July 12th

Immediacy


hen washing your face, can you see your true self?
When urinating, can you remember true purity?
When eating, can you remember the cycles of all things?
When walking, can you feel the rotation of heaven?
When working, are you happy with what you do?
When speaking, are your words without guile?
When you shop, are you aware of your needs?
When you meet the suffering, do you help?
When confronted with death, are you unafraid and lucid?
When you meet conflict, do you work toward harmony?
When with your family, do you express benevolence?
When raising children, are you tender but firm?
When facing problems, are you far-seeing and tenacious?
When you are finished with work, do you take time to rest?
When preparing for rest, do you know how to settle your mind?
When sleeping, do you slip into absolute void?


Personal Interpretation


As we seek to know ourselves, live a pure life, comprehend the cycles of all things, find contentment, work toward harmony, and approach every situation with compassion in our hearts, we should understand that these lessons can never be learned by looking beyond the ordinary in the hopes of glimpsing the extraordinary. The extraordinary in fact exists WITHIN the ordinary. No elaborate rituals are needed to glean the secrets of Tao. We need only live our lives and avoid taking for granted the seemingly trivial aspects of life. Maybe they aren't as trivial as we think.