“We love the finite—the guru—to find the Infinite; and that is the purpose of the guru, to give something to focus on.” Yogi Bhajan
Meditation: NM0347-20000502-Guru Kriya
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Tao Te Ching – Verse 1 – The tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao The name that can be named is not the eternal Name.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 1
The tao that can be told
is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named
is not the eternal Name.
The unnamable is the eternally real.
Naming is the origin
of all particular things. Continue reading “Tao Te Ching – Verse 1 – The tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao The name that can be named is not the eternal Name.”
“Everything is wrong and the authority to right it is being put into the wrong hands. At least this brings attention to the problem for all to see.” – Today’s Reading
Everything is wrong and the authority to right it is being put into the wrong hands. At least this brings attention to the problem for all to see.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 81 – True words aren’t eloquent; eloquent words aren’t true.
Practice this:
Meditation: For contemplating what comes next after the Women’s March
Meditation: LA015 780227 – To Bring Swift and Powerful Change
See Richard Wilhelm's translation for this reading
21 – Twenty-One. Shih Ho / Biting Through
The merciless, searing judgement of Lightning fulfills the warning prophecies of distant Thunder.
Sage rulers preserved Justice by clearly defining the laws, and by delivering the penalties decreed.
Though unpleasant, it is best to let justice have its due.
SITUATION ANALYSIS:
A terrible reckoning is due.
A wrong will be righted — and even if it has been you who has been wronged, you will tremble at the terrible power of Justice untempered by Mercy.
Pray for your oppressor, that his punishment will fit his crime.
Six in the third place means:
Biting into dried meat And striking something spoiled.
Uncomfortable, but no harm.
Bites on old dried meat
And strikes on something poisonous.
Slight humiliation. No blame.
Salted and dried meat
Punishment is to be carried out by someone who lacks the power and authority to do so. Therefore the culprits do not submit. The matter at issue is an old one — as symbolized by salted game — and in dealing with it difficulties arise. This old meat is spoiled: by taking up the problem the punisher arouses poisonous hatred against himself, and in this way is put in a somewhat humiliating position. But since punishment was required by the time, he remains free of blame.
30 – Thirty. Li / Igniting
Fire sparks more Flames:
The Superior Person holds an inner Fire that ignites passion in every heart it touches, until all the world is enlightened and aflame.
With so searing a flame, success will not be denied you.
Take care to be as peaceful and nurturing as the cow in the meadow; you are strong enough to be gentle.
SITUATION ANALYSIS:
A Promethean flame is delivering light and heat to the situation at hand.
This radiance will cause such an alchemical transformation of circumstances that the changes will seem magical, miraculous.
Yet they are only shifts of perspective and attitude that bring clarity.
The passions kindled by this fire must be harnessed and used judiciously, or they threaten to consume your hopes and dreams.
Today: “What is greatness? Greatness is when you have found that you are not great, but everything else is.” – Yogi Bhajan
“What is greatness? Greatness is when you have found that you are not great, but everything else is. When everything else is great and you have experienced that, then everything else holds you in its esteem.” Yogi Bhajan
Meditation: NM371 – Enjoy the Creativity of God
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Tao Te Ching – Verse 81 – True words aren’t eloquent; eloquent words aren’t true.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 81
True words aren’t eloquent;
eloquent words aren’t true.
Wise men don’t need to prove their point;
men who need to prove their point aren’t wise.
Continue reading “Tao Te Ching – Verse 81 – True words aren’t eloquent; eloquent words aren’t true.”
“You have everything you need. Remember to distinguish between what is truly yours and what is at your disposal. Use them well.” – Today’s Reading
You have everything you need. Remember to distinguish between what is truly yours and what is at your disposal. Use them well.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 80 – If a country is governed wisely, its inhabitants will be content
Practice this:
Meditation: NM142 19940615 – Bless the Planet Earth and Let the Heavens Descend in You
Meditation: LA049 780901 Homeh Bandana Kriya: takes away self-pride and vanity
Previous previous reading: “Know your best, share your best, project your best.”
See Richard Wilhelm's translation for this reading
14 – Fourteen. Ta Yu / Great Treasures
The Fire of clarity illuminates the Heavens to those below:
The Superior Person possesses great inner treasures — compassion, economy, and modesty.
These treasures allow the benevolent will of Heaven to flow through him outward to curb evil and to further good.
Supreme success.
SITUATION ANALYSIS:
You have become an instrument of Heaven’s will, offering a balance in the world around you.
It is not swashbuckling prowess or uncanny talent that qualifies you for this office, but your simplest gifts — your modesty, your compassion, your economy.
Because you can see clearly who most needs a miracle, Heaven’s bounty is being put at your disposal.
Nine in the fourth place means:
He can make the distinction between his true treasures within and the material possessions others covet.
He makes a difference
Between himself and his neighbor.
No blame.
This characterises the position of a man placed among rich and powerful neighbors. It is a dangerous position. He must look neither to the right nor to the left, and must shun envy and the temptation to vie with others. In this way he remains free of mistakes.1
19 – Nineteen. Lin / Noble Calling
The rich, loamy Earth on the banks of the Marsh provides fertile soil for exceptional progress.
The Superior Person is inexhaustible in his willingness to teach, and without limit in his tolerance and support of others.
Supreme Success if you keep to your course.
But be aware that your time is limited; your power will wane, as Summer changes to Fall.
SITUATION ANALYSIS:
You are in a position to help another.
This is a temporary situation, because your power is cyclical, seasonal.
Knowing this, you must perform your good deed without hope of reward.
You are not furthering your own process, but another’s.
Though you may cherish this other, you will never possess.
Touch without grasping.
Take comfort in becoming a fond memory.
Nurture, then let go.
1. Another generally accepted translation of the line is as follows:
He does not rely on his abundance
No blame.
This would mean that the individual avoids mistakes because he possesses as if he possesses nothing.
Today: “Behave constantly and strive on the path of righteousness, giving your total self unto the fire of purity and maintaining the flame of light to the end” – Yogi Bhajan
Behave constantly and strive on the path of righteousness, giving your total self unto the fire of purity and maintaining the flame of light to the end; your karma will be done, giving will be complete, blessings will exist, awareness will be thy gift. That is the rightful right of every man. That is the truth in you.“ Yogi Bhajan
Meditation: NM0383-20010213 – Culturing the Self
Tao Te Ching – Verse 29 – Do you want to improve the world? I don’t think it can be done.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 80 – If a country is governed wisely, its inhabitants will be content
Tao Te Ching – Verse 80
If a country is governed wisely,
its inhabitants will be content.
They enjoy the labor of their hands
and don’t waste time inventing
labor-saving machines.
Since they dearly love their homes,
they aren’t interested in travel. Continue reading “Tao Te Ching – Verse 80 – If a country is governed wisely, its inhabitants will be content”
Today: “Continue following your current path. You have joined the flow in all your relations. Keep with the flow of the earth and the Cosmos.” – from the I Ching
Continue following your current path. You have joined the flow in all your relations. Keep with the flow of the earth and the Cosmos.
Your needs are coming into harmony with the requirements of the Cosmos.
Blending brilliantly with the Dance of Life, you are becoming an actual element of Cosmic Law.
Your goals will now be realized because you no longer cut against the Cosmic grain; you are no longer swimming against the flow of the Tao.
You are acquiring an intuitive sense of what can and cannot be, and aligning your efforts accordingly.
Meditation: LA860-960131-Increase the Flow of Earth Within You
Meditation: LA860-960131-Increase the Flow of Earth Within You
Meditation: LA051-780907 – Tune the Vagus Nerve to Cosmic Consciousness
Meditation: LA051-780907 – Tune the Vagus Nerve to Cosmic Consciousness
Meditation: LA741 – 921125 – Dance of Shiva
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Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's, Thomas Cleary's, Brian Arnold's and other translations of the I Ching
50 – Fifty. Ting / The Caldron
Fire rises hot and bright from the Wood beneath the sacrificial caldron:
The Superior Person positions himself correctly within the flow of Cosmic forces.
Supreme Accomplishment.
SITUATION ANALYSIS:
Your needs are coming into harmony with the requirements of the Cosmos.
Blending brilliantly with the Dance of Life, you are becoming an actual element of Cosmic Law.
Your goals will now be realized because you no longer cut against the Cosmic grain; you are no longer swimming against the flow of the Tao.
You are acquiring an intuitive sense of what can and cannot be, and aligning your efforts accordingly.
Nine at the top means:
Your caldron is fitted with jade handles.
Great success in whatever you do.
The ting has rings of jade.
Great good fortune.
Nothing that would not act to further.
Jade rings
In the preceding line the carrying rings are described as golden, to denote their strength; here they are said to be of jade. Jade is notable for its combination of hardness with soft lustre. This counsel, in relation to the man who is open to it, works greatly to his advantage. Here the counsel is described in relation to the sage who imparts it. In imparting it, he will be mild and pure, like precious jade. Thus the work finds favor in the eyes of the Deity, who dispenses great good fortune, and becomes pleasing to men, wherefore all goes well.
25 – Twenty-Five. Wu Wang / Remaining Blameless
Thunder rolls beneath Heaven, as is its nature and place:
Sage rulers aligned themselves with the changing seasons, nurturing and guiding their subjects to do the same.
Exceptional Progress if you are mindful to keep out of the way of the natural Flow.
It would be a fatal error to try to alter its course.
This is a time of Being, not Doing.
SITUATION ANALYSIS:
This is thoroughly a matter of the heart.
If everything you attempt, no matter how carefully planned, ends in disarray, then examine your motives.
They are the cause of your predicament.
It isn’t that your motives aren’t pure — even the best intentions will fail under these circumstances.
What stymies you in this situation is that you have a motive at all.
Free yourself of all expectations, release any tenuous grip you may have, and roll with it.
This is totally out of your control.
There are higher powers and more elements affecting the outcome of this situation than you can imagine.
Get out of their way.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 79 – Failure is an opportunity
Tao Te Ching – Verse 79
Failure is an opportunity.
If you blame someone else,
there is no end to the blame.
Therefore the Master
fulfills her own obligations
and corrects her own mistakes.
She does what she needs to do
and demands nothing of others. Continue reading “Tao Te Ching – Verse 79 – Failure is an opportunity”
“Know your best, share your best, project your best.” – Today’s Reading
Know your best, share your best, project your best.
Today: “A true seeker is one who will seek God in his heart.” – Yogi Bhajan
Practice this:
Meditation: NM0406 – Know the Best of You – Share the Best with Others
Meditation: LA031 19780423 – Ad Nad Kriya – Gupt Gian Shakti the Secret Power of the Knowledge
Kriya: Awakening Yourself to Your Ten Bodies
See Meditation: Breath of Fire
Previous reading: “Use your creative powers to expand your horizons.”
See Richard Wilhelm's translation for this reading
57 – Fifty-Seven. Sun / The Penetrating Wind
Wind follows upon wind, wandering the earth, penetrating gently but persistently:
The Superior Person expands his influence by reaffirming his decisions and carrying out his promises.
Small, persistent, focused effort brings success.
Seek advice from someone you respect.
SITUATION ANALYSIS:
Gentle persuasion is the key in this instance.
Though the words are soft, their speaker must be firm, calm and confident.
Gentle words are worthless if spoken with trepidation.
Wordless influence by example is also effective in this situation.
All persuasion should be almost unfelt, yet consistent and persistent.
Ask for feedback from someone you know to be an effective persuader.
Six in the fourth place means:
Self-doubt vanishes and determination grows.
Three forms of game will be taken in this hunt.
Remorse vanishes.
During the hunt
Three kinds of game are caught.
‘Pheasant Shooting’ – Julius Ceasar Ibbetson, 1790
When a responsible position and accumulated experience lead one to combine innate modesty with energetic action, great success is assured. The three kinds of animals referred to served for offerings to the gods, for feasting guests, and for everyday consumption. When the catch answered all three purposes, the hunt was considered especially successful.
14 – Fourteen. Ta Yu / Great Treasures
The Fire of clarity illuminates the Heavens to those below:
The Superior Person possesses great inner treasures — compassion, economy, and modesty.
These treasures allow the benevolent will of Heaven to flow through him outward to curb evil and to further good.
Supreme success.
SITUATION ANALYSIS:
You have become an instrument of Heaven’s will, offering a balance in the world around you.
It is not swashbuckling prowess or uncanny talent that qualifies you for this office, but your simplest gifts — your modesty, your compassion, your economy.
Because you can see clearly who most needs a miracle, Heaven’s bounty is being put at your disposal.
Today: “A true seeker is one who will seek God in his heart.” – Yogi Bhajan
“What you are you are, and destiny is destiny. Make a dog emperor and still he will lick the grinding wheel.” Yogi Bhajan
Meditation: NM0415 – 20010910 – Karma & Dharma
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Tao Te Ching – Verse 78 – “Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as water. Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass it.”
Tao Te Ching – Verse 78
Nothing in the world
is as soft and yielding as water.
Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible,
nothing can surpass it.
The soft overcomes the hard;
the gentle overcomes the rigid.
Everyone knows this is true,
but few can put it into practice.
Therefore the Master remains
serene in the midst of sorrow.
Evil cannot enter his heart.
Because he has given up helping,
he is people’s greatest help.
True words seem paradoxical.
(translation by Stephen Mitchell, 1995)
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Nothing in the world is softer or weaker than water
Yet nothing is better at overcoming the hard and strong
This is because nothing can replace it
That the weak overcomes the strong
And the soft overcomes the hard
Everybody in the world knows
But cannot put into practice
Therefore sages say:
The one who accepts the humiliation of the state
Is called its master
The one who accepts the misfortune of the state
Becomes king of the world
The truth seems like the opposite
(translation by Derek Lin, 2006)
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Water, so soft,
Was the beginning.
So powerful,
Will be the end.
Embrace the humble.
(translation by Jeremy M. Miller, 2013)
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“Use your creative powers to expand your horizons.” – Today’s Reading
Use your creative powers to expand your horizons.
Get ready to ride a tide of accelerated growth toward self-actualization.
A joyful awareness of the best within you, coupled with an acceptance of your Shadow, will provide a greater repertoire, a much bolder vision, and new depth and clarity that will compel you to expand your horizons.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 77 – As it acts in the world, the Tao is like the bending of a bow.
Meditation: NM422 A11020 Coordination of Body Mind by Spirit to Enter the Fall and the Winter Season
Practice this:
Meditation: NM091 – 19921110 – Self Emboldenment, Engagement, Vision
Kriya: Awakening Yourself to Your Ten Bodies
See Meditation: Breath of Fire
See Richard Wilhelm's translation for this reading
42 – Forty-Two. I / Expansion
Whirlwinds and Thunder:
When the Superior Person encounters saintly behavior, he adopts it; when he encounters a fault within, he transforms it.
Progress in every endeavor.
You may cross to the far shore.
SITUATION ANALYSIS:
Get ready to ride a tide of accelerated growth toward self-actualization.
A joyful awareness of the best within you, coupled with an acceptance of your Shadow, will provide a greater repertoire, a much bolder vision, and new depth and clarity that will compel you to expand your horizons.
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above: Sun / The Gentle, Wind | |
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below: Chên / The Arousing, Thunder | |
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The idea of increase is expressed in the fact that the strong lowest line of the upper trigram has sunk down and taken its place under the lower trigram. This conception also expresses the fundamental idea on which the Yi Jing is based. To rule truly is to serve. A sacrifice of the higher element that produces an increase of the lower is called an out-and-out increase: it indicates the spirit that alone has power to help the world. THE JUDGEMENT INCREASE. It furthers one Sacrifice on the part of those above for the increase of those below fills the people with a sense of joy and gratitude that is extremely valuable for the flowering of the commonwealth. When people are thus devoted to their leaders, undertakings are possible, and even difficult and dangerous enterprises will succeed. Therefore in such times of progress and successful development it is necessary to work and make the best use of the time. This time resembles that of the marriage of heaven and earth, when the earth partakes of the creative power of heaven, forming and bringing forth living beings. The time of INCREASE does not endure, therefore it must be utilised while it lasts. THE IMAGE Wind and thunder: the image of INCREASE. |
Baruch Spinoza 1 Amsterdam, November 24th 1632 – The Hague, February 21st 1677 |
| While observing how thunder and wind increase and strengthen each other, a man can note the way to self-increase and self-improvement. When he discovers good in others, he should imitate it and thus make everything on earth his own. If he perceives something bad in himself, let him rid himself of it. In this way he becomes free of evil. This ethical change represents the most important increase of personality.
1. Baruch Spinoza, born ‘Benedito de Espinosa’ (Portuguese), November 24th 1632 – February 21st 1677, later Benedict de Spinoza, was a Dutch philosopher of Sephardi Portuguese origin. Spinoza was raised in the Portuguese Jewish community in Amsterdam. Spinoza lived an outwardly simple life as a lens grinder (on this page a lens magnifies his potrait with a mouse-over), turning down rewards and honors throughout his life, including prestigious teaching positions. Spinoza died at the age of 44 allegedly of a lung illness, perhaps tuberculosis or silicosis exacerbated by fine glass dust inhaled while grinding optical lenses. |
Meditation: NM422 A11020 Coordination of Body Mind by Spirit to Enter the Fall and the Winter Season
NM422 A11020 Coordination of Body Mind by Spirit GUIDED MEDITATION WITH THE MASTER To Enter the Fall and the Winter Season Yogi Bhajan, Ph.D. – October 20th, 2001
I have called you today, as these nine days are very auspicious. The moon is crossing beneath the sun. It is a time to sharpen the mind. Why not to do it the way of the century-old custom? It is not very difficult, and you will be very comfortable in the end.
NM0422 GUIDED MEDITATION WITH THE MASTER –
To Enter the Fall and the Winter Season 31 Minutes (Sit straight in a cross-legged position. Bring your hands in front of your heart center, with the fingertips touching and the palms spread.) “Try to see how the energy moves. You will feel the reality of the body. Inhale deep and ride on the breath, in and out, long and deep, as honestly as you can. Take your body—the inner being in this body, simply by meditative force. Do not try to understand that you cannot do it. It is not difficult, but it is a great experience. Pull your mental body out of your body. Just take it out. Just simply coordinate between you, your environments, your activities and your own preciousness. Your mental body, when you command it, is very pure, very clear. And it is yours. It is not related to the physical activities, although the mental body is with you. Things are corrupt only when you are in your physical body and your mental body is not combined. So, do coordinate—you have that power, and take this out, out of your being. Time is with us, the wind is behind us and virtuous we are. It is a very special Saturday. Therefore the Saturn energy in the penetrating form of its being is passing through, irrespective of any force or any effort. That is why I chose it. And we have a small time window only, that is why I am very quick and not saying anything. So this breath has to be very long and down to the navel point. Deep in, and hold, and completely out. The power we have is our virtue. Our virtue is extremely powerful. Our value is humongous. Value, we give! Virtues, we experience! Our values are our values. The majority of the time we forget that we have values. But most of the time if we practice these things, we remember our values. And once a person follows one’s own values, that is all divinity is all about. So, keep the breath long, deep and evaluate yourself. Give yourself values. The first value you can give yourself is: I am virtuous. I am beautiful. God created me in the best form. Thank God has given me health, happiness and wealth. You know, you are a wonder of the world. Recognize the fact. Concentrate on these things. Now comes the secret of the Shintoism, the Japanese faith. See that you are just a blade of grass, beautiful, green, and you are covering your values. Start covering your values as a blade of grass, with an extreme sense of self-cooperation. The tips of the fingers must meet so that circulation can coordinate the two parts of the body, and your valuable and virtuous and wonderful body is right, at this time, under manual control, and your mental body is taken out. The mental body is looking at your physical body as you are sitting. Practice this split. Once you can separate your mental body and practice to separate it, as we keep on doing, there will be no problems—at the time of death you can split your mental body and be free of karma. You will never have a rebirth again. That is guaranteed. This is your reality. You have a physical body, you have a mental body and you have a body of bliss. When you separate that, in-between you watch over this body. See how beautiful it is? Your breath has to be very long and deep because your spiritual body, your physical body, your mental body and your being are separate. You have never been taught this. You have never been told. You think you are one bundle. Feel the super and extreme contentment. That will bring you prosperity. Ride on your breath and just feel supremely contented. That will give you the prosperity that you are looking for. It’s no use living rich, it’s no use living poor, it’s no use being great if you cannot demonstrate to yourself that you can separate your bodies as you can separate that strength. And you can not only visualize, but experience it. In this experience, you are the Supreme.
Every religion goes round and round and round and talks one thing only—self-consciousness. Self-consciousness is just a phrase to us. Let us consider what self-consciousness is: When we know we have a spiritual body, we have a mental body, we have a physical body. Your mental body and your radiant body—have you ever put them together? They are yours. Nobody will know it! But you will be charged, and recharged with the energy. What is more beautiful on this Earth than you? What is more pure and shining than you? What is more cool and calm and quiet than you? In the Eyes of God you are everything. Take a long deep breath and ride on it. Fortune and misfortune are two wavelengths. By yourself it pulses—you can put your body on any wavelength you need. In common man’s language we call it repetition. The body’s membranes, the body’s re-adjustment and the body’s main nervous system are going to adjust now. You are within that time. Please breathe long and deep and cure yourself forever. Heal! Take long deep breaths and ride on it, and keep your mental body away. Only look at where the tips of the fingers meet. Circulate your breath. Keep the mental body separate. Concentrate on the physical body, in the realm of personal consciousness. You are beautiful, you are bountiful, you are blissful, you are virtuous, you have vigor, self-control. Apply all that! The central nerve in the navel point can be touched by a deep breath. A split mental body can give you a vast area of coexistence. Your all five channels and tattvas are totally balanced at the moment. Your arc line is clear. Can you believe the little bit that we have done? We suffer here, there, everywhere. What for? America needs peace, it needs love. It needs tons of smiles. It needs us—we the people. Our window is up at 12 o’clock. The rotation of the planet will change the energy and it will change everything. Now is the time. Breathe long and deep. Get it when it is available. Bring in you the coziness. Colorful coziness. Split the light inside. Bring in the special Breath of Life. If you know how to concentrate, meditate and breathe, this is the time.” To end “Breathe in deep and hold it tight. Breathe out. Breathe in deep and hold it tight. Breathe out. Breathe in all the virtues of God and breathe out peace for the world. Breathe in long and deep, hold it, love it, feel it, and then let it go. Now put all the pressure on the fingertips. Inhale deep. Put a tight grip on the fingers. Let it go. Inhale deep. Make the fingers very tight. Feel the purpose of life and prosperity. Let it go. Inhale deeply, exhale and relax.” This time may come in this month next year. My idea was just to give you a re-charge. And this is a very special time. The whole Eastern World is going to celebrate the Festival of Light. During the ten days of this festival people will do nothing but breathe, meditate, eat the right food and show gratitude to young girls, the mothers of innocence. When you see a young girl, you see the creative purity. Purity has many forms, but creative purity is only the young girl. The source of humanity is that young girl, who will grow and one day have a family and children. America is young all the time and does not care. There is no rule, no virtue, because we are not a very meditative nation. But now we are learning a lesson. We got chili in our nose. Now we know we have to change. One day you will come out and realize how virtuous you are, how valuable you are, how this precious time is given to you so you can act on yourself so that you can turn from human into an angel. You are going to get kicked. That is a fact you cannot avoid. Every moment you have to concentrate on your purity. I asked a Japanese master, “What is Shinto?” He replied, “It is a personal religion.”“Can I know about it?” He picked a blade of grass and said, “What do you see?” I was a little cleverer than he thought and I said, “God.” He asked, “Where is it?” I said, “In this blade.”“You know Shinto. That’s it! Thank you.” There is nothing more in teaching. This is all it is. If you cannot see God in all you cannot see God at all. When that monk picked up a piece of grass and said, “What do you see?” a normal reply would have been, “A blade of grass.” What is the most beautiful virtue man has? Matching intelligence! If you can match intelligence with another person you are the most valuable, virtuous and wonderful person. Love is when you temporarily get along with a person. Virtue is in matching intelligence–not values, where everybody differs. Match intelligence!
See PDF
Tao Te Ching – Verse 77 – As it acts in the world, the Tao is like the bending of a bow.
Tao Te Ching – Verse 77
As it acts in the world, the Tao
is like the bending of a bow.
The top is bent downward;
the bottom is bent up.
It adjusts excess and deficiency
so that there is perfect balance.
It takes from what is too much
and gives to what isn’t enough.
Those who try to control,
who use force to protect their power,
go against the direction of the Tao.
They take from those who don’t have enough
and give to those who have far too much.
The Master can keep giving
because there is no end to her wealth.
She acts without expectation,
succeeds without taking credit,
and doesn’t think that she is better
than anyone else.
(translation by Stephen Mitchell, 1995)
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The Tao of Heaven
Is like drawing a bow
Lower that which is high
Raise that which is low
Reduce that which has excess
Add to that which is lacking
The Tao of heaven
Reduces the excessive
And adds to the lacking
The Tao of people is not so
It reduces the lacking
In order to offer to the excessive
Who can offer their excess to the world?
Only those who have the Tao
Therefore sages act without conceit
Achieve without claiming credit
They do not wish to display their virtue!
(translation by Derek Lin, 2006)
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Charity you say?
I say greed.
Gifts you say?
I say destruction.
Heaven and the Sage live these truths.
(translation by Jeremy M. Miller, 2013)
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“May not the Tao be compared to bending a bow? The part of the bow which was high is brought low, and what was low is raised up. So Heaven diminishes where there is superabundance, and supplements where there is deficiency.
It is the Way of Heaven to diminish superabundance, and to supplement deficiency. It is not so with the way of man. He takes away from those who have not enough to add to his own superabundance.
Who can take his own superabundance and therewith serve all under heaven? Only he who is in possession of the Tao!
Therefore the sage acts without claiming the results as his; he achieves his merit and does not rest in it: — he does not wish to display his superiority.”
Excerpt From Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu
https://books.apple.com/us/book/tao-te-ching/id1436033825