June 29th

A sword is never sheathed
Until it has tasted blood.
A good swordsman
Is seldom seen with a sword.

Many centuries ago, there was a wanderer who was constantly chased by assassins. He was the best swordsman in the country. His challengers wanted to overcome him and thereby establish their own fame. Although the swordsman had long ago repented his killing and had renounced his status, he was still considered the best.Over and over, his enemies came for him, and just as many times he defeated them using things at hand -- umbrella, fan, sticks. He did not draw a real sword for he knew he was far too lethal when armed.
So it is that the wise remain humble so that others are not aroused against them. They avoid conflict whenever possible. If trouble comes to seek them, they use only the bare amount of force in return. To go further is to fall into excess.

Personal Interpretation


The truly skilled know how to avoid the use of weaponry. They recognize their own ability to destroy and make every effort to keep it in check. They use what is on hand and understand that a thing whose only purpose is to destroy can only bring heartache in its wake.  

June 28th

War

Weapons are tools of ill omen
Wielded by the ignorant.
If their use is unavoidable,
The wise act with restraint.
The greatest sorrow is to be a veteran,
Witness to the atrocities of humanity.

If you hold a real weapon in your hand, you will feel its character strongly. It begs to be used. It is fearsome. Its only purpose is death, and its power is not just in the material from which it is made but also from the intention of its makers.It is regrettable that weapons must sometimes be used, but occasionally, survival demands it. The wise go forth with weapons only as a last resort. They never rejoice in the skill of weapons, nor do they glorify war.
When death, pain, and destruction are visited upon what you hold to be most sacred, the spiritual price is devastating. What hurts more than one's own suffering is bearing witness to the suffering of others. The regret of seeing human beings at their worst and the sheer pain of not being able to help the victims can never be redeemed. If you go personally to war, you cross the line yourself. You sacrifice ideals for survival and the fury of killing. That alters you forever. That is why no one rushes to be a veteran. Think before you want to change so unalterably. The stakes are not merely one's life, but one's very humanity.

Personal Interpretation


War is a terrible thing and ought to be avoided when possible. Weapons must occasionally be used. They serve a purpose. The wise know that they should be a last defense though. They are skilled with the use of them but wield them only when there is no other choice. There is perhaps no fate worse than that of a veteran, for he or she has seen death, seen how humanity can be stripped away, endured the loss of the lives of others and also the loss of a part of his or her own soul. We should strive to create a world where veterans need not exist.

June 27th

Childhood


No. No. No.
This ruins a child.

Children are one of the most precious aspects of life, and yet they often are mistreated and abused. If you are a parent, your most important task is to raise your child with as little trauma as possible. Firmness, consistency, and patience are essential. There will undoubtedly be times when you have to correct a child to prevent mistakes and bad habits. However, when it comes to a child's curiosity, individuality, or initiative, there should never be any discouragement. In that sense, it is wrong to say no.There is a legend about a thief who stole into heaven and took the peaches that gave immortality. He returned to earth and was about to eat them when he chanced upon two little boys. Taken with their intelligence, he asked them riddle after riddle about the deepest meanings of life and they answered with laughing ease. The thief decided to share his peaches with the boys, and they all became immortal.
If the boys had had their curiosity killed early in life, could they have answered well? If a thief could be kind to children, can't the rest of us be too? And if the children never had an opportunity, could they have become immortals?

Personal Interpretation


The treatment of children often determines their functionality as adults and a society can only be as good as its constituent members. The importance of raising children who have opportunities for growth then, cannot be overrated. Discipline is necessary of course, but there is no reason for undue discouragement. Above all, children should be invited to ask questions, for how else will they learn about their world?  Adults too can learn a thing or two from children whose minds are unobstructed by the worries of the world.

June 26th

Unfortunate


An unfortunate one is a rootless ghost,
His walk a mad angel's gait.
Insolent steps of one thrown from heaven
To toil in red dust,
As if he had not had enough
In a thousand previous lifetimes.
Where is his heart? Where is his soul?
To call this heaven's will
Is a cheap answer.

There was once a god who committed a crime. His punishment was to be thrown back to earth to suffer the misfortunes of being human.When you see those less fortunate than yourself, whether they are the homeless on the streets or simply the ugly and unpopular, can you be sure that they are not like that god flung back to this mad planet?
Is their misfortune their own fault? Or do you explain with references to morality, destiny, reincarnation, and cosmic justice? Even the words of saints offer no relief for their suffering, so it hardly seems fair to blame them.
Let us not hold ourselves above our fellow human beings, no matter how great the disparity. To withhold your scorn is already beautiful. To see how we are all of one family is compassion.

Personal Interpretation


We can never know the exact causes of the misfortune our brethren endure. But does that mean that they are any less deserving of our compassion? It shouldn't. Taoism is concerned less with the question "Why?", for inherent in this little word is consideration of forces that often cannot be known. Taoists should concern themselves more with what is, should act in accordance with the present situation.  Withholding disapproval is lovely. To understand that we are part of the same fabric as those who suffer, and to respond with kindness, is an unparalleled kind of comprehension and wisdom.

June 25th

Cultivation


Imagine a sculpture
You work on every day.
If you stop, the beauty
Will slowly go away.

What if you were at work on a beautiful sculpture but your material reverted or decayed if you ever ceased to progress? This is the unfortunate nature of spiritual efforts.You can never stop trying to purify yourself, improve yourself, strengthen yourself, and cultivate the sacred that is inside you. If you do well one day, that is good. But if you cease your efforts, you will slide backwards. That is why you must strive on every level, from the physical to the mental to the spiritual. Your vigilance must never flag. Your determination must never waver.
Paradoxically, there is nothing to achieve. It is only our minds that convince ourselves that we must do something. We are already pure, already sacred. But we live in a polluted world, we have egotistical thoughts that constantly divide us from the true Tao, and we cannot remain forever in a pure state and still function in the world. If you attained the higher levels of Tao, you would appear to an outsider as if in a trance, and it would be impossible to interact with others. So if you are trying to be spiritual in today's world, you must never cease striving to keep yourself pure. Once you are not with Tao, you must constantly struggle with the impurity of the world.

Personal Interpretation


Spiritual efforts must be ongoing. We are works in progress and we will never be complete. There's a certain beauty in this undeniable truth. What would we be if we could become no more?

We live in a polluted world and must constantly work to purify our spirits, but we must also live in the world. This is why it is so crucial that we seek the quiet of contemplation. Our lives are about falling out of balance and seeking to regain it. When we understand this, when we accept it, the ups and downs suddenly fit into our conception of our lives and things make more sense than they did before.

When we are perceptive and practice vigilance, we can thrive amid the chaos.

June 24th

Diversity


Gods have many faces,
But true divinity has no face.

There are so many gods in the world. Taoists have their pantheon. The Buddhists, Hindus, and other religions have theirs. The Islamic and Judeo-Christian schools may be monotheistic, but their sects differ vastly from one another. Those who follow Tao assert that each of us sees the divine in our own way. Is there one god, or many?Among those who follow Tao, there are those who say that if there are gods, then everyone is a god. You are god. There is nothing in the sky, and no one lives your life but you. Whatever one believes in terms of deities is fine. It's all individual preference, and it ultimately means self-awareness. But there is something beyond the diversity of gods, and that is the absolute.
That which is absolute is formless. Thus Tao is nameless and faceless. We cannot consider Tao our god. That would be to give it form and therefore bring it back into the world where the myriad things have names. We use the word Tao for convenience only, but in fact, we are referring to a deep mystery. As long as we live in the world of diversity, whether it is the frantic pace of our professional lives or the involvement with all the gods of the world, we will not be with Tao. It is only when we leave the diversity of existence and find the formless absolute that we reach Tao.

Personal Interpretation


 Tao is the absolute, the void to which all things return. We cannot know it completely as long as we are a part of this world. We can however connect to the gods of our choosing. It is best to worship that which feels genuine to our hearts and spirits. That which enables us to live the best possible life, both for ourselves and for others.

June 23rd

Worship

Adoration of your god is more beautiful than lovers, more fulfilling than feasts, more valuable than mammon. It provides greater shelter than palaces. Proper worship is joyous and ecstatic.If you have a limited view of worship, you can always lose sight of holiness. When you are on a junior level of achievement, you can turn away from your gods at any time. Those who follow Tao know that Tao is not the god on the altar; they therefore see their god in their every action and never lose sight of the divine.
Gods can be worshipped, but the Tao can't be worshipped. Why? Because gods lead to good things and inspire our highest devotion. As magnificent as this is to imagine, it is still limited when compared to the eternity of Tao. Tao has no definitions, no limit, no personal or individual consciousness. Thus, to worship Tao is meaningless, for our effort would be lost in an infinite sea. There is no supplication to it, for it will not respond. There is no adoration of it, for it displays no glory. There is no ecstatic union with it, for it has no differentiations. Tao is great. Tao is eternal. Anything limited and small -- even worship -- disappears in it. One can only enter Tao to become a part of its limitlessness.

Personal Interpretation


Tao is infinite and without form or differentiation. Thus, it cannot be truly worshiped. Supplication will accomplish nothing. When we direct our prayers to our gods, we should know that they are contained within the universal force that is Tao. One can practice Tao and also be an adherent of any of a number of faiths. If we should take anything away from the study of Tao, it is this: peace comes when we quiet our minds and reconnect to our truest selves. We must strip away the world from time to time and remember what is truly important.

June 22nd

Renunciation


Wine's pleasure,
Love's intoxication,
Work's obsession,
Children's involvement,
Age's sorrow.
When will craving end?

Originally there was nothing. It is to nothing that we return. Differentiation came out of the interplay of cosmic opposites. Human life became mired in complexities, and this constant diversity is stressful and disruptive. We ourselves add to the problem with our own lusts and ambitions. We intoxicate ourselves, we indulge in sensual gratification, we strive for success in our careers, we commit decades to the raising of children. All this, only to be caught in the closing jaws of old age, gradually hemmed in until there is no alternative other than sorrows, infirmities, and senility.Duty is inevitable, but we need not saddle ourselves with extra responsibilities. Keep life simple. Give up as much as possible. Renounce unnecessary cravings and desires. Leave behind the trappings of wealth and success. Turn toward the divine. It satisfies, it brings knowledge, and it brings joy.

Personal Interpretation

We are responsible for much of the complication that comes to define our lives. It is crucial that we come to understand the value of renunciation. We need not give everything up, but engaging in the act of simplification will improve matters. Perhaps in ways we had not anticipated. Let us live in accordance with our values. And while goal-setting is essential, let us not allow our entire selves to be bound to the successful reaching of those goals.

June 21st

Solstice


When the true light appears,
The entire planet turns to face it.

The summer solstice is the time of greatest light. It is a day of enormous power. The whole planet is turned fully to the brilliance of the sun.This great culmination is not static or permanent. Indeed, solstice as a time of culmination is only a barely perceptible point. The sun appears to stand still. Its diurnal motion seems to nearly cease. Yesterday, it was still reaching this point; tomorrow, it will begin a new phase of its cycle.
Those who follow Tao celebrate this day to remind themselves of the cycles of existence. They remember that all cycles have a left and a right, an up side and a down side, a zenith and a nadir. Today, day far surpasses night, and yet night will gradually begin to reassert itself. All of life is cycles. All of life is balance.
So celebrate, but be not proud. For whenever you celebrate high achievement, the antithesis is also approaching. Likewise, in misfortune, be not sad. For whenever you mourn in grief, the antithesis is also approaching. Those who know how to reach the peak of any cycle and remain glorious are the wisest of all.

Personal Interpretation

The summer solstice is a time of celebration, for it marks the one day of the year when the sun shines most brilliantly. Even as we celebrate though, we should be aware that darker times are approaching, quite literally. The opposite is true during the Winter Solstice. Symbolically, our lives will contain both light and dark times and the wise know how to remain balanced during such moments. Misfortune will not last forever. Neither will fortune. There are times for celebration and time for supplication. It all balances out in the end. When we strengthen ourselves and don't allow our resolve to be dictated by the events in our lives, we can weather any storm. And we are the better for it.

June 20th

Altar


Each day I forge my body into steel
And fold in bright strands of consciousness.
Piling up ripe fruit and fragrant flowers,
Lighting red candles and incense,
Serving tea, rice, and wine.
Anointing with aromatic oils,
Offering heart and bones,
The altar is my anvil, sun and moon the coals,
Discipline the hammer, lungs the bellows.

Followers of Tao have private altars in their homes. The pious see an altar only for supplication; the skeptical see the altar as false and insincere. Actually, devotional effort is absolutely necessary for those beginning on the path.True spiritual cultivation begins with the premise that you already have a pure spirit and only need to clear away obfuscations. Thus one must work on both the physical and mental levels in order to achieve the quickest results. Such varied efforts need a strong center. By focusing on the altar as the platform for all practices, you will keep yourself strongly on your path. The outward acts then pile up like offerings after offerings, and the outward votive furniture becomes your means of memorializing your efforts. Then your body itself becomes a steel altar, an unshakable monument to spiritual devotion.

Personal Interpretation

The altar is important to new practitioners of Tao because it provides a central platform from which to offer thanks and reflect on one's self and the Universe beyond. In time, one's self will become the altar. We must live with the goal of making ourselves a testament to our faith. Sacrifices will need to be made. Thanks should be given even when it is not so keenly felt. Strengthening our muscles and controlling our breathing can help us to focus on what truly matters. In the end, the physical and the spiritual meld into one.

June 19th

Shrine

Wade the warm stream to
The shrine across the river of golden sound,
Where a drunken bee drones the holy syllable
Over a crimson lotus.
Rich mango magenta and spice offerings
Are piled high by the devout.
Entering into hut of blue stone --
Cool black interior smeared with incense and
Pierced with tiny triangles of candle flame --
Ordinary cares fall to the crystalline floor.
Fiery letters appear in the air
And reappear in your heart.

It is good to have holy places in the world, and it is good for us to go on pilgrimages. Ultimately, it is not the place that is important; it is what you feel that is lasting. To visit a place is minor; to change within yourself is greater.When people visit a holy place, some say that the spirits of that place speak to them. Others remember the exotic pageantry. When it comes to sacred sites, it's better to be a pilgrim than a tourist. Go with a humble attitude, and let your heart be moved by what you experience. Then you will receive the true treasure of the shrine.

Personal Interpretation



The feeling that one gets when in a holy place is more important than the place itself or the journey there. We should approach shrines with the attitude of humble adherents to wisdom. We should empty our minds so that we can truly experience the wonder of the place we've chosen for our pilgrimage.

June 18th

Armor

Ripe fruit, crisp greens, live grain,
Vital roots, tender meat, spring water.
Growing essence nourishes your own.
Essence alloyed with breath makes you flexible but hard.
The sage's body is armored.
The sage is impervious to death.

Those who follow Tao speak of three treasures in the body : essence, breath, and spirit. Essence is the biochemical aspect of your body, nurtured by the food you eat, and regulated by the quality of your hormones. Therefore, all your food should be packed and glowing with energy. Eat food as close to its source as possible. Pray before you eat, for everything that you take, whether plant or animal, is living. You must consume to survive, but when you die, acknowledge that you will become food for others.To build the breath, work and exercise diligently. Build stamina and discipline yourself. You will gain great flexibility combined with hardened flesh, and you will be graceful. Immunity to minor physical traumas as well as many kinds of illness will be yours.
The ultimate training of the spirit begins with the question of death. The sages see beyond dying. Though they must die, they also know that nothing is lost because no one owns body or mind anyway. Those who follow Tao safeguard themselves and live their spirituality with a realistic appreciation of death. The establishment of essence, breath, and spirit is like wearing armor; the travails of the world mean nothing.

Personal Interpretation

Essence, breath, and spirit are the essential components of our being, and each must be nurtured if we are to remain vital. The physical self is our essence and must be nourished by nutritious, energy-filled food. The breath is tended through exercise. the spirit is care for through the act of meditation and disconnect from the human condition. Together, these three constitute a kind of armor that all sages don. The greatest challenge is to be at one with the notion of death, a concept that most of us have been trained to view with dread. When we can distance ourselves from the fate of the body, we are truly one with Tao.

June 17th

Sage


Ancient sages lived in forests and
Wandered from village to village.
Sharing openly, teaching the people
Without profit or ownership.

There were more holy aspirants in ancient times. These men and women cultivated themselves in the mountains or wandered among forests and streams. When they came to a village and saw that there was some knowledge that could be imparted to the people, they did so openly. Once they taught what was necessary, they disappeared, knowing that others would follow behind them. They did not establish religious schools, temples, or philosophies bearing their names. They knew knowledge did not belong to anyone. It could not be owned, parceled out for profit, or withheld selfishly.Nowadays, many people regard knowledge as a mere commodity to be packaged, marketed, and sold. Their interest is not in benefit for others' souls but for their own pocketbooks. For example, one contemporary master requires a thousand ounces of gold before he will teach a single technique. We live in a world where the selfless sharing of knowledge is no longer a virtue.
The more knowledge that you give away, the more will come to you. The more you hoard, the less you will accumulate. Be compassionate to others. What do you have to fear by being open?

Personal Interpretation

Perhaps it is because I am a librarian, but today's message resonates with me. There should be no monopoly on knowledge. It should not be a commodity, but a public good. While we live in a world where an infinite amount of information is available at our fingertips, we don't process it as we should. Indeed, we can't process it when we're always taking in so much of it. It is good to disconnect from time to time. Focus is an important skill that is increasingly difficult to cultivate. Our world is simply not as simple as it once was. There will be times when we will all need to turn to our sages to determine the best way forward. We all have the potential to act as sages and should do so when the opportunity presents itself. The act of processing is what transforms information into knowledge, and the right knowledge can make all the difference in the direction of our lives and spiritual growth.

June 16th

Meditation

Sit still and disengage normal activities.
Draw energy from the earth,
Admit power from the heavens.
Fertilize the seed within;
Let it sprout into a flower of pure light.
And let brightness open the top of your head:
Divine light will come pouring in.
Your mind is empty,
Light seeps into your whole body.
Sitting cross-legged, with hands clasped,
As if trying to embrace the brilliant flood,
Your skin turns transparent.
How can a bag of skin hold divine magnitude?
Your last vestiges burn away in a torrent of infinity.

Only after indeterminate time do you return.
Flesh, blood, bone.
Were you gone? Or were you never here in the first place?
Where is the torrent?
It is not gone;
You've only closed to it once more.

Personal Interpretation

There are many misconceptions about the act of meditation. It need not last for hours at a time or involve elaborate ritual. The important thing is to regulate breathing and allow Tao to enter. We have to let go of our worries from time to time, disengage from all activity, rejoice in the beauty of solitude, reconnect with all that is. It is by letting go that we hold onto ourselves best in a world that is increasingly fast-paced and chaotic. There is genuine joy in quietude. It might take time to master, but in the end it will make us more capable of living our lives as we see fit. 

June 15th

Totality


Those who consider their path superior are condescending.
A parrot who speaks of the totality of the self is absurd.
Many paths lead to the summit,
But it takes a whole body to get there.

Once I met a woman who was a lifelong Christian. She had two sons who practiced yoga. She thought that was wonderful, but they arrogantly considered their beliefs to be superior to hers and told her that she was not doing enough for her spiritual salvation.No one has a right to condemn another person's spiritual beliefs. No spiritual system is superior to another. Each one of us should have the philosophy and practices that work for us. We should be happy once we find it, we should help those who are interested in the spirituality we represent, but none of us should behave condescendingly toward others' spirituality.
We are all trying to get to the summit of spiritual realization, and there are many valid paths leading to the top. Of course, the view and terrain on one side of a mountain will differ from the other, but the summit is identical no matter what your approach.
Whatever your path, all that matters is that you commit yourself totally to following it. Others will do the same. As long as we all climb, each from our own direction, and reach the summit of human spirituality, we can achieve complete totality in our lives. Then all the fracturing discussions of sects and different religions become unnecessary.

Personal Interpretation

Spiritual practice is more about the journey than the destination, for the ultimate result of a life of carefully-cultivated spiritual practice is a totality of vision that didn't exist before, an unveiling of the self to the self. How we reach the summit of the mountain is essential for our selves, but it does not invalidate other paths. Our truth is not the ultimate truth. How can it be in a world that is necessarily reduced to what can be seen, felt, heard, smelled, tasted?

We should all proceed with an open mind and an open heart. When we are receptive to the wisdom of others, we grow. And when compassion cares nothing for religious and spiritual "lines in the sand," true communion is finally possible.

When we speak of God or Allah or The Universe or Tao, we are referencing the same vital force of creation. And when we let this force into our lives, we are enriched and inspired.

June 14th

Master


Deception occurs when you are divided,
Truth appears when you are whole.
Uniting male and female brings illumination,
The real master is a perfect light.

No one is ineligible to know higher truth. When concentration, energy, and thinking are scattered, we cannot break out of ignorance. The diversity and contradictions of existence confuse us, and appearances deceive us.Do we need a master to help us in this struggle to know the truth? In the beginning we do. What is not often said is that the human master is but a temporary and imperfect manifestation of the ultimate truth. Without a master, you cannot make a beginning. If you never look beyond the person, you will never attain the entirety. A good master leads you to the true master within. Only that master, who is your own higher self, can adequately answer all questions.
Once you unite all elements within yourself, metaphorically referred to as the uniting of male and female, the light that dispels darkness appears. Just as all colored light together makes colorless light, so too does the combination of all our facets result in the integration of our polarities. When this happens, you will "see" a light in your meditations. This light brings knowledge. That is why it is called the true master.

Personal Interpretation


A higher truth is accessible to us all. We just have to learn to hone our minds so that they can receive the pure energy of Tao. In the beginning this may require the guidance of a master. The word guidance is key. Our explorations and epiphanies will be our own. The Master's role is to share his or her wisdom and give us some inkling of where we should begin the quest. The ultimate goal is to reunite the divided aspects of our own selves. When thinking is scattered, the picture will never be clear and the path forward will remain hidden from sight. We are capable of more than we imagine though, and with practice we can gain a sense of clarity that will make every moment of struggle worth it.

June 13th

Censorship

Emperors uphold censorship,
But extreme repression leads to extreme reaction.
Individualists believe in freedom,
But extreme expression leads to extreme reaction.

The emperors of China and Rome punished any expression that displeased them. Whether it was dissent, unpleasant news, or a portrait that disgusted them, they were ready to destroy the perpetrators without hesitation. Today, there are democracies but no less a tendency to punish dissent, manipulate information, or castigate artists. Those in power should be careful : Push the people too far, and they will rebel.Artists from early on have tried to push the limits of their expression. Driven by the desire to create, they have sought to strike down every boundary. But as long as they do this in a social setting, they should not outpace their audiences. Those who create must be careful : Challenge the people too much, and they will rebel.
So there are two extremes. The desires of the powerful, who feel that censorship is a just tool, and the tendencies of the creative, who feel that they should have no limits to their freedom. Those who follow Tao avoid these extremes. They avoid becoming the ruler, for such a position is fraught with danger, hypocrisy, and disappointment. Neither will they become the grandstanding artist; to arouse others is likewise dangerous. If they must rule, they use compassion as their standard. If they do create, they find satisfaction in self-expression. Above all, they avoid any extreme that will take them from Tao.

Personal Interpretation


 Pushing the limits is useful to a point, but take it too far and there will be revolt. Many rulers throughout the ages have valued oppression, but freedom can only be denied for so long before the people refuse to live under such a system. Likewise, many artists have made a living destroying boundaries, challenging the status quo, and creating unchecked. This tendency too can sow the seeds for rebellion. Whether our extreme actions hinder free expression or let it rule unchecked, chaos is the only thing that can result from taking these things to their extremes. We need boundaries. They help us to make sense of our world. But so too do we need to look outside them from time to time. As with all things, a balance is best.

June 12th

Navigation


Do you know
Where you are
On your journey?

Tao's movement has been compared to the flow of rivers. Its vastness has been compared to that of oceans. Some people are content to float here and there with the tide, but for others, such passivity is impossible. We have to navigate.Like early explorers on the high seas, we know where we want to go. That's when studying precedence is important. The wisdom of those who went before us is like a map. The truths regarding Tao are like the stars. We determine our goals, and we set out according to what we know and what we learn. The future is always uncertain; that is why it is important to objectively evaluate where we are on our spiritual path.
If you are confronted with a pivotal decision and cannot think of any other way to act, write down all the good things and all the bad things about a given situation. Also include how much more you want to do. See if staying your course will give you what you want. If not, change, no matter how deeply that will disrupt your routines. Some people never know where they are in life, and that is one of the biggest reasons that they are unhappy.

Personal Interpretation


It's important to ask ourselves where we are on our journey. Are we happy? Will continuing to follow the path we've chosen lead to happiness? The future is always uncertain. This is why it is best to make goals but not be define ourselves by them. We should look to those who have gone before us, survey the landscape of our lives, and if we find no compelling reason to stay the course, then we should change it. This change can be frightening. It can disrupt many areas of our lives. In the end though, if it leads to a greater sense of well-being, it is worth it. We must be mindful of our own lives if we are to make a wise decision. Should we accept that things are as they are or should we change? The choice is ours, but it need not be made in isolation. There is wisdom to be gleaned from Tao and from those who have walked the road we walk before we did. We should take advantage of it. Then we can truly live a life of no regrets.

June 11th

Accessibility


As long as the sun rises
And your heart beats,
Tao is at hand.

People think that Tao can only be known through fairy-tale stories of old men in the mountains or obscure poetry about gods riding dragons. Others declare that elaborate ritual, frightening talismans, and mumblings from the depths of spirit possession are necessary for understanding. This is simply not true. Why put another's experience before your own? Tao is in each of us. Admittedly, an individual's common ignorance usually obscures awareness of Tao, but this does not mean that there is no Tao or that it is not important. Tao is there for us to experience any time that we can open ourselves to it. 

Is the sun shining? Does night follow day? Is the sky blue? Do you have feeling? Then it is possible to know Tao directly and immediately. Don't delay, don't think yourself too insignificant. Feel for it. Right now. As long as you are alive, Tao is right at hand.

Personal Interpretation


 One need not perform elaborate rituals or be possessed by spirits to know Tao. It is everywhere life exists and it manifests itself in different ways to different people. Many of us are blind to its machinations, but meditation can teach us to become more aware of the role it plays in our lives. We are often more capable and worthy than we give ourselves credit for.

June 10th

Truth


There are three levels of truth :
Experience, reasoning, and knowing.
All other assertions should be rejected.

The first type of truth is experience. Once you have experienced something, you know it. No person can persuade you otherwise.The second type is truth gained by reasoning. In this case, the truth cannot be immediately verified because the subject is too small (like atomic particles) or too large (like the movement of planets through time) or too abstract (like ideas). Something may be true, but its truth is borne out by analysis rather than physical testing.
Either of these two types of truths has a range of validity. They are relative. Therefore, though truths are superior to falsehood, opinions, beliefs, and superstition, they each have limits. There is a third type of truth that is different from these two.
This is a way of direct spiritual knowing. Wholly internal, this mode is the direct experiencing of truth through the opening of higher faculties. Meditation gives one perceptions of absolute certainty. There is no doubt or need of other investigations; this knowledge is beyond words, descriptions, and rationalization. In fact, one must be careful not to let the fruits of one's meditations pass into the realm of rationalization. This will subject you to the relativity of external truths and ruin your confidence. To avoid doubts and conflicting opinions, followers of Tao keep their revelations secret. Then what is known directly is absolutely yours.

Personal Interpretation


There are three types of truth: truth gained through experience, truth gained through reasoning, and truth gained through meditative reflection. While the first two are subjective, the third is not determined by sensory input or analysis.  Spiritual truth is known on a higher level of consciousness and while we have no means of proving our experience of it to others, this does not invalidate our experience. It is best to keep our spiritual revelations to ourselves. Attempting to prove their truth will prove fruitless and may cause us to question the validity and preciousness of what we have known.

June 9th

Superstition


The voices of ghosts are so familiar,
They whisper to me every day.
You, so young and rich,
Make assumptions with absolute assurance.
I vacillate between superstition and tradition.
You don't need to question.

Tradition is the oral delivery of rites and customs from generation to generation. Superstition is belief inconsistent with what society generally considers true and rational. When tradition and superstition become bound together, it is a sign of trouble. For example, a woman was once taught not to wash her hair on anybody's birthday. Whenever she protested this, the answer was "Don't question!" Years later, she learned that in the old country, letting one's hair down was a sign of mourning and thus inauspicious on a birthday. What was etiquette in one generation became superstition in another.Those raised with traditions and superstitions are often torn between the extremes of biculturalism. Their inbred beliefs conflict with current knowledge and quickly changing culture, creating doubt and uncertainty.
There has to be informed revision to all tradition if it is not to degenerate into superstition. The true substance of any tradition will take new form without compromising its inherent character. If not, it will just become the outmoded beliefs of old people, and it will fade into ghostly whispers.

Personal Interpretation

Superstition has its root in tradition that is never questioned. When the context is lost and we don't stop to reflect on the meaning of our actions, we find ourselves going through the motions without knowing why we do it. This is an unmindful and ignorant way of living our lives. Let us not fear that tradition will be lost to time. When we truly understand what's important we can translate it in a way that makes sense in the place and time we ourselves occupy. Fear and hatred can arise from superstition, and there's no reason to allow these vices to muddy our vision for the future.

June 8th

Writer

She withdrew into herself,
First writing just for one,
Then touching thousands.
She incarnated ghosts, hurt, and joy
Into paper-and-ink stories of wonder.

One author said, "I can get rid of anything by writing about it," meaning that the process of externalization could liberate him from the pain in his soul. That realization produced a delicious dichotomy : to free himself, or to hold on to both joys and tortures by remaining silent about them.Writer write because they must : They need to express something from deep within themselves. They hear voices that others do not. They listen urgently, and they must communicate what they hear.
People feel Tao in the same way that writers feel something unique. In the process of listening for mysterious voices and expressing the wonder that comes is a magic akin to the perfection of Tao.

Personal Interpretation


When we write, we often do so for personal reasons, but our joys and sorrows then become the property of the world. There is wonder in being able to share in the triumphs and tribulations of another. As a writer feels the urge to write for expression and release, so does the wise practitioner give expression to Tao through the life he or she chooses to live. Tao is the source of all creation. Artists sense this truth more than those who are unattuned to the energy. But like anything else, we can be taught to expand our frame of reference and live within Tao. Let us look to the writer for inspiration!

June 7th

Dying


Leaden blankets weigh her down,
White hanks drape her leathery face.
Caught in the numbness of narrowing time,
Eyes blinded by gauze,
Robotic sights echo into her coma.
Metallic hiss of breathing machine is the
Strange violence of modern compassion.

What do we do when those we care deeply about are dying, while we go on living and working? We might be tempted to indulge in our own feeling of injustice, sadness, or fear, but we should think first of those who are dying. We have a responsibility to be with them.Don't let others die lonely. No matter how ironic your living may compare with their dying, act for them as they can no longer act. If they reach out for some way to cope with their impending end, you need not have flowery words. Merely being with them, perhaps reaching out to hold hands, is eloquence enough. Death may be near, but any amount of time before it comes is precious.
Life's moments are not cheapened by death. Just to observe and affirm is good. After all, death waits for all of us. Only the value we place on each minute determines the quality of life. If we can embrace that, then no one's life is ruined by death.

Personal Interpretation


We must strive to be present in the moment. When the ones we love are nearing death's door, we should seek to comfort them rather than indulging in selfish feelings of premature mourning. Fancy words aren't necessary. Sometimes our presence is the greatest gift we can bestow. Life is not cheapened by the inevitability of death. We will all die one day.  By placing value on each precious moment, we create a life that is worthy of being memorialized.

June 6th

Optimal


If you are best in the morning,
Cultivate Tao in the morning.
If you are best in the evening,
Cultivate Tao in the evening.

Whatever the optimal time of day is for you, you should devote it to the cultivation of Tao. For example, dawn, when it is quiet, the world is fresh, and the mind is untainted by the day's events, is an ideal time to devote yourself to study. Morning, the time of birth, should not be wasted on a quick breakfast, a hastily read newspaper, and a manic rush to work. If is far better to awake from peaceful sleep, wash yourself, drink clear water, and immerse yourself in the rising energy of the day.If your optimal time is evening, there are two propitious intervals : twilight, when day and night come into balance, and midnight, when the first breath of the coming day arises. In the night, worldly cares are put aside, rest and relaxation are paramount, and the entire world withdraws into nocturne. Night is the time of regeneration, and it should not be wasted on wanton entertainment, indulgent sexuality, and too much sleep. It is far better to retire from the cares of the day, bathe, and immerse yourself in the gestating power of the dark.

Personal Interpretation


We should seek to cultivate Tao when our energy is highest. For some this will be in the morning when they have just waken and the day has yet to reveal itself to them. For others it will be the space between day and night. Still others will find the focus they need at midnight when the rest of the world is sleeping. It is not important when we choose to meditate and reflect on ourselves and our connection to the Divine. What is important is that we do it and at a time of day when we can give ourselves fully to it.

June 5th

Inseparable


The trunk is hollow,
But the branches live.
The void is fundamental,
But the ten thousand things are diverse.
Therefore, wanderers free themselves of cares
And follow Tao in great delight.

The base of a tree may occasionally be hollow, yet the trunk can rise a hundred feet to support a lushly growing crown. Tao may be void, but the world has great profusion. This is because there is no separation between void and phenomena. Therefore, Tao cannot be gained from denying the world.Void is a part of all reality and thus has tangibility. The great Tao permeates the world and so it can be studied in the world. All that needs to be known about Tao's manifestation can be known by traveling through life. All experiences are valid, for all experiences are of Tao.
In all of life, the only thing that separates from Tao is the human ego, because one places oneself before all other things. By contrast, those who follow Tao divest themselves of self-importance and desire for success. They prefer to follow Tao as it flows through the land. They move from place to place as they intuitively sense its direction. Feeling the divine energy, they live in its vital flow. These wanderers have glimpsed the void that is in them and in all things. They delight in life but never see more than void.

Personal Interpretation


There is no distinction between the void and the world that exists because of it. The profusion of life and experience and the hollowness of Tao are part of the same whole and work to support one another. Delight is found in following Tao, and the best way of doing that is to live life to its fullest. We should enjoy each and every blessed moment we're given, but seek also to know the truth behind what we know. There is always potential, always something to be filled. When we empty ourselves, we can prepare ourselves to receive this truth and our lives can be improved by the experience. The value of a thing is in its manifestation, but the usefulness of the thing is created by the emptiness that, not unlike a bowl or well, holds and supports it.

June 4th

June 4th

Enjoyment


Sleek sky of cobalt blue;
Water like nectar satisfies deeply.
Air sweeter than the best perfume;
Sunlight warms a grateful cat.

It is hard to believe life is all for naught. Can't we take happiness when it comes?There is admittedly a great deal of suffering and horror in this world. But if we are to accept life's sad parts, we must also embrace its good parts. As long as we are in this world, we must accept it all. If what comes our way is occasionally wonderful, no one should deny our enjoyment. We all know that every rise is followed by a fall. Why dwell only on dread of the future? As long as we have behaved responsibly, there is nothing wrong with enjoying the best of what life has to offer.
Look at a cat as she stretches out contentedly in the sun. There is no thought of the next moment, only the sheer enjoyment of the present. Rest assured that she will still be able to clean herself, still be able to catch mice, and still be able to do all the things that a cat must do. But she is without anxieties, and so she is purely and totally who she should be. She acts as if she were nature's favorite. And who is to say otherwise?

Personal Interpretation

Today is about enjoyment, and it just so happens to be my birthday today. And what day in a person's life is more worthy of celebration? The difficulties of life will never cease. Hardship will come our way. But so will joy. Why deny happiness because of a fixation on the unpleasantness of a future that has yet to manifest itself? Let us enjoy each and every precious moment that we are given and strive to live in the present.

June 3rd

Sheaths

Traditional sages describe a human being as having three sheaths. The outer one is the physical body and incorporates primitive drives and instincts. The inner one is the mind and includes discrimination, reasoning, and sense of individuality.Both the body and the mind are enslaved to the outer world because they gain their knowledge from sensory input. They cannot know anything "intangible," anything without a form or a name.
At the core of every person is the soul. This is a pure, virgin self. It does not think in the ordinary sense of the word, has no egotism, and is not concerned with maintaining itself in the world. Although the body has a shape and the mind is multi-faceted, the soul is completely without form or features. No markings, profiles, names, formulas, numbers, ideas, or conceptions can be projected upon it. It is pure, shapeless, and empty.
Any person with training can reach this soul. Only then can you be convinced of its presence. When you reach it, your body and mind will become irrelevant, for you are now in a state beyond the senses and beyond thought. The soul is called absolute because it is beyond all relativity.

Personal Interpretation


The body and the mind are both slaves to subjectivity. We rely on our senses to relay information and come to conclusions based on that input. But there is also a part of each of us that is pure and untainted by the world. There is the soul. It is not concerned with egotism. Its greatest ambition is to be one with all that is. It is both simple and profound, and we can reach it through prayer and meditation. To say that it is an empty and shapeless thing is not to do it some grave injustice. Indeed, it is capable of being what it is because of these defining characteristics. It is not forced to take a certain form by the world. It simply is. Its emptiness allows it to be filled. It is the structure that makes each of us who we truly are. Life is a process of trying to regain the beautiful virgin purity of the soul, and while it is an arduous quest, there is no undertaking more worthwhile.

June 2nd

Blame


Though others have faults,
Concentrate on your own.

Some people have the habit of blaming others. Perhaps all of us have this weakness. The list of scapegoats for our miseries is clever and endless. Parents, community, teachers, government, and even demons and gods are all invoked when we have problems. If difficulties truly come from the outside, the problem is not blame. For those cases, the course of action is very clear : Neutralize that influence. If the problem comes from within, the solution must come from within as well. Before you blame friends, relatives, or teachers for bad habits and shortsightedness, you should remember that no one is to blame but yourself.It is an equal mistake to lose self-esteem simply because you have some flaws. Looking at your shortcomings and taking steps to eliminate them should be viewed as a dispassionate project. You are not worthless because you undertake to rise above your faults. That description is only for those who never attempt to perfect themselves. We all have a perfect core, a special self inside. That purity is perfect and holy; therefore, no one is worse than another.
We are all on this planet simply to reach back into that pure self. When we reach that spirit, there are no flaws and there is no blame.

Personal Interpretation


We should be careful about blaming others for mistakes that rest with us. If someone is making our life difficult, we always have the option to minimize their influence. There is no need to resort to blaming. And rather than losing ourselves in our own faults (which we are sometimes quick to blame others for), we always have the choice to evaluate and improve in a dispassionate way. None of us is worthless. Beneath the accumulation of our human traits lies a perfect soul. This life is about regaining the purity that is lost to the world. It is a noble quest and one which requires that we evaluate our own lives from time to time, make the changes we believe will bring about the best results, and allow ourselves to feel the love and peace that are our birthright.

June 1st

Sleep


Sleep is like a swift train
Plunging into long black tunnels,
Slicing day with red and black light.
No worry about the skeleton engineer.
Head to pillow is like head to track,
Listening to the rumble of destiny,
Knowing that the opening will come.
In sleep, as in the tunnels,
The sound seems ever closer.

When you sleep, some insist that the world as you know it ceases to exist. The world exists because something inside of you asserts that it is so. When awake, are you then no longer dreaming? Or are you just dreaming another dream?Going to sleep takes letting go. As any insomniac will tell you, it can't be forced. But we so identify control with waking, is it possible that the uncontrolled aspect of sleep is an equal reality?
Sleep seems so real, and then we awake. Waking life seems so real, and yet we need to let go of it every day. This strange contrast is one that those who follow Tao contemplate continually. If life is mere shifting from one dream to another, they constantly ask : What is truly real?

Personal Interpretation

Sleep is a letting go of sorts. Some suggest that our world ceases to exist when we drift into sleep. Dreams can seem more real than waking life. Conversely, waking life can come to feel unreal to us. The dichotomy between our waking and sleeping lives lends itself well to a discussion of reality and our role in it.