Reading Archives - Page 15 of 16 - Madhu Bazaz Wangu
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Sixteenth Chapter: Tao-te Ching

Posted on February 15, 2008
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Sixteenth Chapter: The Way of Lao Tzu (Tao-te Ching) Attain complete vacuity. Maintain steadfast quietude. All things come into being, And I see thereby their return. All things flourish, But each one returns to its root. This return to its root means tranquility. It is called returning to its destiny. To return to its destiny is called the eternal (Tao) To know the eternal is called enlightenment. Not to know the eternal is to act blindly to result in disaster. He who knows the eternal is all embracing. Being all embracing, he is impartial. Being impartial, he is kingly (universal). Being kingly he is one with Nature. Being one with nature he is in accord with Tao. Being in accord with Tao, he is everlasting. And is free from danger throughout his lifetime. # As I understand it: Empty yourself. Let your heart be at peace. Things are born, flourish and return to...

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Fifteenth Chapter: Tao Te Ching

Posted on February 8, 2008
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Fifteenth Chapter: Tao-te Ching Of old those who were the best rulers were subtly mysterious and profoundly penetrating; too deep to comprehend. And because they cannot be comprehended, I can only describe them arbitrarily: Cautious, like crossing a frozen stream in the winter, Being at a loss, like one fearing danger on all sides, Reserved, like one visiting, Supple and pliant, like ice about to melt. Genuine like a piece of uncarved wood, Open and broad, like a valley, Merged and undifferentiated, like muddy water. Who can make muddy water gradually clear through tranquility? Who can make the still gradually come to life through activity? He who embraces this Tao does not want to fill himself to overflowing. It is precisely because there is no overflowing that he is beyond wearing out and renewal. # As I understand it: Stop! Don't rush! Don't be the assertive manager of...

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Fourteenth Chapter:Tao-Te Ching

Posted on February 1, 2008
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Fourteenth Chapter: Tao-te Ching We look at it and do not see it; its name is The Invisible. We listen to it and do not hear it; its name is The Inaudible. We touch it and do not find it; its name is The Subtle (formless). These three cannot be further inquired into, and hence merge into one. Going up high, it is not bright, and coming down low, it is not dark Infinite and boundless, it cannot be given any name; It reverts to nothingness. This is called shape without shape, Form without objects. It is The Vague and Elusive. Meet it and you'll not see its head. Follow it and you'll not see its back. Discover how the Tao energy was from the primeval beginning (of the universe). This brings us into with harmony with Tao. # As I understand it: Forever unfolds itself as we...

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Thirteenth Chapter: Tao Te Ching

Posted on January 25, 2008
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Thirteenth Chapter: Tao Te Ching Be uneasy when receiving favor or disgrace. Be uneasy about high status. Why be uneasy about favor or disgrace? Whether you get it or not both ways it is degrading. Why be uneasy about high status? It afflicts your person. We have great trouble because we have bodies. If we had no body, what trouble would we have? If we had no body, what calamities could we have? True self is eternal. Not limited to the body. One who sees his body as everything is fit to be the guardian of the world. One who loves himself as everyone is fit to be teacher of the world. # As I understand it: Don't ask for favors. Don't pursue status. They stop the natural flow of the Tao. Don't feel insecure because others disagree with you. Their opinion is...

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Twelfth Chapter: Tao Te Ching

Posted on January 18, 2008
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Chapter Twelfth Tao Te Ching The five colors make us blind. The five tones make us deaf. The five flavors dull our taste. Rush and hunt craze our minds. Accumulating worldly objects injures our inner growth. The sage observes what is without but trusts what is within. He rejects the outer and accepts the inner. # As I understand it: The gratification of the sensory experiences never satiates. Never feeling satisfied is a formula for craziness. The lure of acquisitions and fame is seductive. We need to extend the vision of our lives beyond sensory level. What makes life meaningful is paying attention to that which lies beyond the world of appearances. This is not a formula for renunciation. It suggests enjoying things of the world but not accumulating. As we begin to relax -- go...

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Eleventh Chapter: Tao Te Ching

Posted on January 14, 2008
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Chapter Eleven: Tao Te Ching Thirty spokes converge around one hub, But it is on the hole in the center that the utility of the carriage depends. Clay is molded to form a vessel, But it is in its hollowness that the utility of the vessel depends. Doors and windows are cut out to make a room, But it is in its emptiness that the utility of the room depends. The usefulness of being depends upon its non-being. # As I understand it: The value of a hole, hollowness or emptiness goes unnoticed. The invisible life force eludes our senses. But without silent pauses there is no language, no music. Our bodies function with senses, feelings and locomotion but it is in the invisible essence, the Tao within us, that the utility of our lives depends. Let's allow the essence of...

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Tenth Chapter: Tao Te Ching

Posted on December 28, 2007
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Tenth Chapter: Tao te Ching Can you keep your body and soul separated? Can you keep your body as supple as an infant? Can you look at yourself in the dark mirror and make it spotless? Can you govern the state without knowledge (cunning)? Can you play the role of the female in the opening and closing of the gates of Heaven? Can you understand and penetrate all without taking any action? To birth things and to rear them, And not take possession of them, To act, but not to take credit for that action, To lead but not to master - This is called profound and secret virtue. # As I understand it: Body cannot be separated from man's breathing and intelligence. A faded body cannot bloom again. We cannot have the profound insight about ourselves unless we look within. Look at ourselves when...

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Ninth Chapter: Tao te Ching

Posted on December 21, 2007
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Tao te Ching: Ninth Chapter To fill a cup until it overflows Is not as good as to stop in time. Sharpen a sword-edge too much Its edge will blunt. When the gold and jade fill your hall, You will not be able to keep them long. To puff with honor and wealth Is to cause your own downfall Withdraw as soon as your work is done: This is the heaven's way. # As I understand it: Tao, despite its unlimited capacity for creating, does not show off. It stops at the perfect moment and thus moves in natural harmony. Everything we do or say has a saturation point. Exaggerating or understating spoils it. The sense of te (the spiritual energy of Tao), deep within us, knows when enough is enough. To know when to work, when to stop and let go, and enjoy the...

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Eighth Chapter: Tao te Ching

Posted on December 14, 2007
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Eighth Chapter: Tao te Ching The highest good is like water. Water benefits all things just by being itself. It flows in lowly places that all disdain. This is why it is like Tao. The highest good lives in accordance with nature. He lives close to the earth. He loves what is deep and profound. He is gentle and kind. He keeps to his words. He governs with equity. He handles affairs with competence. He keeps to timeliness. The one who lives in accordance with nature, Moves freely. It is because he moves in harmony to its nature and associations He flows and lets others flow with freedom. # As I understand it: Water is a symbol of Tao because just by being itself it teaches us to do highest good. We are of water, depend on water and are surrounded by water. But we do not...

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Tao Te Ching: Seventh Chapter

Posted on December 9, 2007
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Tao te Ching: Seventh Chapter The Heaven is eternal and Earth Everlasting. They are eternal because they do not exist for themselves. Therefore the sage places himself in the background but finds himself in the foreground. He puts himself away, and yet he always remains. It is not because he has no personal interests. It is the reason why his personal interests are fulfilled # As I understand it: Tao, the source of Heaven, Earth and the 10,000 things in-between, is everlasting because it does not live for its own sake. This quality supports its stability and resilience. The sage lives from her Tao center. She does not live from worldly ego center. Non-ego makes her aware of the eternity. She serves the needs of others and puts herself last. She gives in thought, action and speech and asks for nothing...

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