Tao Te Ching – Verse 39 – In harmony with the Tao, the sky is clear and spacious

Tao Te Ching – Verse 39

In harmony with the Tao,
the sky is clear and spacious,
the earth is solid and full,
all creatures flourish together,
content with the way they are,
endlessly repeating themselves,
endlessly renewed.
When man interferes with the Tao,
the sky becomes filthy,
the earth becomes depleted,
the equilibrium crumbles,
creatures become extinct.

Continue reading “Tao Te Ching – Verse 39 – In harmony with the Tao, the sky is clear and spacious”

“Rather than forging forward, allow a substantial and durable alliance to form supporting your noble enterprise.” – Today from the I Ching

Rather than forging forward, allow a substantial and durable alliance to form supporting your noble enterprise.

See Yogi Bhajan’s quote for today

Tao Te Ching – Verse 38 – The Master doesn’t try to be powerful; thus he is truly powerful.

Meditation: NM0163 – 20010618 – Polish the Radiant Body

Today: I Ching – Previous Reading – “Sincerity with confidence will inspire enthusiasm and cooperation.”

Today: I Ching – Previous previous reading – “Do not be tempted to engage with evil people.

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Share The Magical Story of Mushkil Gusha with friends over a meal today.

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Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's, Thomas Cleary's, Brian Arnold's and other translations of the I Ching
39 – Thirty-Nine.  Chien / Obstacle

Ominous roiling in the Crater Lake atop the Volcano:
When meeting an impasse, the Superior Person turns his gaze within, and views the obstacle from a new perspective.

Offer your opponent nothing to resist.
Let a sage guide you in this.
Good fortune lies along this course.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

The Obstacle lies in obstinance.
An insistence on only one way of proceeding has brought things to an impasse.
You may either continue banging your head with irresistible force against this immovable object, or you might step back and survey this situation from a fresh perspective.
Which is immobile here — the obstruction or your attitude?

Six in the fourth place means:

Advance alone against insurmountable odds, or remain in place, gathering strength and allies.

Going leads to obstructions,
Coming leads to union.

Bond of Union

‘Bond of Union’, 1956 – M.C. Escher (1898-1972)

This too describes a situation that cannot be managed single-handed. In such a case the direct way is not the shortest. If a person were to forge ahead on his own strength and without the necessary preparations, he would not find the support he needs and would realize too late that he has been mistaken in his calculations, inasmuch as the conditions on which he hoped he could rely would prove to be inadequate. In this case it is better, therefore, to hold back for the time being and to gather together trustworthy companions who can be counted upon for help in overcoming the obstructions.

32 – Thirty-Two. Hêng / Durability

Arousing Thunder and penetrating Wind.
Close companions in any storm:
The Superior Person possesses a resiliency and durability that lets him remain firmly and faithfully on course.

Such constancy deserves success.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

Endurance is the key to success in this situation.
However, durability is not synonymous with stone-like rigidity.
True resilience requires a flexibility that allows adaptation to any adverse condition, while still remaining true to the core.
Can you maintain your integrity under any circumstance?
Can you influence the situation without giving opposing forces anything to resist?
Then you will endure to reach your goal.

Today: “…concentrating on yourself as a part of the Universe and meditating on the Holy Nam” – Yogi Bhajan

“The circumvent force can be straightened out by concentrating on yourself as a part of the Universe and meditating on the Holy Nam. It can straighten out any pit in your life. It can plug any deficiency. It is the highest, most powerful method a man has ever developed or known.” Yogi Bhajan

Meditation: LA159 800318 NAAD KRIYA

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Tao Te Ching – Verse 38 – The Master doesn’t try to be powerful; thus he is truly powerful.

Tao Te Ching – Verse 38

The Master doesn’t try to be powerful;
thus he is truly powerful.
The ordinary man keeps reaching for power;
thus he never has enough.

The Master does nothing,
yet he leaves nothing undone.
The ordinary man is always doing things,
yet many more are left to be done.

Continue reading “Tao Te Ching – Verse 38 – The Master doesn’t try to be powerful; thus he is truly powerful.”

“Sincerity with confidence will inspire enthusiasm and cooperation.” – Today from the I Ching

Sincerity with confidence will inspire enthusiasm and cooperation.

See Yogi Bhajan’s quote for today

Tao Te Ching – Verse 37 – The Tao never does anything, yet through it all things are done

Meditation: NM0163 – 20010618 – Polish the Radiant Body

Today: I Ching – Previous Reading – “Do not be tempted to engage with evil people. Let them go.”

Today: I Ching – Previous previous reading – “Exercise your duty, even if it is perceived that you are not up to the task.”

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Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's, Thomas Cleary's, Brian Arnold's and other translations of the I Ching
16 – Sixteen.  Yü / Enthusiasm

Thunder comes resounding out of the Earth:
Similar thunder roars up from the masses when the Superior Person strikes a chord in their hearts.

Whip up enthusiasm, rally your forces, and move boldly forward.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

There is a rhythmic force, a world music, that lives deep in the Unconscious of each of us.
It’s a primitive drumbeat, a shaking rattle, a tribal chant that invokes the primal self to rise up and join the dance.
This is the enthusiasm that is generated now.
Not rhetorical persuasion, not a play on the emotions, but a charismatic, irresistible Call of the Wild.
Confucius said that the person who could comprehend this could ‘rule the world as though it were spinning in his hand.’
This is a time for instinct, not intellect — the Thunder from the Beneath.

Nine in the fourth place means:

His music strikes a chord and wins hearts.
His trust makes them true, and brings great success.
The source of enthusiasm.
He achieves great things.
Doubt not.
You gather friends around you
As a hair clasp gathers the hair.

Hair clasp

Hair clasp

This describes a man who’s able to awaken enthusiasm through his own sureness and freedom from hesitation. He attracts people because he has no doubts and is wholly sincere. Owing to his confidence in them he wins their enthusiastic co-operation and attains success. Just as a clasp draws the hair together and holds it, so he draws men together by the support he gives them.
2 – Two.  K’un / Receptive Force

Earth above and Earth below:
The Earth contains and sustains.
In this situation, the Superior Person should not take the initiative; he should follow the initiative of another.
He should seek receptive allies in the southwest; he should break ties with immovable allies in the northeast.

Responsive devotion.
Receptive influence.
Sublime Success if you keep to your course.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

This is a time for dealing with reality as it is, not as you would have it be.
If you realize that in this situation you are the receptor, not the transmitter of the stimulus, you will find yourself reaching goals that seemed unattainable under your own steam.
If you persist in futile efforts to be the Shaper rather than the Shaped, you will completely miss this unique opportunity.

Today: “Your aura is determined by what you vibrate” – Yogi Bhajan

“Your aura is determined by what you vibrate. Whatever your mental thoughts are, that is your aura and that is the color of your aura.” Yogi Bhajan

Meditation: 760422 – Balancing Projection with Intention

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Tao Te Ching – Verse 37 – The Tao never does anything, yet through it all things are done

Tao Te Ching – Verse 37

The Tao never does anything,
yet through it all things are done.
If powerful men and women
could center themselves in it,
the whole world would be transformed
by itself, in its natural rhythms.
People would be content
with their simple, everyday lives,
in harmony, and free of desire.
When there is no desire,
all things are at peace. Continue reading “Tao Te Ching – Verse 37 – The Tao never does anything, yet through it all things are done”

“Do not be tempted to engage with evil people.  Let them go.” – Today from the I Ching

Do not be tempted to engage with evil people.  Let them go.

See Yogi Bhajan’s quote for today

Tao Te Ching – Verse 36 – If you want to shrink something, you must first allow it to expand

Meditation: NM091 – 19921110 – Self Emboldenment, Engagement, Vision

Today: I Ching – Previous Reading – “Exercise your duty, even if it is perceived that you are not up to the task.”

Today: I Ching – Previous previous reading – “Be patient. Continue to work on yourself. What you sacrifice is not in vain.”

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Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's, Thomas Cleary's, Brian Arnold's and other translations of the I Ching

Today: “Do not be tempted to engage with evil people.”- from the I Ching

Do not be tempted to engage with evil people.  Let them go.

See Yogi Bhajan’s quote for today

Tao Te Ching – Verse 36 – If you want to shrink something, you must first allow it to expand

Meditation: NM091 – 19921110 – Self Emboldenment, Engagement, Vision

Today: I Ching – Previous Reading – “Exercise your duty, even if it is perceived that you are not up to the task.”

Today: I Ching – Previous previous reading – “Be patient. Continue to work on yourself. What you sacrifice is not in vain.”

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Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's, Thomas Cleary's, Brian Arnold's and other translations of the I Ching
38 – Thirty-Eight.  K’uei / Estrangement

Fire distances itself from its nemesis, the Lake:
No matter how large or diverse the group, the Superior Person remains uniquely himself.

Small accomplishments are possible.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

You are working at cross-purposes with another.
The distance between you is very wide.
The gap can be closed, however, with no compromise of your integrity.
You are not adversaries in this case — just two persons addressing individual needs.
Ask yourself: are these needs mutually exclusive?
Is there common ground here?
Must there be one winner and one loser?
Could you become partners in seeking a solution that would allow for two winners?

Nine at the beginning [yang at bottom] means:

Don’t search after the horses you’ve lost; They will return in seven days.
Acknowledge the presence of evil people: keep a close eye on them, but don’t be baited into dealing with them.

Remorse disappears.
If you lose your horse, do not run after it;
It will come back of its own accord.
When you see evil people,
Guard yourself against mistakes.

Chinese Horse

Even in times when oppositions prevail, mistakes can be avoided, so that remorse disappears. When opposition begins to manifest itself, a man must not try to bring about unity by force, for by so doing he would only achieve the contrary, just as a horse goes farther and farther away if one runs after it. If it is one’s own horse, one can safely let it go; it will come back of its own accord. So too when someone who belongs with us is momentarily estranged because of a misunderstanding, he will return of his own accord if we leave matters to him. On the other hand, it is well to be cautious when evil men who do not belong with us force themselves upon us, again as the result of a misunderstanding. Here the important thing is to avoid mistakes. We must not try to shake off these evil men by force; this would give rise to real hostility. We must simply endure them. They will eventually withdraw of their own accord.
64 – Sixty-Four. Wei Chi / The End In Sight

Fire ascends above the Water:
The Superior Person examines the nature of things and keeps each in its proper place.

Too anxious the young fox gets his tail wet, just as he completes his crossing.
To attain success, be like the man and not like the fox.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

Resist the rush to completion.
Anticipation of fulfillment may cause you to be careless before you have fully absorbed the lessons of the journey.
The endpoint of this Quest will only prove to be the threshold for another.
You are short steps from Mastery on this plane, yet you stride toward Ignorance of the challenges lying beyond.
Savor this accomplishment.
Fully Become.
Take full possession of your world before embarking to discover the next one.
That voyage begins soon enough, and you will reminisce about this one.
These are the Good Old Days.

Today: “Those who sleep North/South…” – Yogi Bhajan

“Those who sleep North/South—their magnetic field and the magnetic field of the Earth become one and they become zero and lose all initiative. That is why man has always been advised to sleep East/West.” Yogi Bhajan

Meditation: NM132-940504-Pratyahar

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Tao Te Ching – Verse 36 – If you want to shrink something, you must first allow it to expand

Tao Te Ching – Verse 36

If you want to shrink something,
you must first allow it to expand.
If you want to get rid of something,
you must first allow it to flourish.
If you want to take something,
you must first allow it to be given.
This is called the subtle perception
of the way things are.
The soft overcomes the hard.
The slow overcomes the fast.
Let your workings remain a mystery.
Just show people the results. Continue reading “Tao Te Ching – Verse 36 – If you want to shrink something, you must first allow it to expand”

Today: “Exercise your duty, even if it is perceived that you are not up to the task.”- from the I Ching

Exercise your duty, even if it is perceived that you are not up to the task.

See Yogi Bhajan’s quote for today

Tao Te Ching – Verse 35 – She who is centered in the Tao can go where she wishes, without danger.

Meditation:  LA588 890411 Silver Grain Meditation 

Today: I Ching – Previous Reading – “Be patient. Continue to work on yourself. What you sacrifice is not in vain.”

Today: I Ching – Previous previous reading – “You can serve the greater good without compromising your well-being. It is not necessary to give beyond what is sustainable.”

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See on healing with Yogi Bhjan

Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's, Thomas Cleary's, Brian Arnold's and other translations of the I Ching
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

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.

33 – Thirty-Three.  Tun / Retreat

The tranquil Mountain towers overhead, yet remains this side of Heaven:
The Superior Person avoids the petty and superficial by keeping shallow men at a distance, not in anger but with dignity.

Such a retreat sweeps the path clear to Success.
Occupy yourself with minute detail.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

Retreat in this instance is not a desperate flight in disarray, but a conscious choice to distance yourself from forces that would rob you of your peace.
It is not a surrender, but a regrouping.
Retreat from this conflict is actually an advance toward your own center.
You move toward balance, and thus a much stronger position.

Today: “There is one center of consciousness beyond the thousand-petal lotus called circumvent force. ” – Yogi Bhajan

“There is one center of consciousness beyond the thousand-petal lotus called circumvent force. When the consciousness lives in that, then one becomes a human being, totally serviceful, and absolutely one-pointed.” Yogi Bhajan

Meditation: Kirtan Kriya

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Tao Te Ching – Verse 35 – She who is centered in the Tao can go where she wishes, without danger.

Verse 35 – She who is centered in the Tao can go where she wishes, without danger.

She who is centered in the Tao
can go where she wishes, without danger.
She perceives the universal harmony,
even amid great pain,
because she has found peace in her heart.
Music or the smell of good cooking
may make people stop and enjoy.
But words that point to the Tao
seem monotonous and without flavor.
When you look for it, there is nothing to see.
When you listen for it, there is nothing to hear.
When you use it, it is inexhaustible.

Continue reading “Tao Te Ching – Verse 35 – She who is centered in the Tao can go where she wishes, without danger.”

Today: “Be patient. Continue to work on yourself.  What you sacrifice is not in vain.”- from the I Ching

Be patient. Continue to work on yourself.  What you sacrifice is not in vain.

See Yogi Bhajan’s quote for today

Tao Te Ching – Verse 34 – The great Tao flows everywhere

Meditation: LA046 – 780614 – Hari Shabad Meditation – Use the Wind to Produce Trance and Dissolve Negativity

Today: I Ching – Previous Reading – “You can serve the greater good without compromising your well-being. It is not necessary to give beyond what is sustainable.”

Today: I Ching – Previous previous reading – “We must remain alert for images and communications that are designed to misrepresent reality. Wise up! Look to see where intentions are leading rather than what is shown or said.”

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Read the text from Richard Wilhelm's, Thomas Cleary's, Brian Arnold's and other translations of the I Ching
48 – Forty-Eight.  Ching / The Well

Deep Waters Penetrated and drawn to the surface:
The Superior Person refreshes the people with constant encouragement to help one another.

Encampments, settlements, walled cities, whole empires may rise and fall, yet the Well at the center endures, never drying to dust, never overflowing.
It served those before and will serve those after.
Again and again you may draw from the Well, but if the bucket breaks or the rope is too short there will be misfortune.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

There is a Source common to us all.
Jung named it the Collective Unconscious.
Others hail it as God within.
Inside each of us are dreamlike symbols and archetypes, emotions and instincts that we share with every other human being.
When we feel a lonely separateness from others, it is not because this Well within has dried up, but because we have lost the means to reach its waters.
You need to reclaim the tools necessary to penetrate to the depths of your fellows.
Then the bonds you build will be as timeless and inexhaustible as the Well that nourishes them.

Six in the fourth place means:

The well is carefully retiled, and in time made pure again.

The well is being lined. No blame.

Stone-lined well

True, if a well is being lined with stone, it cannot be used while the work is going on. But the work is not in vain; the result is that the water stays clear. In life also there are times when a man must put himself in order. During such a time he can do nothing for others, but his work is nonetheless valuable, because by enhancing his powers and abilities through inner development, he can accomplish all the more later on.

28 – Twenty-Eight.  Ta Kuo / Critical Mass

The Flood rises above the tallest Tree:
Amidst a rising tide of human folly, the Superior Person retires to higher ground, renouncing his world without looking back.

Any direction is better than where you now stand.

SITUATION ANALYSIS:

Several high-priority concerns demand immediate attention.
All are crucial.
None will be denied.
Yet some demand the denial of others.
Like two atoms seeking to occupy the same space, these irresistible forces and immovable objects threaten to ignite a cataclysm that could irreversibly alter your world.
This is no time for fatal heroics.
You are at Ground Point Zero.
Remove yourself from this situation without delay.
Find sanctuary.
Later you may deal with these concerns on your own terms, from a position of strength.

Today: “Every piece of matter has a foot and a half aura” – Yogi Bhajan

“Every piece of matter has a foot and a half aura. Every animal has a three and a half foot aura. Every human has a nine foot aura. And if we wear cotton and we wear white, this color therapy gives us one extra foot of aura.” Yogi Bhajan

Meditation: KWTC-930407 Childhood Patterns – Aura

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