Reading Archives - Page 11 of 16 - Madhu Bazaz Wangu
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Fifty-Fourth Chapter: Tao-te Ching

Posted on November 7, 2008
in Meditation, Reading
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Fifty-Fourth Chapter Tao-te Ching How do I know this is true? That he who is grounded in the Tao cannot be pulled out. He who has understanding of the Tao cannot be separated from it. Generations honor generations. When virtue is cultivated in the self, it is realized. When virtue is cultivated in the family, it overflows. When cultivated in the community, it increases. When in the country and the world, it abounds. The virtue of Tao is everywhere. It becomes everything. See it as a person. See it as a family. See it as a country. And see it as the world How do I know this is true? By seeing within. # As I Understand It: When we plant ourselves in the Tao we radiate joyful awareness. This consciousness is like a wave of energy that affects not only us but also what is around us. People...

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Fifty-Third Chapter

Posted on October 31, 2008
in Meditation, Reading
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Fifty-Third Chapter Tao-te Ching If I have even just a little sense, I should walk in the Great Way, my only fear would be getting off the road. The Great Way is straight but people prefer devious bypaths. That is why the court is corrupt, the fields are weedy, the granaries are empty. Magnificent dresses are worn, sharp weapons are carried, Foods and drinks are consumed in excess, wealth and treasures are accumulated. This pomp and show is robbery at the expense of others. Is this the way of the Tao? # As I Understand It: The Great Way connects us all. But we continue to see ourselves as separate rather than one. The path of the Tao is straight and smooth but we walk paths that have painful ends. Half the world experiences opulence, the other half starves. Weapons of destruction receive funding while...

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Fifty-Second Chapter

Posted on October 24, 2008
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Fifty-Second Chapter Tao-te Ching The source of the universe is the Mother. He who knows the source discovers the ten thousand things. He who discovers the ten thousand things and holds on to the Mother, He is free from danger. Close the mouth. Guard the senses. And life will be peaceful. Open the mouth. Meddle with people's affairs. And life will be hopeless. See small, see clearly. Be flexible, be strong. See the radiance and save yourself misfortune. This is called the practice of eternal light. # As I Understand It: Lao Tzu has symbolized the Tao as water, deep valley or, mother, as in this chapter. He says that human life, from birth to death, is not a straight line. What lies before our physical existence and after, is a mystery having maternal qualities. Like a mother, it sustains us throughout our lives. But unlike...

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Fifty-First Chapter

Posted on October 17, 2008
in Meditation, Reading
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Fifty-First Chapter Tao-te Ching Tao produces the ten thousand things. Te (Virtue) fosters them. Circumstances and tendencies complete them. Therefore the ten thousand things esteem Tao and honor te. Tao and te are free, spontaneous, perfect. Therefore all honor the way of Tao and value its te. Because the Tao gives them life, Te nourishes and nurtures them, Rears, protects and shelters them. The Tao produces them but does not take possession of them. It gives but does not expect. It leads but does not master. This is Tao's profound and hidden virtue. # As I Understand It: The Tao, our source of being, is not merely physical. We are born with a mystery, with spontaneity that sages call te. If I were merely material at birth with a predetermined role of who I am and how I should function in a family, in community, in...

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Fiftieth Chapter: Tao-te Ching

Posted on October 10, 2008
in Meditation, Reading
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Fiftieth Chapter Tao-te Ching Man comes in to life and goes out to death. Three out of ten are companions of life. Three out of ten are companions of death. And three out of ten in their lives lead from activity to death. And for what reason? Because of man's intensive striving after life. I have heard that one who is a good preserver of his life will not meet tigers or wild buffaloes, And in fighting will not try to escape from weapons of war. The wild buffalo cannot butt its horns against him, The tiger cannot fasten its claws in him, And weapons of war cannot thrust their blades into him. And for what reason? Because in him there is no room for death. # As I Understand It The fear of death is at the top of the list of all our dreaded fears....

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Forty-Ninth Chapter

Posted on October 3, 2008
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Forty-Ninth Chapter Tao-te Ching The sage has no fixed mind. He regards people's needs as his own. Those who are good he treats with goodness. Those who are bad he also treats with goodness. Those who are kind he treats with kindness, And he is also kind to those who are unkind. The sage lives in harmony with all. He sees everything as his own self. He loves everyone as his children. All people are drawn to him. He behaves like an infant. # As I Understand It The sage observes himself and others. He does not judge. Like the sage, observe without criticizing. Observe people's culture, religion, family relationships and politics. In time, divisions and categories "I" and "them" will become superfluous. When you stop judging yourself you will stop judging others and see yourself in "them." Extend the hand of friendship even...

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Forty-Eighth Chapter

Posted on September 26, 2008
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Forty-Eighth Chapter Tao-te Ching The practice of learning consists of daily accumulation. The practice of Tao consists of daily diminishing. By continuous diminishing one reaches a point of no action. When nothing is done, nothing remains undone. Mastery is gained by letting things go their own way. Nothing is gained by interfering. # As I Understand It Increasing knowledge refines intellect. Wise do not accumulate knowledge, especially meaningless facts and purposeless details. Spirituality is cultivated by diminishing it. Accumulation gives us a different perspective-we collect, we gather, we hoard. Our ceaseless desire to possess things is never quenched. But when we decrease stuff-by giving, gifting, granting, we feel refreshed. A feeling of freedom takes over. Our link with inner self strengthens; that strength cannot be stolen, it does not die. Let's become aware of things that surround...

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Forty-Seventh Chapter

Posted on September 19, 2008
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Forty-Seventh Chapter Tao-te Ching   Know the world without going out the door. See the Way of Heaven without looking out the window. The further one goes, the less one knows.   Therefore the sage knows without venturing forth, Knows without looking, Accomplishes without striving. #   As I Understand It:             We are brought up to believe that effort and striving are necessary for success. But this verse suggests “accomplish without striving.” What does it mean?             Within the spiritual context the act of enlightenment involves no action at all. The sincerity and deep feelings within us can connect us to the world without our taking even a step.             In this information age we can get in touch with people in seconds and reach the farthest corner of the world within hours. But has that helped us to know ourselves better or made...

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Forty-Sixth Chapter

Posted on September 17, 2008
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Forty-Sixth Chapter Tao-te Ching   When the Way (Tao) prevails in the world, Galloping horses fertilize the fields. When the Way does not prevail in the world, Warhorses are bred in the countryside.   There is no greater loss than losing the Tao, No greater curse than covetousness, No greater tragedy than discontentment; No greater disaster than wanting more and more.   Contentment alone is enough. Indeed, the bliss of eternity can be found in contentment. #   As I Understand It:             Do you evaluate yourself based on how much wealth you have accumulated or on how content you are?             The country that has lost its Way (Tao) evaluates itself on its power, control over other countries and its wealth. It is perpetually preparing its warheads (horses). But the country that is in touch with its Tao uses its horses to tend the fields.             For you to understand...

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Forty-Fifth Chapter

Posted on September 5, 2008
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Forty-Fifth Chapter: Tao-te Ching What is most perfect seems to be incomplete; but its utility is unimpaired. What is most complete seems to be empty; but its usefulness is inexhaustible. What is most straight seems to be crooked. The greatest skill seems to be clumsy. The greatest eloquence seems to stutter. Haste overcomes cold, (But) tranquility overcomes heat. By being greatly tranquil, One is qualified to be the ruler of the world # As I Understand It: Stop seeing the world with ego coated eyes! (Here ego seems to mean an euphoric sense of self.) When we exaggerate our self-worth, things that are whole seem incomplete. But when we see with the stillness within our hearts, what seemed awkward earlier looks perfect; what we heard as stutter, sounds eloquent. We assess our world with a sweeping glace. We think our way of looking is...

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