Hua Hu Ching - Verse 52

Verse Fifty-Two

Do you think you can clear your mind by sitting constantly in silent meditation? This makes your mind narrow, not clear. Integral awareness is fluid and adaptable, present in all places and at all times. That is true meditation. Who can attain clarity and simplicity by avoiding the world? The Tao is clear and simple, and it doesn't avoid the world. Why not simply honor your parents, love your children, help your brothers and sisters, be faithful to your friends, care for your mate with devotion, complete your work cooperatively and joyfully, assume responsibility for problems, practice virtue without first demanding it of others, understand the highest truths yet retain an ordinary manner? That would be true clarity, true simplicity, true mastery.

~ Translated by Brian Walker ~

More than one of you has emailed me to ask why I don't write about meditation very often. It's a topic that Lao Tzu addresses indirectly quite frequently and it's often the centerpiece for the eastern philosophies/religions of Taoism, Buddhism and Zen.

If the truth be known, unlike many of my Taoist colleagues, I don't meditate as it is commonly understood. I don't find a quiet space to sit cross-legged on floor and chant mantras or say "Ommmm." I'm certainly NOT disparaging anyone who engages in such practice. I'm simply stating that it's not for me.

A few years ago I tried to institute this sort of practice into my daily routine. I would find a quiet place on the floor to sit. I then tried fervently to clear my mind. Unfortunately, the process of trying to accomplish this always failed. Stray thoughts kept entering my consciousness and I would spend all my energy telling these thoughts to leave. In fact, at times, I would sit and repeat to myself, "think of nothing" which, of course, is a thought itself! I would realize that I was thwarting my attempts at clarity and would then proceed to give myself a lecture. ; (

After several attempts, I gave up. I decided that the practice of meditation either wasn't for me or was something I would discover at a later date.

It was only when I quit trying to meditate that I actually began to do it. Now, several times per day, I easily quit thinking. Sometimes it only lasts a few scant seconds, but at other times it lasts for quite awhile.

I do it in all sorts of situations. I do it often when I drive. It's not uncommon to happen in the shower. It frequently takes place when I sit or walk in the nearby forest or on my back deck. In other words, I meditate while engaging in the routine activities of my daily life.

This post is part of a "miniseries". For an introduction, go here.

Hua Hu Ching - Verse 53

Verse Fifty-Three

True understanding in a person has two attributes: awareness and action. Together they form a natural tai chi. Who can enjoy enlightenment and remain indifferent to suffering in the world? This is not in keeping with the Way. Only those who increase their service along with their understanding can be called men and women of Tao.

~ Translated by Brian Walker ~

From my perspective, one of the great crimes of a dualistic worldview is the selfish focus each person has upon themselves. If everything is separate, then it's easy to say, "Problems that are not specific to me are of no concern in my life" or "I'll deal with my shit, you deal with your own!"

How different the approach when we view all life as connected. Each problem or situation becomes a shared concern. This is not to suggest that we should try to solve other people's problems for them, but we should be supportive and compassionate as we help others as they work through their issues.

In the end, regardless of a person's supposed sanity or mental illness, we each fight with our own demons and battle our own illusions. The struggles each of us face are universal; the only differences are subjective. A rich tycoon and a down 'n out hobo are not different in a human sense. They each struggle with the same insecurities, questions and fears as you and I.

I really like the sentiment in this verse regarding enlightenment. How can a person truly be enlightened and not feel the suffering in this world? How can you not experience the suffering of other beings and the planet?

In some ways, I think people get the wrong idea about this term "enlightenment". It's not like a little light bulb goes off in your head and you live out your days with a perpetual smile on your face. For me, it doesn't mean you are absolutely content and you superficially skim through life without a care in the world. It doesn't mean ascending a mountain where you sit blissfully each day saying, "Ommmmmmmmmmm."

To be enlightened means to gain insight and insight means the capacity to discern the true nature of a situation. Insight into human affairs is to acknowledge that we each cling to our egos and this grasping is what leads to most of our problems. It is also to acknowledge that we can't completely let go of our self-consciousness.

So, in my book, the genuinely enlightened person is a person who serves others because of the awareness that all things are connected. Such a person innately feels the pain in this world and tries to alleviate as much of it as they can.

This post is part of a "miniseries". For an introduction, go here.

Hua Hu Ching - Verse 49

Verse Forty-Nine

Thinking and talking about the Integral Way are not the same as practicing it. Who ever became a good rider by talking about horses? If you wish to embody the Tao, stop chattering and start practicing. Relax your body and quiet your senses. Return your mind to its original clarity. Forget about being separated from others and from the Divine Source. As you return to the Oneness, do not think of it or be in awe of it. This is just another way of separating from it. Simply merge into truth, and allow it to surround you.

~ Translated by Brian Walker ~

In the blogosphere, it's not uncommon at all to run into folks who are self-proclaimed experts. They dispense their self-indulgent advice as their "gift" to the world. So, I often worry about the reactions of new people to this blog. Since I spend a great deal of time expounding upon Taoist themes, newbies might get the idea that I'm some sort of Taoist priest or sage.

I have no illusions whatsoever about being an expert on all things Tao. I'm stumbling my way through life like anyone else! I'm very good at analyzing things, but, just because I can analyze and philosophize, this certainly doesn't mean that I don't struggle to put my philosophy into action.

Consequently, please do not think I have completely fused Taoist thought with Taoist action. To be sure, I'm working on it, but me thinks it will take my whole life to implement a bare portion of it.

In other words, I am no sage, no priest and no expert. I'm simply a rather odd 50ish fellow who lives in a small town in southwestern Washington and happens to write a blog on philosophical Taoism.

This post is part of a "miniseries". For an introduction, go here.

Happy Birthday, Sweetie

Today is my wife's birthday!! We can't celebrate much because she has to work. If you'd like to wish Della a happy 45th birthday, why not send her an email? If enough people send her birthday congrats, maybe she won't notice that I forgot to buy her a card! : (

Hua Hu Ching - Verse 47

Verse Forty-Seven

Dualistic thinking is a sickness. Religion is a distortion. Materialism is cruel. Blind spirituality is unreal. Chanting is no more holy than listening to the murmur of a stream, counting prayer beads no more sacred than simply breathing, religious robes no more spiritual than work clothes. If you wish to attain oneness with the Tao, don't get caught up in spiritual superficialities. Instead, live a quiet and simple life, free of ideas and concepts. Find contentment in the practice of undiscriminating virtue, the only true power. Giving to others selflessly and anonymously, radiating light throughout the world and illuminating your own darknesses, your virtue becomes a sanctuary for yourself and all beings. This is what is meant by embodying the Tao.

~ Translated by Brian Walker ~

If a person finds peace in believing in a religion, what's it to you? This question has been posed to me before and it's something I wrestle with internally. On the one hand, I firmly believe that each person must find and make their own path. For some, this is the path of religious belief. On the other hand, most religions -- though not all -- postulate a dualistic world and I view this creation as the cause of much personal stress and anxiety as well as the engine behind a good deal of the conflict in the world.

I often can't figure out how to reconcile these two opposing viewpoints. So, as is well illustrated on this blog, I flip-flop a lot. At times, my writing focuses strictly on Taoist themes and my understanding of such. At other times, my writing focuses on a sharp critique of Christianity (the religious doctrine I know the most about). And a good deal of the time, we wind up with a mixture of the two.

In many ways, I understand the motivation behind fundamentalists who feel it their Christian duty to proselytize any nonbelievers who they come in contact with. If you think someone is making a mad dash down a darkened corridor toward a brick wall, the humane thing to do is to warn the person that, if they don't change course, they're going to smack into the wall. Standing by idly, so you can pick scrape them off the floor after the fact, doesn't seem to me to be a very virtuous strategy!

On the other hand, beating someone over the head with your perspective -- particularly one many people don't share -- is counterproductive. More often than not, most of us will react to that kind of methodology by digging in our heels and covering our ears. In reality, screaming at people -- figuratively or literally -- generally will lead to the exact opposite result one desires.

In the end, there is no easy answer.

This post is part of a "miniseries". For an introduction, go here.

Hua Hu Ching - Verse 31

Verse Thirty-One

The Tao doesn't come and go. It is always present everywhere, just like the sky. If your mind is clouded, you won't see it, but that doesn't mean it isn't there. All misery is created by the activity of the mind. Can you let go of words and ideas, attitudes and expectations? If so, then the Tao will loom into view. Can you be still and look inside? If so, then you will see that the truth is always available, always responsive.

~ Translated by Brian Walker ~

If a tree falls in the woods, but no one is around to hear it: Does it make a sound? I remember reading this question as a lad and thinking it quite funny! Well, of course, it makes a sound, I screamed. Why wouldn't it?

Now that I'm older (and possibly wiser), I look at questions such as this much differently. Today I'm not genuinely sure what the answer is.

Perception is dependent on consciousness.

I'm a very focused individual. If I'm concentrating on something, you could explode a bomb in my vicinity and I may not notice it at all. So, if I'm sitting in a forest concentrating on reading the Hua Hu Ching and a tree falls within my proximity, there's a really good chance I might not perceive it. If no other entity perceives it as well (including the tree itself), does it make a sound as it crashes to the forest floor?

If you answer yes, what does that mean? What is an audible sound when there is no one or nothing to hear it? What does a noise sound like that is perceived by nothing?

For me, this sort of represents what this verse is pointing toward. When we strip away the manifestations of ego, we perceive nothing, yet realize everything. We hear no sounds, but recognize the rhythms of the universe. We see no sights, but become one with the beauty of the cosmos. We think no thoughts, but all knowledge flows within.

This post is part of a "miniseries". For an introduction, go here.

Bare Naked Breasts Redux

Spent most of the day in the big city of Olympia. Had to go pick up my new set of dentures that, as of yet, can't be placed in my mouth. I arrive back home and I go upstairs to check my blog stats for the day. It seems like a good number of people arrived at this blog via a search for "bare naked breasts".

As you may recall, I used that tongue-in-cheek title awhile back for a blog post that focused on a discussion of religion and really had nothing to do with my satirical heading. However, in all honesty, I'm feeling kind of guilty because a lot of folks are arriving here expecting to find photos of female mammary glands and all I'm offering are philosophical musings.

So, for all of you looking for at least one picture of a breast, here ya go:

Satisfied?

Hua Hu Ching - Verse 21

Verse Twenty-One

Each moment is fragile and fleeting. The moment of the past cannot be kept, however beautiful. The moment of the present cannot be held, however enjoyable. The moment of the future cannot be caught, however desirable. But the mind is desperate to fix the river in place: Possessed by ideas of the past, preoccupied with images of the future, it overlooks the plain truth of the moment. The one who can dissolve her mind will suddenly discover the Tao at her feet, and clarity at hand.

~ Translated by Brian Walker ~

One common prescription for a better life -- one I see on a lot of so-called self-help blogs and sites -- is this idea that we should "live in the moment." It sounds good, doesn't it? Concentrate on the here and now; don't wallow in the past or stress about the future.

The only problem is that it's an impossibility for an ego-driven mind! If you think about, we're never aware of the present; we're always a step behind. Our lives are lived in the past and nowhere else.

For example, as soon as I think of the next word to type, I type it after the fact. I type what I thought of in the immediate past, not the present. What I'm typing right now is what I thought to type a split second ago. And it doesn't matter how fast I type these words, I will never catch up to the present.

When we see an object or person that we're familiar with, it may take only a nanosecond for us to recognize what is before us, but that recognition comes after we first saw it (in the past). If, all of a sudden, a fire breaks out in the location you are right now as you read this, it will take you some time (hopefully, not MUCH time) to understand you may be in danger. Every movement you make to escape the fire is based on information of a few moments ago.

You see, when self-consciousness is involved, we need time to process what we see, hear, smell, taste, feel and think. Even when it seems like we are reacting to or thinking about what is going on right now, we're really reacting to or thinking about what happened just then.

From my vantage point, there is no permanent escape from this catch-22, except, maybe, in death. While we can certainly be in and of the moment during meditation, we can't meditate 24/7.

So, we simply need to accept the fact that we live in the past. We can certainly work to mitigate our situation by not clinging to the distant past or longing for the distant future, but this will rarely help us to claim the present moment.

This post is part of a "miniseries". For an introduction, go here.

Hua Hu Ching - Verse 13

Verse Thirteen

The tiny particles which form the vast universe are not tiny at all. Neither is the vast universe vast. These are notions of the mind, which is like a knife, always chipping away at the Tao, trying to render it graspable and manageable. But that which is beyond form is ungraspable, and that which is beyond knowing is unmanageable. There is, however, this consolation: She who lets go of the knife will find the Tao at her fingertips.

~ Translated by Brian Walker ~

From the perspective of one solitary human consciousness, the world around us seems so vast. If we look up in the sky, there seems to be thousands of stars. If we look in the ocean, there seems to be thousands of life forms of varying degrees. If we look at a forest, there seems to be thousands of trees and other plant life. If we walk on a beach, there seems to be countless grains of sand.

Yet, if there exists a consciousness higher than what exists on this orb and in this realm, what seems so utterly vast to us, may seem minute to it. The totality of creation may be nothing more than a curl of smoke from a chimney or a ball of dust rolling across the floor. What we call real and tangible may be nothing more than a wisp of breeze on a cloudless summer's day.

We believe that we are each independent actors on a universal stage; we may just be elements in someone's dream or everything that we are, feel, think and do may be a grand illusion.

When we grasp at the straws of definition and explanation, we are attempting to quantify and qualify that which cannot be contained. The illusion of objective truths may provide us with solace, but, in the end, all they entail are meaningless symbols. They are merely understandable representations of that which we will never understand.

It is only when we can let go of our need to hold life in the palm of our hand that we can live unfettered.

This post is part of a "miniseries". For an introduction, go here.

Hua Hu Ching - Verse 77

Verse Seventy-Seven

Humanity grows more and more intelligent, yet there is clearly more trouble and less happiness daily. How can this be so? It is because intelligence is not the same thing as wisdom. When a society misuses partial intelligence and ignores holistic wisdom, its people forget the benefits of a plain and natural life. Seduced by their desires, emotions, and egos, they become slaves to bodily demands, to luxuries, to power and unbalanced religion and psychological excuses. Then the reign of calamity and confusion begins. Nonetheless, superior people can awaken during times of turmoil to lead others out of the mire. But how can the one liberate the many? By first liberating his own being. He does this nor by elevating himself, but by lowering himself. He lowers himself to that which is simple, modest, true; integrating it into himself, he becomes a master of simplicity, modesty, truth...

~ Translated by Brian Walker ~

Don't you find it amazing that this sentiment was penned, at least, 1600 years ago? It sounds like an indictment of the current age!

For those of us in the western world, we live during a time of stupendous technological advances. The fields of science and medicine are growing by huge leaps and bounds. In a little over 100 years, we've gone from rudimentary gasoline-powered driving machines to satellites which are reaching farther and farther out into our solar system.

When I was a kid back in the 60s and 70s, we had three TV stations and you changed the channel by getting up, trudging across the room and then turning a knob on the talking box. Today, there are literally hundreds of channel options and you don't even need to get up to sample them all. Heck, you don't even need television to watch any of this stuff either!

Wherever we look, life looks a lot different than it did as little as 20 or 30 years ago. We're awash in information and growing "intelligence"; yet, happiness remains as elusive as ever. Just as it was way back then, we too often confuse intelligence for wisdom.

This post is part of a "miniseries". For an introduction, go here.

Zero Seconds

Maybe one of you bright souls out there can help me to understand something. Often, when I look at the administrative panel for the tracking software for this blog, I see that a visitor has spent zero seconds viewing one or more pages. How is this possible?

I know from my own experiences that, when I'm blog surfing, it takes more than one second for me to decide if I want to stay on someone's blog or not. Even on those few occasions when I unfortunately happen upon a racist or porno site, it takes me more than one second to close the tab or move on to the next blog.

This situation is even more perplexing to me when the stats show someone has viewed two or more pages and yet the length of visit is still zero seconds. What does this mean?

Hua Hu Ching - Verse 28

Verse Twenty-Eight
It is tempting to view the vast and luminous heavens as the body of the Tao. That would be a mistake, however. If you identify the Tao with a particular shape, you won't ever see it.
~ Translated by Brian Walker ~

At the outset of this miniseries, I stated that I might not feature the verses in order. However, due to my patterned nature, this aim has been difficult to accomplish. However, with this verse, I'm allowing myself to flow beyond pattern. It may only happen one time, but who knows?

I can remember from my earliest days the teachings of the church about God and heaven above. When people want to marvel at the beauty and mystery of creation, it almost seems natural to look up. I suppose this could be explained by the fact we each are so small and the sky seems so expansive. It may also be a symbolic way we can look at ourselves through the eyes of that which we feel we are not (more thinking along this line in my next post about Don Cupitt's book.)

But if Tao (or God, for you religious folk) is everything, then looking up, down, sideways or nowhere accomplishes the same thing. As soon as we fixate on one manifestation of the universal IT, we lose sight of what IT is.

It's like if we were to focus our attention on one note in a musical composition, we lose the essence of the song itself. The song is not the individual notes; it's all of them joined together in sequence, rhythm and harmony.

This post is part of a "miniseries". For an introduction, go here.

Listen to the Music

Often, when I'm having one of those days when my mind seems to be racing from hither and to yon and back again at breakneck speed, I look for ways to calm the raging inferno in my head. While breathing exercises may slow my heart rate, my ego-infused mind keeps racing along. What to do? What to do?

While no strategy works like a charm every time, the one that frequently helps me slow down is music. I have a good-sized classical music collection and something like the Blue Danube will often do the trick. However, when I'm really stressed and anxious -- like having to go to the dentist where strange people will touch my person or, even worse, going to a mall with swarming hordes -- even classical music isn't enough!!

It is times like these when I turn to my most prized cd -- Magical Healing Mantras. (Actually, I fall asleep most nights listening to the rhythmic chants.) Today, I was looking on Amazon.com for some Tao-infused music. I found two cds that may well be in my buying future: Tao: Music for Relaxation and Tao of Healing. Both offer samples of the music and everything I sampled sounds relaxing. I could also download various selections in mp3 format, but I'm old fashioned and would prefer the whole cd.

This got me to wondering what kinds of music YOU use for relaxing and/or clearing your mind. Tell me. Tell me. I'm all ears. : )

Taoist Voices Today

In my last post, I discussed not eschewing contemporary visionaries for those from our ancient past. While there have been and continue to be several capable Taoists who have written books, in this post I simply wish to draw your attention to Taoist blogs.

I'm only going to mention a few and, if I don't mention yours or one you favor, it's in no way meant as a slight. There are more quality Taoist-based blogs than I care to shake a stick at right now. : ) I view this as a very positive development.

If you like the writings of Chuang Tzu, then I can suggest no better blog than Tow Wow. The Aussie who writes this blog uses the simple moniker of Tao and Tao shares great insights in an often humorous and metaphysical manner.

The Taoist blog I have kept track of the longest is The Useless Tree. Written by Dr. Sam Crane of Williams College, this blog covers both Taoist and Confucian thought in terms of contemporary national and international affairs. If that wasn't enough, Sam also applies the philosophy of Taoism toward understanding disability in the memory of his late son, Aidan.

If you're looking for a modern take on Taoist principles, one of the best blogs around is Personal Tao Musing by Casey Kochmer. Before heading off to his Hawaiian paradise, Casey used to call Washington State home. He offers personal contemplations and helpful advice that are both practical AND inspiring.

A great blog from across the pond is The Path of Water - 21st Century Taoism. Written by Woody, he is the main founder of the New Taoist Community. He offers a lot of ideas to ponder and I've followed his writings for quite some time.

We all know that I'm not overly enthralled with the Christian religion, but I do need to give a shout out to HK at Christian Taoism and CM at Transformations as both seek to apply Taoist principles and insights to their faith. Both pull it off magnificently, in my opinion.

There is also a new Taoist blog I want to call your attention to -- A New Shade of Black. Authored by Mr. Methodic, he has been tackling some of the core issues of this philosophic outlook.

The final blog I will mention here is not really a Taoist blog. Church of the Churchless is hosted by Brian Hines, the only blogging compatriot I've had the pleasure of meeting in person! Brian does cover Taoist themes, from time to time, but his main focus is on living a vibrant life without the need for a religious faith of any kind. Of all the blogs listed in the right sidebar, I've have been a fan of his blog the longest.

Hua Hu Ching - Verse 7 Continuation

Moses. Buddha. Jesus. Mohammad. Lao Tzu. What aspects do they possess in common? For one thing, each was male. That's rather interesting in and of itself when we consider that, at least, one-half of the world is female. But discussion of this intriguing element will have to wait for a separate blog post!

Another thing these five share in common is that each one of them is long dead, if they ever walked the earth at all. The lot of them are what we could best describe as mythic figures. While we may known some substantive things about a few of them, we don't really know that much about any of them! Of course, adherents to each perspective will argue this point, but I would counter that it bears itself out in the very fact that among such adherents there are fierce debates about what each did and said as well as what such things mean.

So, as mentioned in the first part of my discussion of Verse 7, we find ourselves in the weirdest of dichotomies: On one hand, we tend to denigrate the Homo sapiens and their ancestors who walked the earth before us because of their lack of knowledge, crazy superstitions and minimal collective consciousness. On the other hand, we hold up certain members of this same class of people as the gods and prophets of our species for all time.

For me, part of the explanation is found in our own innate inferiority complex. Regardless of the epoch, we humans share a curiosity about and fear of that we cannot know. We realize that we don't know the answer and we strongly suspect that none of our contemporaries do either. So, we look longingly to the past. But not the recent past because it can be easily shown that those who came immediately before us were as clueless as we are!

So, we invent mythic figures from antiquity who were able -- magically, I suppose -- to discern that which seems indiscernible to us. It comforts us to think that, somewhere in the annals of time, there were a few special people who were "in the know". The alternative to such thinking would be to admit that nobody will ever know which, for many, simply is far too disconcerting to fathom.

I believe there is also a second factor that helps to explain this phenomena as well. While we modern day humans like to think we have progressed so far in the evolutionary process, we really aren't that much different from our earliest predecessors. While we do, in fact, possess greater knowledge and understanding of many facets of life AND we face countless more distractions borne of our advances in technology, the most basic aspects of being human have not changed appreciably.

We need the same basic physical things to survive and we contemplate the very same things that people contemplated thousands of years ago. When these stock contemplations first made their way to paper (or papyrus or stone tablets or bamboo, etc.), they established the elemental foundation of what we continue to wrestle with today. In a manner of speaking, since they beat us to the punch, their words are the ones immortalized in history.

I'm sure each of you can come up with other reasons and rationales for our longing look backwards (and please add them in the comments section), but I will hang my hat on these two today.

I want to return now to the second line quoted in this verse: "What is painted in these scrolls today will appear in different forms in many generations to come." What I believe the author is indicating is that, while the basic contemplations will forever remain the same, each epoch or generation will restate them in their own way.

But, for many, we have not allowed this sentiment to ring true! We have fixed the words of our grand mythic figures in cement and anyone who attempts to restate/reformulate these basic ideas and concepts into a contemporary form is derided for adulterating the hallowed texts themselves. We're so fixated on the past that we refuse to grasp hold of the here and now.

I focus a lot of the writings on this blog at the TTC and now the HHC. I plan to undertake a series on Chuang Tzu in the future. Who knows? At some point, I may even try to tackle the I Ching! But intermingled with this view backwards, I'm also trying to forge some contemporary Taoist thought, albeit from one Taoist perspective.

In the end, there is nothing wrong with looking to the classic texts of the past. Each one speaks of the same issues we contemplate today. I submit that we err, however, when we theorize or believe that these ancient men had the capability of knowing things we cannot know today. They struggled with the exact same needs, desires, uncertainties and questions that we do.

What these ancient works should provide us with is a jumping off point and nothing more. Each person, regardless of when that person lived or lives, must seek and find that which can be found on their own.

The dead have no better answers than the living.

This post is part of a "miniseries". For an introduction, go here.

Hua Hu Ching - Verse 7

Verse Seven

The teaching of the Integral Way will go on as long as there is a Tao and someone who wishes to embody it; What is painted in these scrolls today will appear in different forms in many generations to come...

~ Translated by Brian Walker ~

I decided I only wanted to address the first two lines of this verse. To read the rest of it, use the link above.

It's interesting how modern humankind believes itself to be so superior to early versions, yet we still find ourselves mired in the past. We look at primitive civilizations and marvel at their lack of knowledge about science, medicine, theology, philosophy and technology. We laugh at their many superstitions and odd descriptions of the world they lived in. We have moved so far beyond their limited capabilities, we tell ourselves.

However, despite all our supposed modernity, almost every religion and philosophic tradition looks backwards to establish its foundation. This is just as true for Christianity and Islam as it is for Hinduism or philosophical Taoism. Our thematic worldviews are tied to texts thousands of years old!

For Christians, the world of divine revelation ended in the first century or two of the common era. For Jews, it ended hundreds of years earlier. The main texts utilized by philosophical Taoists today hearken back to oral traditions thousands of years old and even the HHC is thought to be 1500 - 2000 years old.

Why do we always look to the ancients for wisdom? Why do we think they knew things that we can't know today? (I think I'll thresh this out more in a later post. For now, I ask you to ponder these two questions.)

This post is part of a "miniseries". For an introduction, go here.

Hua Hu Ching - Verse 6

Verse Six

The Tao gives rise to all forms, yet it has no form of its own. If you attempt to fix a picture of it in your mind, you will lose it. This is like pinning a butterfly: the husk is captured, but the flying is lost. Why not be content with simply experiencing it?

~ Translated by Brian Walker ~

Whenever we try to define Tao (or God), we cheat it of its vital essence. We place it within finite parameters. What we end up with is a weak caricature.

How can a leaf understand the whole tree or a grain of sand the entire beach? We can only comprehend what arises from our feeble brains. In trying to understand the ultimate mysteries of existence, we lose the capability of living through those mysteries to our fullest extent simply because we limit what is possible.

You and I are here. Now. Why we're here, who knows? Why should it matter? At the end of the day, what difference does it make?

Learn what you can and embrace what you can't. Quit worrying about that which you can never know. You will drive yourself crazy asking questions which have no answers and making up answers to questions never asked.

Allow your life to flow and, in the flow, you will find meaning.

This post is part of a "miniseries". For an introduction, go here.

Hua Hu Ching - Verse 5

Verse Five

Do you imagine the universe is agitated? Go into the desert at night and took out at the stars. This practice should answer the question. The superior person settles her mind as the universe settles the stars in the sky. By connecting her mind with the subtle origin, she calms it. Once calmed, it naturally expands, and ultimately her mind becomes as vast and immeasurable as the night sky.

~ Translated by Brian Walker ~

The chaotic mind is never at peace. When we take on too much at work, at home, at school, in the community or our minds simply are crammed full of worries, anxieties, calculations, opinions, information and feelings, we create unnecessary agitation. After awhile, everything starts to run together into a whirlpool of increasing stress.

I'm fairly sure each of us has experienced this phenomena. The more stress we generate, the more we try to think our way out of it. Yet, no matter how hard we concentrate, the string keeps getting wound tighter and tighter.

When the pressure becomes too much, we often turn to our vices to release this self-imposed tension. We get drunk or stoned. We overeat. We become abusive -- physically and/or mentally -- to those we care about. We engage in self-destructive behaviors.

Unfortunately, all these strategies only provide a brief respite from the pressure. Before we know it, it's building up again and again and again. So, we return to our vices and the cycle only becomes more entrenched.

As this verse aptly points out, the best and most healthy strategy simply is to clear everything off of our mental plate. Calmness and emptiness are the cures for chaos. Once the tension has dissipated and the mind is clear, we can begin our lives anew.

This post is part of a "miniseries". For an introduction, go here.

Hua Hu Ching - Verses 2 - 3

Verse Two
Men and women who wish to be aware of the whole truth should adopt the practices of the Integral Way. These time-honored disciplines calm the mind and bring one into harmony with all things. The first practice is the practice of undiscriminating virtue: take care of those who are deserving; also, and equally, take care of those who are not. When you extend your virtue in all directions without discriminating, your feet are firmly planted on the path that returns to the Tao.

Verse Three
Those who wish to embody the Tao should embrace all things. To embrace all things means first that one holds no anger or resistance toward any idea or thing, living or dead, formed or formless. Acceptance is the very essence of the Tao. To embrace all things means also that one rids oneself of any concept of separation; male and female, self and other, life and death. Division is contrary to the nature of the Tao. Foregoing antagonism and separation, one enters in the harmonious oneness of all things.
~ Translated by Brian Walker ~

Every living person breathes air. It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor, angry or happy, gay or straight, an utter pig or a neat freak, selfish or giving, murderous or life producing. Nature simply provides it for all.

Where does it rain? Rain falls on fertile soil and barren ground. It nourishes pristine meadows and nasty bogs. In some areas, it only falls as snow and, in other areas, it falls only rarely. But, like air, nature provides it to all.

When we only show kindness to those who are kind or civility to those who are civil or compassion to those who are compassionate or love only to those who love us, we are discriminating between left and right unlike Tao. We are creating separateness where none exists.

This post is part of a "miniseries". For an introduction, go here.

Hua Hu Ching - Verse 1

Verse One

I 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.