Chapter Twenty-Five

the ancient child asks

what is it that is beyond opposites and extremes

to stand upright amid the tao source of life

the ancient child asks

how does one do this

stand upright and alone

amidst the chaotic commerce

reveal the mysterious channel of unlimited capacity

with neutral will and intention

distant mind, ever surprised

distant thought, ever alert

distant traveler, ever aware

feel the opened space that

exists before and between

heaven and earth

be spontaneously silent, quiet, still, and dynamic

to gain admittance

be naturally isolated, random, genuine, and perennial

to fuse with the changing changelessness and space

that is your ever-present womb, home, and companion

from this place

you stand

for this space is the door and source

from which existence flows

and makes itself known to you

though invisible to me and unnamed

I sense its presence

by its shadow and tracks as it moves through me

and I through it

it is a private experience

intimate in the extreme and latent in antithesis

so I call it the tao way of life even as my words evaporate

domesticated people can not perceive its real name

for its name is a word enfolding

miraculous power

stalwart power

constant power

great power

the great is sufficient in itself

for addressing

that which is so close

yet

so far away

that which is separated

yet

intensely unified

that which comes closer to you

as it moves further away

in this greatness the tao source of life turns on

the whim of intention

yet

is affected by nothing

sufficient unto itself and its reflections

the tao source of life is great from above

heaven as creation is great

earth as receptive is great

man in his humanity is great

tao source of life

heaven as creation

earth as receptive

man in his humanity

all are great

and that's all we can normally see

and we are part of it

as it is part of us

man in his humanity is guided by the receptive earth

receptive earth is guided by heaven as creation

heaven as creation is guided by the tao source of life

the tao source of life is wrapped in the self-formed gossamer of

spontaneous force

that exists of its own accord

Many thanks to uber-consumerism

Yes, thanks to America being the top consumerist nation in the world, I was able to find an exact copy of my stolen copy of Tao Te Ching, by Taoist Master John Bright-Fey. Evidently he is a busy man, and has translated other works, including I Ching. I'm glad to be giving him a little monetary support by studying his works in open forum. It's a shame I'll be sending more money per dollar to the stores holding said works, but if it keeps his wisdom available, it's worth it.

I'll begin the chapter discussions again tomorrow.

DAMN it

Yeah, so someone stole my copy of Tao Te Ching.
Congratulations, thief, wherever you are.
I hope you enjoy reading a stolen book filled with pages about avoiding material pleasures. I hope you get it eventually.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

the ancient child asks
how do you turn around and listen to your soul

by selflessly acting with
the power of authentic benevolence

you can not plan to do good works
good works can only be done naturally

a person who plans to be good
will have no power
and will not be authentic

the difference between authentic and inauthentic
is the benevolent power of your soul

an authentic man never acts
an authentic man has no hidden agenda
an authentic man seeks no rewards for his deeds

an inauthentic man tries too hard
an inauthentic man has ulterior motives
an inauthentic man constantly thinks of rewards

authenticity can not be willed or proscribed
authenticity can not be planned or enforced

false manners are a sham

morality worn like a coat gives rise to shallowness
that casts a shadow
over everyone

rules and propriety arise from this darkness
constricting the hearts and minds of humanity
forcing their souls
to a hiding place

life becomes chaotic

great men lecture you on your faults
complicating simple things
until
they are barely recognizable

and you don't know which way to turn

but the authentic man
allows his soul to take the lead of his life
holds firmly to his inner truth
gently grasping the seed of life

So, here we are.

Let not your heart-mind be troubled
Simply
Flow into the Tao.
Taoist Master John Bright-Fey

I've begun to study the mysterious Tao Te Ching recently, and would like to include some reflections on its passages. This may turn into open discussion, if any would like to post.

I'm beginning with this passage because that is how Bright-Fey does in his translation of the text. His translation of the Tao Te Ching, as I understand, is more authentic because of his close connection with the original order of Taoism, descended from Lao-tzu himself, and is written in what he terms the "secret oral tradition" of the T'ien-shih sect of Taoism.

Let's embark, shall we?