March 1st

Celibacy


In winter, animals do not mate.
Preserve your Tao
By preserving your essence.

We follow the Tao of the universe with great effort, but Tao is within us too. It is not something abstract, not something conceptual. Our personal Tao is our very life force. This energy begins with the physical and extends into the spiritual.The source of this energy is partly chemical : our hormones, nutrition from food, and genetics. Whatever we have that is spiritual arises from these substances. Followers of Tao call this the essence. Preservation of this essence through sexual conservation is crucial. This doesn't mean suppression of sexuality, for the impulse to make love is natural and irrepressible; it means to harmonize sexuality with spirituality.
The follower of Tao makes love according to the seasons. In winter, it should be less or not at all; in spring, it may be at its most frequent. The young should restrict themselves to about once every three days, while the middle-aged should reduce it once a week, and the elderly even less than that. The secret is not to indulge too much, without killing one's sexuality altogether. Overindulgence is to waste one's resources. Suppression kills the body on its most basic level. Find the proper balance, and you will have a happy life and full spirituality.

Personal Interpretation


Sexuality is part of our nature and should not be utterly suppressed, but it should be linked to spirituality, made to be a thing of great connection and import, and, as with all truly valuable things, it must not be overindulged. As with all things, a balance is best. We may be amazed at how seeking to live a more balanced life alters how we feel physically as well as spiritually.

February 28th

Source


Wellspring of energy
Rises in the body's core
Tap it and be sustained.
Channel it, and it will speak.

The source of all power is within yourself. Although external circumstances may occasionally hamper you, true movement comes solely from within yourself. The source is latent in everyone, but anyone can learn to tap it. When this happens, power rises like a shimmering well through the center of your body.Physically, it will sustain and nourish you. But it can do many other things as well. It can give you gifts ranging from unusual knowledge to simple tranquility. It all depends on how you choose to direct your energies.
We cannot say that a person will become enlightened solely by virtue of having tapped this source of power; energy is neutral. It requires experience, wisdom, and education to direct it. You may gain power from your meditations, but it is possible for two people with the same valid attainment to use it in two different ways, even to the extremes of good and evil. Finding the source of spiritual power is a great joy; deciding how to direct it is the greatest of responsibilities.

Personal Interpretation


We are all capable of much more than we imagine. There is a source of great untapped power within us all. Tao has the potential to reveal that source to us, allow us to tap into it. Just because one has access to power though, does not guarantee that it will be used to bring about favorable results or that it will be used wisely. Energy is not positive or negative. It simply is. We must decide for ourselves what we will do with it. It is the greatest of responsibilities, and can be one of the most difficult things to accomplish.

February 27th

Opportunity


A green bird darting in the night.
Will you be able to see it?
Will you be able to catch it?
Cling to Tao like a shadow.
Move without a shadow.

Times of oppression and adversity cannot last forever. How is the transition made to new and better situations? In the midst of great difficulty, a tiny opportunity will open, if only by chance. You must be sharp enough to discern it, quick enough to catch it, and determined enough to do something with it. If you let it pass, you will be filled with regrets.Stick to Tao like a shadow. Wherever it goes, you go. As soon as it throws something your way, catch it by sheer reflex. It is like the bird : If you try to catch it, you will miss. If you are always with it, moving at its speed, as much a part of it as its own shadow, then it is easy to seize it.
When you act, however, you in turn must have no shadow. In other words, what you do must leave no messiness, no leftover consequences, nothing that will haunt you later. That is one of the ways in which you avoid creating more bad situations for yourself : Your every movement is traceless.

Personal Interpretation

We must work to be with Tao as often as possible. When we are like its shadow, it will always be a part of our lives, and we will not be left grasping blindly for opportunity. Rather, we will find ourselves in a place where we can accept our circumstances while remaining observant enough to catch opportunity when it presents itself. We must be always engaged with our world and Tao must be the vehicle that carries us through each new day.

February 26th

Predilection

Those who follow Tao do so
From their own predilection.
There are no promises,
Yet the rewards are immeasurable.

Of all the spiritual traditions, following Tao is among the least popular. Its adherents are poor and veiled with humility. In comparison, many traditions offer heaven, forgiveness, comfort, ecstasy, belonging, power, and wealth. Tao offers only three things : sound health, a way through the bewilderment of life, and liberation from the fear of death.That is why there are so few followers of Tao. There is no glamor, there is no congregation, there is no ranking. You are either in the state of Tao, or you are temporarily out of it. When you die, you die.
You have to be tough to follow Tao. If you can avoid being discouraged by poverty, isolation, and obscurity, you will find an unshakable devotion that will last your entire life, and rewards will come in slow and subtle ways. You may not be suddenly rich and influential, but you will discover, to your great delight, that there is a secret source of sustenance. Once you taste that, all your doubts will fade, and both poverty and loneliness will be easier to bear.

Personal Interpretation

Tao provides no material rewards, no promises of everlasting life or Heaven, and yet, its adherents, though they may be few, find themselves rewarded by their dedication to their faith. Tao has the potential to expand our worldviews, enrich our understanding of the universe, and help us to cultivate a strong sense of self. It is not a path to be taken lightly. Many will begin the journey toward self-realization only to find it too difficult to proceed. Those who endure the trials with which they are confronted will become more for it though. The price paid will be worth it in the end.

February 25th

Muteness


The more you dwell in the spirit,
The farther you are from common ways.
If you want to speak of Tao's wonders,
Few will listen.

If you spend a long period of time in study and self-cultivation, you will enter Tao. By doing so, you also enter a world of extraordinary perceptions. You experience unimaginable things, receive thoughts and learning as if from nowhere, perceive things that could be classified as prescient. Yet if you try to communicate what you experience, there is no one to understand you, no one who will believe you. The more you walk this road, the farther you are from the ordinary ways of society. You may see the truth, but you will find that people would rather listen to politicians, performers, and charlatans.If you are known as a follower of Tao, people may seek you out, but they are seldom the ones who will truly understand Tao. They are people who would exploit Tao as a crutch. To speak to them of the wonders you have seen is often to engage in a futile bout of miscommunication. That is why it is said that those who know do not speak.
Why not simply stay quiet? Enjoy Tao as you will. Let others think you are dumb. Inside yourself, you will know the joy of Tao's mysteries. If you met someone who can profit by your experience, you should share. But if you are merely a wanderer in a crowd of strangers, it is wisdom to be silent.

Personal Interpretation

The path of Tao is a lonely one. True adherents may find it difficult to express their experiences to others and have them understood. Still, the wisdom Tao imparts, the perceptions it makes possible are worth the price that must be paid. If we can help those we encounter along the road we walk, then we should do so, but we should  also be careful not to let others lure us off the straight and narrow path.

February 24th

Division


Problems cannot be
Resolved at once.
Slowly untie knots
Divide to conquer.

In order to solve problems, it is helpful to first understand whether they are puzzle, obstacle, or entanglement. A puzzle need only be analyzed carefully : It is like unraveling a ball of yarn and requires patience more than anything else. An obstacle must be overcome : We must use force and perseverance to either destroy or move away from what is blocking us. An entanglement mires us in a maze of limitations : This most dangerous of situations requires that we use all our resources to extricate ourselves as quickly as possible.No matter what the problem, however, it is important not to take the thing on whole. Break it down into smaller, more easily handled components. Most problematic situations are combinations of puzzles, obstacles, and entanglements. By fracturing them into these more basic elements, they can be managed easily. Even the greatest of difficulties can be resolved when they are slowly reduced. Then the knots of life are untied as easily as if we had a magic charm.

Personal Interpretation


Most of the problems we face in life contain components of puzzles, obstacles, and entanglements. In order to solve them, we must exercise patience to work the puzzles methodically, destroy or overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of our achieving our goals, and extricate ourselves from entangling circumstances, that, as a weed steals the resources of a once-flourishing plant, can suck us dry. We have to put ourselves in a positive and conducive environment in order to facilitate a more peaceful state of mind. We also have to puzzle our way through life's tangles. When we break down a problem into smaller segments though, it can managed, no matter how insurmountable it may seem. And the very act of solving it has the power to change us in the process, strengthen us, make us better able to handle future challenges.

February 23rd

Adversity


A tree hemmed in by giants
Requires tenacity to survive.

Times of adversity inevitably confront us all. We are denied influence, people will not listen to what we have to say, and we are restricted by circumstance. In this situation, followers of Tao must rely on their determination. Without that, they cannot emerge successfully from the danger.During times of adversity, vision and determination decide the outcome. Mere doggedness never served anyone well. Observe carefully, and try to act. If you find yourself tested by the situation, take comfort in the fact that adversity frequently forces one to consolidate one's resources. You can often emerge from adversity stronger than before. Don't be overcome by fear. Take calculated risks if you must, or face danger if you have to. If your mind is focused to the utmost, you will triumph.
Without the difficulty of being hemmed in, the tree in the forest would not be forced to marshal its power to grow toward the light. It must truly bring forth all its inner strength to spread its branches. If it becomes grand, it is in part because of its suffering. Thus the times of adversity can be crucial to the development of one's inner personality.

Personal Interpretation

Adversity will inevitably come our way. We must meet it with determination and mindfulness. We must also work to see the temporary nature of our troubles. It does us good to see adversity for what it truly is: a potential catalyst for growth. We are often stronger than we give ourselves credit for. Just as hemmed-in trees reach for the sunlight that makes their continued lives possible, we too can reach enlightenment by facing adversity head-on and asking ourselves how it can help reveal to us the path that is right for us. If there was no resistance, there would be no cause for strength. We can  only truly embrace the light by acknowledging the shadows. Opposites define one another. The dualistic view of nature is one of the most central tenets of Tao.

February 22nd

Imbalance


Sleepless nights.
Diet, mind, conditions
Hold the possibility of correction.

Whenever you feel out of sorts, or cannot sleep, or find it hard to work and think, you are separated from Tao. If you want to get back in touch with it, ask yourself three questions : Am I eating right? Is my mind tamed? Is my world safe?It is not facetious to look at the way you eat whenever you feel out of step with life. Many problems can be alleviated by feeling better physically, and even if this doesn't remedy things, it will give you a good basis for coping. Eat a balanced diet rich in nutrients. Take the time to understand proper nutrition and eat a large variety of foods according to the seasons. The skillful use of foods is far superior to medicine.
Next is the difficult mind that seems to have its own interests, habits, and excesses. The only way to counter this is to guard against worry, stress, intellectualism, scheming, and desires. This can only happen through a strong philosophical grounding and by methodical meditation.
Finally, environmental factors such as weather, natural and man-made disasters, and socioeconomic problems can break our unity with Tao. To cope with this, gain as much control over your environment as possible. Keep your home a haven, have control over your work place, and be independent enough to face emergencies. It is inevitable that one will fall in and out of Tao. The wise arrange their lives so that they can always return to balance.

Personal Interpretation


We will inevitably find ourselves disconnected from Tao from time to time, but we must always strive to find our way back. We can do this in a number of ways. We must be mindful about the forces at play that cause the disconnect. It is good to pay attention to what we're putting into our bodies, and also to what we are allowing to enter into our lives. We must try to live simply, minimize stress, and fuel our bodies with nutritious foods. We must learn our weaknesses and work to exorcise them. Environment has a role to play in making us feel more at peace too. Home should be haven. We should try to gain control over our respective environments, to the extent that this is possible. If we seek simplicity, meditate, and eat a healthful diet, we can rebalance ourselves. It is not an easy task, but it is one that must be undertaken.

February 21st

Nonconformity



The world is dazzling,
I alone am dull.
Others strive for achievement,
I follow a lonely path.

Followers of Tao are nonconformists. The conventional label our behavior erratic, antisocial, irresponsible, inexplicable, outrageous, and sometimes scandalous. We hear other voices, respond to inner urgings. We have no interest in the social norm; we only care about following Tao. It does not matter if no one can understand us, for we are nurtured by something most people do not sense. Awakening to this inner urge, and distinguishing spiritual impulses from the merely instinctual, is one of the crucial goals of self-cultivation.We all have many voices, personalities, ambitions, and tendencies within ourselves. The ability to distinguish between them, and the ability to silence all the voices save for Tao's, is imperative if one is to reach this state of being. Once one is in touch with the true Tao, there are no doubts, and the murmuring of others cannot have any effect. One is as comforted as a child at its mother's breast.
The more one walks in Tao, the more one is interested in self-perfection. All that matters is constant cultivation to be with Tao. This is a lonely path. There are others who follow Tao, but it is not always possible to meet them. That is why is takes someone both sensitive enough to hear the call and strong enough to walk the solitary path.

Personal Interpretation


Self-cultivation is the greatest task we can undertake in this life, and it requires nonconformity. We must behave in a certain way  because it feels like a true expression of ourselves, not because that behavior has been set as a precedent. It is sometimes a lonely path that we walk, but it is also an enriching one. Sensitivity to spirituality and the strength to endure hardship are traits that will be indispensable to the practitioner of Tao.

February 20th

Beauty



Lavender roses.
Incarnate fragrance,
Priestly hue of dawn,
Spirit unfolding.

Even on the road to hell, flowers can make you smile. They are fragile, ephemeral, uncompromising. No one can alter their nature. True, you can easily destroy them, but you will not gain anything; you cannot force them to submit to your will.Flowers arouse in us an instinct to protect them, to appreciate them, and to shelter them. This world is too ugly, too violent. There should be something delicate to care about. To do so is to be lifted above the brute and to go toward the refined. When we offer flowers on our altar, we are offering a high gift. Money is too vulgar, food too pedestrian. Only flowers are unsullied. By offering them, we offer purity.
The tenderness of flowers arouses mercy, compassion, and understanding. If that beauty is delicate, so much the better. Life itself is fleeting. We should take the time to appreciate beauty in the midst of temporality.

Personal Interpretation


There is great beauty in fragility. Flowers are a poignant reminder of life's uncertainty and its potential for wonder, a symbol of hope and determination in many senses. Flowers return after the bitter winds of winter have killed the blooms of the previous year. They offer a splash of color to our often dismal world. They awaken our instinct to protect. When we offer flowers, we offer something soft, yet determined, something that nurtures the spirit the more it is nurtured. Our world and our lives are finite, and it is because of this that they are beautiful. Perhaps it does us all good to take a moment and contemplate the beauty by which we are surrounded. We can come to reflect on how we too are part of the intricate network of beautiful things that constitutes our existence.

February 19th

Interaction


We make life real
By the thoughts we project.

The panorama of the objective world is meaningless until we interact with it. For example, if there is a rock that we pass day after day but we do not notice, then that rock has no significance for us. If we decide to make that rock a votive object and pray to it for decades, then that rock becomes quite important. To an outsider who does not subscribe to the rock's assigned meaning, it will continue to be just a rock. In all cases, the rock was just a rock. It was only human interaction that created its meaning.It is a mistake to assume that the meaning we give to something is as concrete and tangible as the object itself. We should not confuse the two. For example, our house may be precious to us, but our sense of preciousness has nothing to do with the building -- it comes from the values and memories we associate with it. If we lose our house, we must remember that it is the feeling we have for it, not just the building itself, that determines our loss.
If all perception of reality is subjective, some schools of thought suggest that we should therefore see everything as unreal. By contrast, followers of Tao maintain that we must still interact with the world. If we do not take initiative and work with this phenomena of projecting meaning and receiving its echoes, we fall into a state of dormancy, and the world will not exist for us at all. As long as we remember that meanings we attribute to objects are subjective, we will avoid mistakes.

Personal Interpretation


It is our interaction with the world that gives it meaning. We imbue all that we touch. Rather than subscribe to the notion that the world does not truly exist, Taoism teaches us to be a part of it. What other choice is there, truly? We remain a part of this plane of existence until we leave our bodies. It is our fate, and indeed, instinct to interact with what surrounds us. We can create wonder from anything if we choose to do so. Nothing is truly meaningless unless we deem it so. It is life-affirming to know that we are in such control.

February 18th

Death


Death is
The opposite
Of time.

We give death metaphors. We cloak it in meaning and make up stories about what will happen to us, but we don't really know. When a person dies, we cannot see beyond the corpse. We speculate on reincarnation or talk in terms of eternity. But death is opaque to us, a mystery. In its realm, time ceases to have meaning. All laws of physics become irrelevant. Death is the opposite of time.What dies? Is anything actually destroyed? Certainly not the body, which falls into its constituent parts of water and chemicals. That is mere transformation, not destruction. What of the mind? Does it cease to function, or does it make a transition to another existence? We don't know for sure, and few can come up with anything conclusive.
What dies? Nothing of the person dies in the sense that the constituent parts are totally blasted from all existence. What dies is merely the identity, the identification of a collection of parts that we called a person. Each one of us is a role, like some shaman wearing layers of robes with innumerable fetishes of meaning. Only the clothes and decoration fall. What dies is only our human meaning. There is still someone naked underneath. Once we understand who that someone is, death no longer bothers us. Nor does time.

Personal Interpretation

Death is the great unknown, and we attempt to understand it by telling stories of it, cloaking it in meaning that we assign to make ourselves feel more comfortable with it. Really though, when we peel away the layers, it is something that we cannot know. Wisdom can only take us so far in this life. Some realms are not available to us in our present form. It is wrong to think of death as destruction though. The constituent parts of the physical body return to the world. Perhaps the soul flies elsewhere. The inability to perceive something that was is not an indication that it was destroyed. When we die, we lose what constituted our humanity, but what lies beneath it? Perhaps when we learn what we really are, we can finally cast our fears of death aside.

February 17th

Knowledge


Life is
Beauty,
Terror,
Knowledge.

A crucial part of following Tao is seeking knowledge. All the efforts of self-cultivation are meant to make us a fit vehicle for that search. Sometimes what we learn is not pleasant. With learning, we glimpse life as it really is, and that is difficult to bear. That is why spiritual progress is slow : not because no one will tell us the secrets, but because we ourselves must overcome sentiment and fear before we can grasp it.There is an underbelly of terror to all life. It is suffering, it is hurt. Deep within all of us are intense fears that have left few of us whole. Life's terrors haunt us, attack us, leave ugly cuts. To buffer ourselves, we dwell on beauty, we collect things, we fall in love, we desperately try to make something lasting in our lives. We take beauty as the only worthwhile thing in this existence, but it cannot veil cursing, violence, randomness, and injustice.
Only knowledge removes this fear. If we were shown the whole truth, we could not stand it. Both lovely and horrible details make us human, and when knowledge threatens to show us our follies, we may realize that we are not yet ready to leave them behind. Then the veil closes again, and we sit meditating before it, trying to prepare ourselves for the moment when we dare to part the curtain completely.

Personal Interpretation

A crucial part of our journey is to seek knowledge. It is a beautiful thing, but also a terrifying one. The more we learn, the more we must face the truth of what we are. We cannot help but cling to comforting ideas from time to time. Spiritual progress is slow for this reason. We aren't ready to take in everything at once. We must gain enlightenment in small doses, and at key points in our lives, when we are ready. We may fear knowledge because of what it can bring to light, but knowledge is the only thing that can drive out fear. We may have known great injustice, lost the person we loved most, been made to feel alone in an often cruel world. But we are resilient creatures, and so long as we pick ourselves back up and seek the light, we cannot go astray. Knowledge can be the thing we grasp to, the thing that leads us out of the darkness..if we let it.

February 16th

Impermanence


Tidal windstorm
Splits trees and rock,
Yet cannot last a day.
So much less, man's work.

When a storm hits, an entire ocean of wind and rain is spent upon the land. Leaves are turned inside out, branches are torn, and even hard granite is worn away. But such gales seldom last and entire day. In spite of the tremendous amount of force that is released, the storm cannot last.If heaven's works cannot last a day, human works must be even less lasting. Governments barely survive from year to year, the rules of society are constantly being challenged, the family erodes, personal relationships decay, and one's career topples. Even the monuments of the world are now being destroyed by air pollution and neglect. Nothing lasts. It is simple fact that no event set in motion by human beings lasts forever.
All our efforts are temporary. They borrow from preexisting forces, ride the current of natural events, and disappear according to the dictates of the situation. It is best to realize the transitory nature of things and work with it. Understanding the world's ephemeral nature can be the biggest advantage of all.

Personal Interpretation

 We live in a transitory world. It is  best to acknowledge this, to use it to live more meaningful lives. We should not hesitate to create works of beauty, to enjoy a gorgeous sunset, to gaze up at the stars. All things will expire, but it is because of their expiration date that they mean anything at all. Nothing causes us to hold a loved one tighter than the threat of losing them. Yes, all things were made of stardust and ultimately return to it, but what of the interim? We get to decide how to live our lives. Perhaps the shadow of loss can inspire us to live more fully, to truly see those details of our worlds and lives that we have glanced over for far too long.

February 15th

Organization


Pattern and creativity
Are the two poles of action.

It is wise to plan each day. By setting goals for oneself and organizing activities to be accomplished, one can be sure that each day will be full and never wasted.Followers of Tao use patterns when planning. They observe the ways of nature, perceive the invisible lines of destiny. They imagine a pattern for their entire lives, and in this way, they ensure overall success. Each day, they match interim patterns against their master goals, and so navigate life with sureness and grace. It is precisely this ability to discern and manipulate patterns unknown to the ordinary person that makes the follower of Tao so formidable.
When unpredictable things happen, those who follow Tao are also skilled at improvisation. If circumstances deny them, they change immediately. To avoid confusion, they still discern the patterns of the situation and create new ones, much like a chess player at the board. The spontaneous creation of new patterns is their ultimate art.

Personal Interpretation 

It is important to organize our lives. We must create goals that can be achieved, and we must take steps toward realization of those goals. As we do so, we should be aware of our changing environments, the patterns that impact us. By recognizing natural patterns, we can learn to manipulate them. Circumstances will not always permit us to proceed as we would wish. Followers of Tao are adept at improvisation. It is a skill that is often called for in a world where the only constant is change. As we must operate within the aforementioned patterns, we also have the capacity to create patterns of our own. When we enlighten ourselves about the game we are playing, we can become better at it with time, can eventually gain the advantage, can move forward toward the acquisition of the things we desire.

February 14th

Circulation


Spirituality begins in the loins,
Ascends up the back,
And returns to the navel.

Spirituality is not just mental activity. It is also an expression of energy.The source of this energy is physical, rooted in the basic chemistry of the body. Self-cultivation refines this energy for spiritual attainment. Enlightenment, for a follower of Tao, is therefore a psycho-physical achievement : It is a state of being rather than mere intellectual understanding.
Once the energy is awakened through special exercises and meditations, the follower of Tao knows how to draw this energy upward. The force begins from the genitals and rises up the spine. On its way, it nourishes the kidneys, nerves, and blood vessels. When it passes the base of the skull, the nervous system and the lower parts of the brain are stimulated. Reaching the crown, this river of energy opens the entire subconscious potential of a human being. Descending downward, it nourishes the eyes, the senses, the vital organs. Cascading toward the navel, it returns us to our original state of purity. From there, it returns to the loins again, ready to be drawn into another circuit. Just as all existence operates on a continuum between gross physical matter and the most subtle levels of consciousness, so too does the follower of Tao utilize all parts of body, mind, and spirit for spiritual devotion.

Personal Interpretation

Tao touches all areas of the practitioner's life and being. Special exercises and meditations can awaken energy that has lain dormant within us. That energy can then be used to pursue noble aims. When we let Tao into our lives, we nourish all aspects of ourselves, and make the spiritual inseparable from the physical. An act as seemingly simple as breathing can cleanse our bodies and rejuvenate our souls. Every involvement we have with the world beyond us will be impacted by our relationship with Tao, which is greater than the world and lives we inhabit.

February 13th

Stretching


When young, things are soft.
When old, things are brittle.

Stretching -- both literally and metaphorically -- is a necessary part of life.Physically, a good program of stretching emphasizes all parts of the body. You loosen the joints and tendons first, so that subsequent movements will not hurt. Then methodically stretch the body, beginning with the larger muscle groups such as the legs and back, and proceed to finer and smaller parts like the fingers. Coordinate stretching with breathing; use long and gentle stretches rather than bouncing ones. When you stretch in one direction, always be sure to stretch in the opposite direction as well. If you follow this procedure, your flexibility will undoubtedly increase.
Metaphorical stretching leads to expansion and flexibility in personal growth. A young plant is tender and pliant. An older is stiff, woody, and vulnerable to breaking. Softness is thus equated with life, hardness with death. The more flexible you are, the greater your mental and physical health.

Personal Interpretation

Things that do not stretch break. Flexibility is thus equated with life and vitality. We should work to lengthen our muscles and keep our joints in good working order. Stretching has the power to improve the quality of our lives. Metaphorically, stretching allows us to adapt to our changing circumstances. It is one of the best ways to come into contact with Tao, to get a sense of what it means to be alive.

February 12th

Perseverance



Invisible lines.
The fisherman repairs his net
And the fish are nearly caught.

If a fisherman does not have a properly repaired net, then his trip is useless. Preparation is the major part of his endeavor. Only when the fisherman keeps his nets intact, keeps his boat repaired, and studies the conditions of fish and water does going out to fish become a mere formality. Then fish fall into his hands as if guided by invisible lines.When it seems as if nothing encouraging is happening to us, it is important to remember such perseverance. Work may be drudgery, maintaining a home may be routine, and we may find our goals quite distant. But we must persevere and prepare nevertheless. That will bring a steady pace toward our goals, and buoy our faith in rough and threatening times.
To taste the fruit of perseverance requires maturity and experience. We need to cultivate patience, planning and timing. We build our resources even when circumstances seem to be against us. We don't neglect anything we have set in motion. If we nurse our plans through good times and bad, our plans will eventually succeed with the inevitability of fish caught in a net.

Personal Interpretation

It is easy to become discouraged, but we must not allow misfortune and failure to keep us from perfecting ourselves. Ultimately, preparation is the key to our success. Patience, planning, and timing are all things that lead to the attaining of the goals we have set for ourselves. We must learn when to do and when to observe instead. We should not give up on our dreams, but hold onto them firmly, through good and bad times alike. When we learn to persevere, we come to see that the process of reaching for our goals is more important than reaching those goals. Perseverance works to perfect us and it brings us closer to Tao.

February 11th

Walking



Trail beside stream,
Fragrant pine.
Rocky red earth,
Steep mountain.

Walking may be a good metaphor for spiritual life, but there are times when simple hiking is literally the best activity. When one walks in the woods or climbs mountains, there is a wonderful unity of body, mind, and spirit. Hiking strengthens the legs, increases stamina, invigorates the blood, and soothes the mind. Away from the madness of society, one is freed to observe nature's lessons.Erosion. Gnarled roots. The carcass of a dead deer. A flight of swallows. The high spirals of hawks. Bladed reflections of rushing water. Just budding bare branches. Gray rock, cracked, shattered, and worn. A fallen tree. A lone cloud. The laughter of plum branches. Even a little circle of rocks beside the trail -- who put them there, or did any hand arrange them, and no matter which, what are the secrets of that circle?
There are a thousand meanings in every view, if only we open ourselves to see the scripture of the landscape.

Personal Interpretation

Nature is a beautiful thing, and the act of walking through its varied landscapes is soothing to the spirit.  Nature offers a respite from the daily grind. We can allow ourselves to simply be. As we move ourselves forward, we also strengthen our bodies and minds. We make ourselves anew so that we are better able to withstand the many pressures of the lives we must lead. Nature is capable of producing the best and the worst that we can imagine. Absolute good and bad are human constructs though. The natural world simply is. Our lives mirror the cycles of nature. It does us good to reflect on this, and doing so will certainly make us feel that we are connected to something so pure and redeeming that no words can do it justice.

February 10th

Resolution



Footsteps in the sand
Quickly washed away:
The seashore mind.

Going to the beach means walking in fresh air, listening to the sound of waves, feeling the grit of sand beneath our feet. The narrow ribbon between land and ocean is a perfect place to understand the mind of wisdom. Just as there is a dynamic balance between sand and water, so too is there a dynamic equilibrium between the quiescent and active sides of our minds. Just as the sand is constantly being washed, so too should we keep our minds free of lingering impressions.We often let thoughts, regrets, doubts from past activities carry over into the present. This leads us to conflict. Instead of allowing this to happen, we should act without leaving consequences. This requires great thoroughness. Such completeness is challenging, but to succeed is to live perfectly. By resolving the problems of each day to our utmost satisfaction, we attain the sublime purity of a beach constantly 

Personal Interpretation

When the tide comes in it washes away impressions that have been left in the sand. Likewise, we should let the flow of Tao wash away our past hurts and mistakes. If we cling to the conflict that has defined our former selves, we cannot grow. We must try to make choices that will not bring about dramatic consequences. Time heals the wounds we sustain if we let it. But we must not be passive. We must make an effort to take ownership in our own lives, and we must make the most of every moment we are granted.

February 9th

Subconscious

Heaven and hell;
Our subconscious.

Meditation opens seldom glimpsed areas of our subconscious. When that happens, extraordinary thoughts and awareness come to us with seeming spontaneity. We realize truths that were opaque to us before; we perceive events that were previously too distant. But no one ever became superhuman because of meditation. They only opened their own latent potential. Everything is locked inside of us and need only be opened. That is why it is said that heaven is within us.In the same way, the pains and the struggles of the past sometimes haunt us with astounding vehemence. Problems and conflicts are difficult to exorcise. Although we may practice spirituality and move on to new endeavors and relationships, past hurts still come back in our memories and dreams. These are not demons from another world, nor are they karmic manifestations of previous lives; they are scars in our subconscious. No matter how diligently we try to make progress, there still are pains that curse us day after day. This is why it is said that hell is within us.
We ourselves are the battleground for good and evil. There is no need to look beyond our world. Everything to be understood is within us. All that must be transcended -- the pains and scars of the past -- is within us. All the power of transcendence is also within us. Tap into it and you tap into the divine itself.

Personal Interpretation 

Meditation can reveal deeply hidden aspects of ourselves. Our own latent potential is often more than we dream of. We can also be haunted by the past, consumed by the pain of loss and misfortune. Heaven and Hell are not external absolutes. They exist within each of us. It is the job of each of us to seek balance in this life. We must be all that we can possibly be. It will mean conquering less savory aspects of our personalities and working through hardship. Ultimately though, the journey that we undertake can lead to greater understanding and strength. When we can transcend ourselves, the entire universe is open to us and there is nothing that we cannot achieve.

February 8th

Worry


Worry is an addiction
That interferes with compassion.

Worry is a problem that seems to be rampant. Perhaps it is due to the nature of our overly advanced civilization; perhaps it is a measure of our own spiritual degeneracy. Whatever the source, it is clear that worry is not useful. It is a cancer of the emotions -- concern gone compulsive. It eats away at body and mind.It does no good to say, "Don't think about it." You'll only worry more. It is far better to keep walking your path, changing what you can. The rest must be dissolved in compassion. In this world of infants with immune deficiencies, racial injustice, economic imbalance, personal violence, and international conflict, it is impossible to address everyone's concerns. Taking care of yourself and doing something good for those whom you meet is enough. That is compassion, and we must exercise it even in the face of the overwhelming odds.
Whenever you meet a problem, help if it is in your power to do so. After you have acted, withdraw and be unconcerned about it. Walk on without ever mentioning it to anybody. Then there is no worry, because there has been action.

Personal Interpretation

Worry can poison us if we let it. We should act when it is within our power to do so, exercising compassion, working to focus our energies beyond our own selves. However, we must also acknowledge that we cannot solve all of the world's problems. We should continue to walk along the path we have chosen to tread, do good deeds, and then work to forget them. Our acts often don't solve the problem at hand. They do make a difference though, and worrying about doing what we cannot is a monumental waste of energy that could be employed elsewhere. We must all do what we can, but no one can ask more of us than we are capable of giving. And we should not demand it from ourselves either.

February 7th

Adapting


Heaven embraces the horizon.
No matter how jagged the profile,
The sky faithfully conforms.

Wherever you are, the sky constantly meets the horizon. It conforms absolutely with the earth's surface. Changes in the earth or sky do not affect this perfect adaptation. There might be clouds, it might be night, there might be mountains or trees or even buildings on the horizon, but the relationship remains.No matter what circumstances life may present, we must adapt exactly, whether we think the situation is good or bad. Resistance is useless. Instead, we should concentrate on perceiving whatever circumstances surround us. For example, if one is in a leadership situation, one must adapt one's vision to that of the group; the successful leader articulates and brings consensus to the group. Being flexible and constantly adjusting to the times is one of the secrets of Tao.
We often think of the landscape as being in the foreground and the sky as the background. It is because the sky is always in the background that it can meet the outline of the foreground perfectly. If we emulate this feature of being in the background, then we too can find perfect conformity with life. Such adaptation is not passivity, however. It is concordance. It is because the sky is in the background that it is in fact supreme. So too with ourselves. If we know how to adapt, we end up being superior.

Personal Interpretation


Because of its position in the background, because of its willing adaptation, the sky is superior to what lies in the foreground. We should be more like the sky. We should adapt when we need to do so. We should let ourselves merge with our surroundings. If we fail to conform to life, we will certainly be weighed down by it until the day that we die. To adapt is not to adopt a passive stance. Adaptation is a conscious action, and it brings us closer to Tao.

February 6th

Discord


When birds fly too high,
They sing out of tune.

There are times when we feel out of harmony with our surroundings, matters do not go our way, and we feel confused and disoriented. Sometimes these moments will last a day, sometimes they may last for weeks. When we feel like this, we are not integrated with the Tao, or as it is sometimes metaphorically said, Tao has flowed elsewhere.Being constantly in touch with Tao is an ideal. There will be times of misfortune and discord from external sources. We can also fall out of synchronization with Tao through our own follies, as when we act without complete consideration. Whenever this happens, we are like the birds singing out of tune: We are mired in discord.
If we keep our patience, we can usually ride out these times. We should take action and break the stagnation if an opportunity presents itself. Whether it is waiting or acting, we should always try to bring a situation back into balance so that we can rejoin Tao.
Whenever we find ourselves linked again, we will feel relieved. We are back on track, back on target. But we should learn from each time that we lose Tao. Sometimes this is enough to prevent reoccurrences, and sometimes it is enough to buoy our hopes through future lean times. Once we know the Tao, we will recognize it again and again. We will not lose faith, even in times of discord.

Personal Interpretation 


There will be times in our lives when we feel disconnected from Tao. We  must seek that which helps us to live harmoniously with our surroundings. Our actions can therefore help to minimize the moments of isolation. Still, all things cannot be in accordance at all times. We should notice when harmony returns to our lives and let ourselves feel grateful for its presence. Even the worst will eventually pass out of our lives. This fundamental truth can instill faith in us all.

February 5th

Vantage


Distant ridges, far away clouds
All events come from a distance.
With a high vantage point,
Foretelling the future is elementary.

It is often superstitiously said that one who follows Tao knows magic. This is nonsense. Superiority is simply a matter of using the best of one's abilities and being in the right position. For example, a wise person who lives high in the mountains and who is not blinded by wine, sensuality, intellectuality, poor health, or greed will be better able to see events in the distance that one who lives in a closed room, eyes on some obscure project.A storm does not happen abruptly; it takes hours, sometimes days, to develop. Travelers do not arrive suddenly; they can be seen in the distance. Knowing things in advance is possible with a high vantage point. For this reason, the follower of Tao appears to know magic.

Personal Interpretation 

Vantage is everything. We must work to elevate ourselves above all of the things that weigh us down and cloud our perception. When we allow ourselves to be consumed by what are essentially distractions, we fail to see storms as they build on the horizon, fail to see strangers approaching, fail to prepare ourselves to deal with what the future holds. In addition to being in the right place, we must act at the right time. There is a time to observe and a time to act. Those who recognize this innate truth certainly have the advantage.

February 3rd

Engagement

Prey passes the tiger who
Sometimes merely looks,
Sometimes pounces without hesitation,
But never fails to act.

Life is a constant series of opportunities. If we don't reach out for things, if we don't take advantage of what comes our way, then we cannot be in harmony with the essential nature of life.The tiger is the same way. He conforms to every situation that comes. If he spots prey and is not ready to hunt, he will let it go. But he has not failed to act. He has knowingly let the prey escape, and this is much different from someone who loses a situation through slow reflexes or inability. When the tiger wants his prey, he pounces upon it without any thought or hesitation. There are no morals, no guilt, no psychological problems, no ideologies to interfere with the purity of his action. This undiminished grace in action is called nonaction.
This is engagement. Whatever comes to you, you must engage it somehow. You receive it, you may alter the circumstance and let it go, you may interject something of your own into it, or you may knowingly let it pass. Whatever you do, there is no need to be apathetic toward life. Instead, full participation in all things is the surest way to happiness, vitality, success, and a deep knowledge of Tao.

Personal Interpretation

Inaction is as important as action. To live in accordance with Tao is to know when to take advantage of an opportunity and when to let it go. Inaction need not be passive. As with all things, the opposites define one another. We should all strive to be engaged with our world and all aspects of our lives. Only then can be attain the peace that Tao brings.

February 2nd

Defense


Demons who enter your circle
Must be pushed out.

No matter what world you walk in -- office, school, temple, prison, or the streets -- there is an underworld populated with demons. These are people who are avaricious, aggressive, sadistic, and cynical. They not only take advantage of others without compunction, they delight in it. They find pleasure in seeing others suffer.The why of it cannot be answered. There is only the fact, with no metaphysical meaning or other ramifications. It is not karma, it is not fate. If these people decide to attack you, it is circumstance. You must fight or be mowed down.
Compassion and humility may be among the most treasured of human virtues, but they are not useful in conflict. A beautiful gold statue of your most adored god is a treasure, but you would not use it as a weapon. Virtue is to be value in the proper context; only a sword will do in battle.
Whether an attack is physical -- assault, rape, murder -- or whether it is mental -- business intrigues, emotional abuse -- you must be prepared. It is best to prepare for conflict by learning as much self-defense as possible. You will not become a bully or a monster, but instead, you will learn that you an respond to any situation. If you are never attacked, that will be wonderful. Training will still help you work out your fears, inhibitions, and anxieties. In the case of conflict, no one, not even a veteran, is ever sure that they will come out alive from a confrontation. But they resolve to go in there and give themselves a fighting chance. This in itself is a triumph over evil.

Personal Interpretation

When we are confronted with evil, we must resist it. While compassion and humility serve us well in times of peace, they fail to defend us in times of war. We must work to prepare for conflict. Martial art training can ready us to fend up would-be thieves and rapists. We can practice self-control in order to endure those who would cause emotional anguish. To train to fight the demons that populate our world is not necessarily to learn to wield a sword or fire a pistol. There are many means of preparing ourselves, physically, mentally, emotionally. Even if we never need to use the skills we gain by training, we have not wasted our time. The very act of training helps us to overcome our fears and inhibitions.

February 1st

Ubiquity


Tao is everywhere.
It cannot be kept from the sincere.

Tao originated in China and was an expression of that culture. It was intimately tied to a poetically agrarian view of the world, and it forged mysticism and pragmatism together. But now, most of us, even those in China, do not understand ancient words. Our farming is mechanized. Our poetry is written on computers. Does this make Tao invalid? No, it does not. Tao is still here, and if we are to follow Tao, we must rely not on old standards but on direct experience. Contemporary minds need contemporary concepts to interest them.If following Tao is as great as the masters claim, then it ought to be applicable to any situation and any race. Neither time, nor place, nor culture should be a barrier to the sincere seeker. Tao surrounds us; we need only guidance and understanding in order to connect with it.
Tao is not something esoteric. It is right here. The masters allude to this all the time. For them, anything -- from reading scriptures to attending the theater, from meditating to sweeping dung from the ground -- is Tao. They understand the ubiquitous nature of Tao and act accordingly. If masters still know Tao in this world of jet planes and electronic communication, then we can also absorb the essential message of Tao. Those who succeed might never talk of it, and yet everything they do will be spontaneously in tandem with Tao.

Personal Interpretation

 Just because the historic writings of Tao reference circumstances and processes that are foreign to the modern reader does not mean that Tao is obsolete. Time, place, and culture need not be barriers to accessing Tao. Tao is not something esoteric. It is available to us all. Those who succeed in knowing Tao may never mention it, but it will be obvious in the way they live their lives.

January 31st

Orientation


Planets orbit the sun.
Forms orbit the mind.

Most of us embody disparate aspects in our personalities; these are our forms, the way we take shape. If we aren't careful, we can become confused by such complexity. We should not deny any part of ourselves. We should arrange them. All elements are valid -- they must simply be placed in the right context.Those who follow Tao understand that a diverse personality is problematic only if some aspects dominate to the exclusion of the others. This is unbalanced. If there is constant alteration between all aspects, then equilibrium is possible. Like the planets, feelings, instincts, and emotions must be kept in a constantly rotating order. Then all things have their place and the problems of excess are avoided.
Just as the sun is at the center of our solar system, so too must the mind of wisdom be the center of our diverse personalities. If our minds are strong, then the various parts of our lives will be held firmly to their proper courses, and there will be no chance of deviation.

Personal Interpreation


Rather than deny aspects of our identities, we should embrace all that we are fully. We must seek balance in all that we do. Ideally, we should give expression to all elements in our personality. When some aspect dominates, we become unbalanced. All things have their place. Sometimes we must be more rational. Other situations require us to intuit. The mind should be the center of ourselves, the larger body around which other facets of ourselves revolve. We can use wisdom to keep everything in proper alignment.