September 5th

Receptivity

I want to make myself an empty room:
Quiet whitewashed walls with slant sunshine
And a fresh breeze through open windows.


Some days are extremely fluid, and all possible courses of action are equally attractive. Rather than do something arbitrary, it is far better to empty oneself completely. Then the more subtle currents of life may be felt. One should avoid the mistake of random action. Arbitrary action will most likely be out of accord with the times. It is artificial, a structure that we impose from our own thought. Such movements are invariably stilted and wooden; they do not have the fresh perfection of the natural.
We do not have enough peace. Yet peace will never be attained by perpetual action. Stirred water never has the chance to settle clear. A tree buffeted by winds can never grow straight. Give up all unnecessary activity. Give up all arbitrary actions. Make yourself receptive. The peace that you seek shall be quickly at hand.


Personal Interpretation

Every action that we take should be purposeful. When there seems to be nothing to do, we should seek the refuge of meditation. By quieting our minds, we open ourselves to Spirit and allow our souls to realign with Tao. Like the tree that is constantly buffeted by strong winds, we cannot grow straight if we do not cultivate peace. And peace is not coincidental-it is something that we have the ability to create for ourselves. But we must resist the urge to act when action will not accomplish anything meaningful.