Verse Fifty-SixIf you wish to become a person of Tao, then study that which serves the nature of life, and offer it to the world. Allow your devotion to learning the Taoist ways to be complete. Partial practice and partial discipline won't do. You can't know the body by studying the finger, and you can't understand the universe by learning one science. If you study the whole of the Tao wholeheartedly, then everything in your life will reflect it.~ Translated by Brian Walker ~
A clever parent could easily utilize this verse to encourage their child to study diligently in school. While that might not be such a bad strategy, I don't understand this verse to be about book learning at all.
For me, the sentiment expressed above is about complete awareness in all we do.
It's not uncommon for any of us to skim through parts of our lives. Most of us have schedules to keep to and each day can seem to merge into the next. For some, these patterns can become so monotonous that a person can unwittingly sleepwalk through their daily routine.
I believe the danger of this is very obvious. If you don't stop to smell the flowers along the way, you get to the point that you no longer see them at all. Everything simply becomes background noise as you trudge or scurry from one activity to the next.
Life itself is a special gift to each of us. When we are fully alive and aware, we embrace every sensation, thought, action and whimsy. We understand the uniqueness of every seemingly mundane affair. We marvel at the simple things that provide our life with breadth and color. We connect with the energy and emptiness that envelopes us in every moment.
And it's when we allow ourselves to be fully aware, we shine as bright as the sun. People want to hang out with us -- not because it provides them with status, security, wealth or fame -- it's because we radiate a sincerity for life that washes over everyone and everything.
This post is part of a "miniseries". For an introduction, go here.
For me, the sentiment expressed above is about complete awareness in all we do.
It's not uncommon for any of us to skim through parts of our lives. Most of us have schedules to keep to and each day can seem to merge into the next. For some, these patterns can become so monotonous that a person can unwittingly sleepwalk through their daily routine.
I believe the danger of this is very obvious. If you don't stop to smell the flowers along the way, you get to the point that you no longer see them at all. Everything simply becomes background noise as you trudge or scurry from one activity to the next.
Life itself is a special gift to each of us. When we are fully alive and aware, we embrace every sensation, thought, action and whimsy. We understand the uniqueness of every seemingly mundane affair. We marvel at the simple things that provide our life with breadth and color. We connect with the energy and emptiness that envelopes us in every moment.
And it's when we allow ourselves to be fully aware, we shine as bright as the sun. People want to hang out with us -- not because it provides them with status, security, wealth or fame -- it's because we radiate a sincerity for life that washes over everyone and everything.
This post is part of a "miniseries". For an introduction, go here.
paragraph 5/6 of your post "Life itself..." was very nice indeed.
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