July 10th

Fields


Worship by cultivating nine fields :
Diet. Herbs. Clothing. Recitation.
Movement. Meditation. Creativity. Teaching.
And most important : Compassion.

Worship is not a matter of making an obeisance to a god. It is a matter of achieving godlike qualities in yourself. This is done through the cultivation of nine areas :Diet should be moderate, healthy, and of living foods. If you want to be sustained, eat things that themselves sustained life.
Learn to use herbs, for they heal and maintain health
Be moderate in your clothing; wear natural fibers. What you wear is an expression of your state of mind
Recitation includes prayer, song, chanting, and finally, the practice of silence. What you say becomes reality
Stretch, move, and exercise every day. The universe moves; so too should the energy within your body
Meditate every day -- once in the morning and once in the evening, if possible. Only then will you attain tranquility and triumph over your dilemmas
Be creative. Thus we contribute, and thus we elevate our souls
Acquire a good education. Treasure what you learn, and preserve it so that it may be passed on to others. Never be selfish with what you know
Above all, be compassionate. This is a stand against all evil, and it opens your spirit
People ask, "How can I worship properly?" Cultivate these nine fields

Personal Interpretation


The purpose of worship is to achieve the qualities of the divine within our own lives. Followers of Tao believe in cultivating nine "fields" or areas of concentration. These are diet, herbs, clothing, recitation, movement, meditation, creativity, teaching, and compassion.  A healthy and modest diet, the use of herbs to heal ailments, simple clothing appropriate to one's environment, the repeating of words and actions done in the name of remembering wise creeds and skillful ways of living, daily exercise, quietude and reflection, creative expression, the willingness to teach important lessons to others and to be receptive to learning, and the application of compassion are paramount in the quest for enlightenment. If we cultivate these fields, we can instill a deeper sense of meaning into our lives.