say anything unkind. On the contrary, she interjected numerous compliments into …
I was looking online for a new game to play with my grandson. The name of this game caught my eye: Fun Dispels Joy. Umm, I’m not sure that this sobering caution was the intended message when someone translated the name of this child’s game. I can just see a three year old pointing excitedly …
I’ve had two conversations with people recently who both, for different reasons, could not see or appreciate the gifts they were blessed with. They saw themselves as lacking in some way, lacking achievement, lacking purpose, lacking direction, lacking skill or talent. This was remarkable because they are blessed with beautiful gifts that are so …
What is the difference between an enlightened person and an unenlightened person? The unenlightened person sees a difference.I read this joke recently in Miracles Magazine. I wanted to find the source for it, so I Googled the question. And what do you know? I found LOTS of answers seriously offering a variety of litmus tests to …
The words are spoken in silenceHeard only in the heartDo not doubt what they revealMore real than any heard in mindTrust the truth of what is known beyond knowingAnd do not be misled by thoughtThat seeks to hold illusionBe thou thus ignited With what has always burnedDeep Deep
This is a beautiful chapter that acknowledges how elusive something so simple can be.My words are very easy to knowVery easy to put into practiceYet under heaven no one is able to know themNo one can put them into practiceWhen people ask me to explain Tao to them, or ask me what they need to …
New beginningsRedundantYet still I like the termA double dose of freshnessHints of endless possibilityAnd hopeAnticipationWillingnessAnd courageThis moment unchainedLiberated from the pastUncontainable by one word alone
I want to understand— To understand whatWhat is the meaning of this suffering— Suffering has no meaning here. It does not existWhere is here— HomeI want to come home— You never leftThen why does it seem so far away— Because you have hidden yourself from loveHow do I find love— You can’t find love because you …
One who knows does not speakOne who speaks does not know Upon reading these opening lines, our first instinct might be to be quiet, to show that, or at least hope that, we are among those who know. But then, after a while, we want to talk about it, either to share what we think …
“When every breathBecomes a prayerWhen every step Becomes a meditationWhen every wordBecomes a song of loveWhen every heartbeatPulses gratitudeThen…” he paused“Then what?” they urgedHe smiled and bowed
I have on occasion had folks tell me, in the nicest way possible, that my writing and speaking about the Tao Te Ching are sometimes – hmm, how do they put it – dense, obscure, inaccessible. Oh dear. I want them to be wrong, but of course I must admit that they are right. How …
This chapter reflects the motion of Tao as the origin of all things, manifesting into form and then returning to the source. The image of the divine mother figures prominently, giving us the sense that Tao gives birth to, rather than creates, “all under heaven.” The bond between Tao and the universe is compared to …
I’ve been churned up lately about a personal situation. I find myself on the hamster wheel, running and running and getting nowhere. I run over things past – words that were said, decisions that were made, actions that were taken. I imagine different words, different decisions, different actions, and the different outcomes that would have …
Several recent conversations have got me thinking about labels. Years ago, people started reading content labels on their food, discovering things in their food that they didn’t know were there. Over time, regulations required more disclosure on labels, and people became more knowledgeable about understanding the significance of various ingredients. Anyway, I have been thinking …
This chapter contrasts the effects of discontent and satisfaction. It begins with vivid imagery using horses. When the world is in alignment with TaoHorses work in the fields When the world is not in alignment with TaoWar horses are bred outside the city Two very different roles for a horse to fill – one associated with …
Start with “I don’t know.” Why not just start with where you’ll end up anyway? ~Adyashanti I was never a legit Trekkie but I did enjoy and was inspired by two of the series – Next Generation, and Voyager. Each series had a crew member characterized by intellectual and logical prowess – Data, the android …
Why Am I Talking? So much of the news today seems to be about what someone said on social media. Or what someone said in an interview or on the phone or in a meeting or on a blog or in a hotel room or inadvertently in front of a hot mic. Then other people …
The Tao Te Ching has been a source of inspiration in my life for many years. I don’t remember how I first encountered it in my young life, but I do remember that its simple wisdom resonated in my soul and I have loved it ever since. Several years ago, I gathered various translations with …
You can’t organize truth. That’s like trying to shape a pound of water in wrapping paper. ~Bruce Lee I was having a discussion with a friend about a particular theological concept, one that has defied any sort of sensible explanation for centuries. We had read various scholars’ analyses; we had listened to podcasts interviewing well …
The heart listensAt the speed of lightWhere time stands stillAnd thus has no needOf memoryThe heart hears Only truthWhich is beyond thoughtAnd thus has no needOf words
