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Writings and Readings Blog

Madhu Bazaz Wangu

Chapter One: Dhammapada

Posted on June 5, 2009
in Meditation, Reading
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Chapter One: Dhammapada "Choosing the Right Path" 1. Our life is the reflection of our thoughts. Suffering follows an evil mind as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that hauls it. 2. What we are today is shaped by what we thought yesterday. Joy follows a man with pure mind as his own shadow. 3. "He insulted me, he hurt me, he defeated me, he robbed me." Those who think thus will never be free from hatred. 4. "He insulted me, he hurt me, he defeated me, he robbed me." Those who do not think such thoughts will be free from hatred. 5. Hate cannot conquer hate; love can. This is the eternal law. 6. 'All lives come to an end,' those who remember this will end quarreling. 7. Mara, the Tempter overwhelms the one who frantically pursues personal pleasures--eats carelessly and is...

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A Step-by-Step Path to Spiritual Growth

Posted on May 28, 2009
in Being in Nature
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A Step-by-Step Path to Spiritual Growth: Teachings of Dhammapada In May, we completed reading the Tao-te Ching. Decades ago, the Taoist scripture had cast a spell on me that was never quite undone. It had spoken to the deepest recesses of my heart and mind. I knew I would go back to it someday. And I did. Re-reading the incredibly effective book for 81 weeks has increased my sense of awe of nature and my capacity to progress emotionally and spiritually, albeit painstakingly slowly. How did it affect you? We will start reading Dhammapada from June 5. The word Dhammapada may be roughly translated as "The Righteous Path of Life." A collection of vivid Buddhist verses, it is the second book on our reading list of four Asian scriptures. The other two...

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Eighty-First Chapter

Posted on May 13, 2009
in Meditation, Reading
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Eighty-First Chapter Tao Te-Ching True words are not beautiful; Beautiful words are not true. A good man does not argue; He who argues is not a good man. A man who has virtue does not look for faults. He who looks for faults has no virtue. The sage does not accumulate anything But gives everything to others. Feeling he has more, he gives more. Heaven is good to all, Injuring no one. The sage imitates it, acting for good of all and opposing no one. # As I Understand It: Authentic words, simply spoken, need no ornamentation. They feel good. Argumentative and judgmental words agitate the mind. Possessing people and accumulating things leave us hollow. The sage neither possesses nor accumulates. The more we give, the more we receive. We don't know how, but it works! Today, allow someone else...

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Eightieth Chapter

Posted on May 8, 2009
in Meditation, Reading
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Eightieth Chapter Tao Te-Ching Imagine a small country with few people. They have weapons and do not employ them; they enjoy the labor of their hands and do not waste time inventing labor saving machines. They do not travel far. Since they dearly love their homes. They are not interested in travel. Although they have boats and carriages no one uses them. They relish their food, beautify their clothing, are content with their homes, and delight in their way of life. Though they live in the sight of their neighbors, and crowing cocks and barking dogs can be heard across the way, they leave each other in peace while they grow old and die. # As I Understand It: Lao Tzu dreamed of an idealized society-an ideal agricultural society--in which he lived. With no violence or war, no senseless hatred for other people's ideologies,...

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Seventy-Ninth Chapter

Posted on May 1, 2009
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Seventy-Ninth Chapter Tao Te-Ching After a bitter quarrel, some resentment remains. What can one do about it? Being content with what you have is always best in the end. Someone must risk returning injury with kindness, or hostility will never turn to goodwill. So wise always give without expecting gratitude. One with true virtue always seeks a way to give. One who lacks virtue always seeks a way to get. To the giver comes the fullness of life; to the taker, just an empty hand. # As I Understand It: When we hold on to resentments we give away our inner power. Whoever in your life stirs negative emotions in you--boss, ex-husband, mother-in-law, son or sibling-it drains your energy. "Hostility will never turn to goodwill" unless you reverse the feeling and return hurtful feelings with forgiveness. Those who follow the way of the Tao...

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Seventy-Eighth Chapter

Posted on April 24, 2009
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Seventy-Eighth Chapter Tao Te-Ching Nothing in the world is softer and weaker than water. But for attacking the hard and the unyielding, nothing can surpass it. The weak overcomes the strong: The soft surpasses the hard. In the entire world, there is no one who does not know this, but no one can master the practice. Therefore the sage remains serene in the midst of sorrow. Evil cannot enter his heart. Because he has give up helping, he is people's greatest help. True words appear paradoxical. # As I Understand It: Lao Tzu had special reverence for the attributes of the elements of nature. One of his favorites was water. As mysterious as the Tao, he recommended emulating it's behavior. Water is persistent and patient. It yields. Gentle, patient and yielding individuals wear away harsh and hardhearted. Water settles at the lowest levels. Those...

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Seventy-Seventh Chapter

Posted on April 17, 2009
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Seventy-Seventh Chapter Tao Te-Ching Way of the Tao is like the drawing a bow. The high is lowered, the low is raised. When it is excessive, it reduces. When it is insufficient, it supplements. The mankind is the opposite: It reduces the deficiency and supplements the surplus. It strips the needy to serve those who have too much. Only the one who has the Tao offers his surplus. The sage keeps giving because there is no end to his wealth. He acts without expectation, succeeds without taking credit, does not think he is better than anyone else. # As I Understand It: The way of the Tao maintains balance. When there is surplus, it reduces; when there is deficiency, it increases. But people do not follow the Way. They are always interested in themselves and do not share their excess. Those who follow the...

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Seventy-Sixth Chapter

Posted on April 10, 2009
in Meditation, Reading
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Seventy-Sixth Chapter Tao Te-Ching A man is born tender and weak. At his death he is stiff and hard. All things, including the grass and trees are tender and supple in life; dry and brittle in death. Therefore stiffness is a companion of death; flexibility a companion of life. An army that cannot yield will be defeated. A tree that cannot bend will break in the wind. The hard and stiff will be broken; The soft and supple will prevail. # As I Understand It: The most durable things in nature are soft, gentle and adaptable. Water adapts itself to any shape, trees and grass bend in storm, and newborns bend their limbs like a great yogi. Lifeless things are hard, dead bodies stiff. Rigid thoughts and stubborn conduct are unexciting, supple and flexible stimulating. Living things are pliable. By being adaptable...

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Seventy-Fifth Chapter

Posted on April 3, 2009
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Seventy-Fifth Chapter Tao Te-Ching When rulers eat too much tax grain people starve. When the government is too intrusive people lose their spirit. If the government acts for people's benefit, leaves them alone and trusts them people's lives become valuable. # As I Understand It: Lao Tzu voiced the deprived and the oppressed. During his lifetime the Chinese rulers imposed burdensome taxation on the ordinary people. They kept the tax money and flaunted their good fortune. Ultimately the masses lost their spirit and rebelled. The sage wanted rulers and officials to leave people alone. Even now, this teaching works at home as well as workplace. Those in power must not take advantage of their subordinates. Trust those under your charge. Too much interference makes people lose respect for and distrust authority. Allow the people to...

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Seventy-Fourth Chapter

Posted on March 27, 2009
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Seventy-Fourth Chapter Tao Te-Ching The people are not afraid of death Why then threaten them with death? Suppose the people are always afraid of death and we can seize those who are vicious and kill them, Who would dare to do so? There is always master executioner who kills. To take executions for the master executioner is like hewing wood for the master carpenter. Whoever undertakes to hew wood for the master carpenter rarely escapes injuring his own hands. # As I Understand It: Our birth, life and death are our reality. Instead of being afraid of death, why not get comfortable with the idea. And deeply understand that we are not in charge of making decisions of anyone's time of death, not even our won. When our inner te is linked with the Tao we feel united with the everlasting...

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