The Tao begot one.
One begot Two.
Two begot three.
And three begot the ten thousand things.
The ten thousand things carry yin and embrace yang.
They achieve harmony by combining forces.
~ Tao Te Ching, portion of Forty-Two ~
One of the central themes of Taoism is harmony, the balancing of yin (contemplation) with yang (action). Neither one is above nor below the other. One isn't something to strive for, while the other is something to avoid. To lead a healthy and enlightened life, we need both qualities.
Which is worse? The person who mulls things over endlessly, yet never seems to act or the person who eschews consideration and boldly moves forward? In the eyes of Taoism, both are equally out of balance. A harmonization of the two are needed for successful living.
There are no self-help books to teach us how to accomplish this harmonization. It is something we must each learn on our own time. If you ever discover a book that claims to provide you with a sure-fire 5 or 10-step protocol for achieving inner harmony, burn it, then scatter the ashes to the wind.
Which is worse? The person who mulls things over endlessly, yet never seems to act or the person who eschews consideration and boldly moves forward? In the eyes of Taoism, both are equally out of balance. A harmonization of the two are needed for successful living.
There are no self-help books to teach us how to accomplish this harmonization. It is something we must each learn on our own time. If you ever discover a book that claims to provide you with a sure-fire 5 or 10-step protocol for achieving inner harmony, burn it, then scatter the ashes to the wind.
Burning the book may be a little extreme.
ReplyDeleteSmiling at its self-indulgence, while allowing it to exist, may be the way of Tao.
Who is to say, how many steps each must take to arrive at one's goal?
That goal may be very close by.
Or, for others, very far away.
Yes, most self-help books of any kind are like the Bible. They tell you what's required but rarely tell you how to accomplish it.
ReplyDeleteI particularly dislike positive thinking books that tell me I can achieve anything I want. No book has ever told me how to discover what I want, or how to want something for that matter.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, TAOIST.
We are leaving on Good Friday for Oregon, and we are wondering if the grocery stores will be open. We are going to a resort, so we need to buy our own groceries--particularly veggies, which we cannot bring across the border. Here, in BC, everything is shot down, save for the odd Chinese corner store. I'll be checking for your response, thanks.
Crow,
ReplyDeleteBut burning the book will be fun, eh?
Lorena,
I can't imagine that any grocery will be closed for the Easter weekend -- at least, not in the larger towns and cities. Some of the stores in the smaller towns may run on abbreviated hours, but I don't they will be closed.
Ah! Sorry:) I had forgotten how important it is to have fun.
ReplyDeleteBurning books is like anything else.
How you see it is as important as what you do.
What you say seems very true to me. I can speak from my own experience of learning tai chi. One can read all of the books in the world on it, but until you have someone teach you and learn to what it is to feel "rooted" and to learn to harmonize the "full" and the "empty" feelings in your body, what those books say is meaningless. You have to actually experience balance and harmony, you have to be at least be open to it. Much in the same way, I suppose, you need some experience of the divine for a holy book to come alive to you.
ReplyDeleteCBL,
ReplyDeleteI've never really learned Tai Chi for the very reason you state. Books & videos simply don't do it justice.
Thanks for info, Taoist. I shall sleep peacefully knowing that we will have veggies.
ReplyDeleteMy husband was concern because, here, it is even hard to find a place to eat out on Good Friday and on Christmas Day.