Verse OneI reach the Integral Way of uniting with the great and mysterious Tao. My teachings are simple; if you try to make a religion or science of them, they will elude you. Profound yet plain, they contain the entire truth of the universe. Those who wish to know the whole truth take joy in doing the work and service that comes to them. Having completed it, they take joy in cleansing and feeding themselves. Having cared for others and for themselves, they then turn to the master for instruction. This simple path leads to peace, virtue, and abundance.~ Translated by Brian Walker ~
For me, the second clause of the second sentence is paramount. Religion and science merely describe the world in terms that humans can grasp; neither explains nor defines it.
The totality of this essence we call life and existence is beyond definition. It is so broad, vast and encompassing that no finite consciousness can have the slightest inkling of what it entails. Our frame of reference is so small that we can neither imagine nor fathom what it would mean to be infinite.
Chuang Tzu
illustrates this very point when he writes, "The morning mushroom does not know of the waxing and waning of the moon. The cicada does not know of spring and autumn, for theirs are but short lives."
Like the morning mushroom or cicada, our ephemeral nature is THE limiting factor in our ability to know Tao to the fullest extent. The best we can hope for is to observe the affects of Tao on the workings of the universe and to mirror these lessons as best we can.
This post is part of a "miniseries". For an introduction, go here.
The totality of this essence we call life and existence is beyond definition. It is so broad, vast and encompassing that no finite consciousness can have the slightest inkling of what it entails. Our frame of reference is so small that we can neither imagine nor fathom what it would mean to be infinite.
Chuang Tzu
illustrates this very point when he writes, "The morning mushroom does not know of the waxing and waning of the moon. The cicada does not know of spring and autumn, for theirs are but short lives."Like the morning mushroom or cicada, our ephemeral nature is THE limiting factor in our ability to know Tao to the fullest extent. The best we can hope for is to observe the affects of Tao on the workings of the universe and to mirror these lessons as best we can.
This post is part of a "miniseries". For an introduction, go here.
I'm happy to see you covering this and it should bring the fairly unknown work to more peoples attention.
ReplyDeleteYou'll have seen already from reading and it is noted in your into a post down the page that only certain chapters will speak to you clearly and some have got a little lost in translation over the ages.
We are severely limited with this work as Brian's translation is a direct adaptation and quite similar to the only other written version in English. But we can all find lots of good in there. Sometimes a whole chapter and sometimes just a line of one will call out.
From my reading of the HHC thus far, it appears to be a bit more accessible for the Taoist newbie in some respects. While it retains some of the mystical qualities of its predecessor, its format strikes me as more readable and understandable.
ReplyDeleteIf you know of other such relatively unknown texts, please draw my attention to it/them via the comments section or you can email me.
Well you may find Zen to be walking a little out of your area but this is lovely Hsin Hsin Ming PDF is perhaps the click you want to be clicking but there is an audio book of it there too.
ReplyDeleteOh and this;
ReplyDelete"The wise attaches to no goals,
but the foolish fetter themselves."
comes over really well in the Ch'ing-ching Ching as;
"Lao-chun the Master said:
The adept in skill of soul
Hath never an aim; the bungler's shame
Is that he gropes a goal."
Tao,
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you write a post about the Ch'ing-ching Ching and, if you're interested, I could cross-post it here or simply direct folks to Tow Wow to read it? I'm certain people could gain much from your insights.
I think I have in the past. I've certainly mentioned it and quoted from it. Maybe not analyzed it in the way you have.
ReplyDeleteSo I may, When the tao is right it will happen :)
Just in case you run out of material to serialize (yeah right). Then here is something that will keep you busy for years to come.
ReplyDeleteJust try and read the top paragraph of this page and not be drawn to comment.
Oh my! What a treasure trove!!! Thanks a bunch.
ReplyDelete