"Living the Wisdom of The Tao" - a non-motorcycle post

LIVING THE WISDOM

OF

THE TAO

Complied by: Wayne Dyer

Chosen passages and comments by:  Ned Opdyke

nedopdyke@gmail.com

4/24/11

(Quotes from The Tao are in bold ~ italics)

The Tao Te Ching, is a collection of 81 verses written 25 centuries ago, by a Chinese prophet named Lao-tzu. The words translate as, "Living and applying the Great Way."

'The Way' encourages you to change your life, by literally changing the way you think.

When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

Ever desireless, one can see the mystery.
Ever desiring, one sees only the manifestations.
The mystery itself is the doorway to all understanding.

When I am in the midst, and controlled, by the sensation of desire, I am usually surroun-ded by visions (real and imagined) of either what I am wanting, or examples of what I think life looks like without it. These visions are usually so overwhelming, that they crowd everything else out, so that all I see is what I have created in my mind, and I miss out on what is really there… which is typically something very beautiful in it's own way.

Emptying my mind… of thoughts and desires… has always been very difficult for me. I used to think that mysteries were like games, provided for me to enjoy, puzzles to be solved, and when the correct answer had been discovered… to celebrate loudly and profusely.

Once in a while I had glimpses of the realization that some things are simply not meant to be understood, but it has only been in the very recent past, that I have actually felt enjoy-ment… no, contentment… at truly accepting a mystery as a gift, in and of itself, and not felt the urge and the desire to solve it.

Hold on to the center. Man was made to sit quietly and find the truth within.

I am learning about 'The Middle Path.' It is neither the path of the self-involved, which is controlled by the ego; nor is it the path of the self-righteous, which is controlled by an impossible belief in attaining human-divinity. There have been too many to count, so-called masters, who have manipulated the weak and the needy; the unaware and vulnerable seekers of truth… and led them astray. And there will be countless more to come. Heck… I used to playfully think I could be one of them! "Give up all your material possessions… and give them to me!"

Libraries are full and overflowing, with books written by self-proclaimed prophets, who will tell you that they have solved all the riddles and mysteries of life. What these mis-guided, or (gosh forbid) evil prophets don't want you to know… is that the 'solutions to the mysteries' are not contained in their own alleged realizations, but are instead, only known to each individual, within their own heart; within their own body; within their own separ-ate, unique, and individual essence; within the Soul that they are.

Everyone's own truth is individual and unique. There is no one right (or wrong) answer. Jeesh… there's not even a way to accurately formulate the question, let alone the answer!

Serve the needs of others, and all your own needs will be fulfilled.

Through selfless action, fulfillment is attained.

I was born with a portion of this concept already imbedded within me. I have always said that although my father and I were very different in most ways… we were similar in 'this' sense: We both "Need to be needed." The sincere satisfaction received from doing things for people, isn't based on pride or ego; it isn't that type of thing. It's more of an inner ful-fillment that nourishes our spirit; sort of an inner-feel-good thing. From providing a service, like building them the best quality home possible, to doing simple favors, like holding a door open for someone.

The feeling of warmth and comfort might be described as a humble satisfaction… it would feel bad if I didn't make the effort. The key is that I don't expect the return of a favor, much less a reward for the gesture. It is something that requires no thought, decision, or even choice. It is a given.

All that being said, I know I have a long way to go. My generosity and kindness is often disguised… hidden behind a sometimes not so thin layer of self-serving expectation and desire to be noticed, acknowledged, and appreciated. Wanting to be humble as opposed to actually being humble, are certainly two different things. But… I have a dream.

Overfilled, the cupped hands drip. Better to stop pouring.

Sharpen a blade too much and its edge will soon be lost.

Puff yourself with honor and pride, and no one can save you from a fall.

Greed, lust, envy, and gluttony; four of the 'Seven Deadly Sins' that come to my mind in regard to this passage. I admit to having succumbed to all of them at one time or another in my life. Especially lust and gluttony. Together. Oh yeah. I used to fill my hands to over-flowing, and then scramble and struggle… grasping to hold more. I'd sharpen my tool until it puffed up, and begged me to stop and give it a rest. Then, most of the time, I'd ignore it.

And always… when it was over… I felt empty and discouraged. No matter how much I tried to make myself feel grandiose, and appear masculine and powerful… when I went home and was alone… I felt embarrassed and disgusted that I had allowed myself to be so over-indulgent and pathetic. It took me way too many years to learn my lesson about what would provide me with, and where I would find, true happiness and fulfillment.

The fact is… I'm still looking, but at least I'm not looking in all the wrong places! J

Having, yet not possessing. Working, yet not taking credit.
Leading without controlling or dominating.
One who heeds this power brings the Tao to this very earth.
This is the primal virtue.

I still have a few possessions that are important to me. Honey, my motorcycle is probably at the top of the list. The picture of my mother - her brother and sister - and her parents, taken when she was about four years old, is probably second.

The biggest thing I can think of right now that I have, yet no longer possess, is… my pride. My vanity, my self-righteousness, my intelligence, and my charm and good looks are others. These are, and (hopefully) always will be, a part of who I am, while I'm alive and breathing on this planet. The difference is… *they no longer control me*. They serve as reminders to me of my humanity, but not as factors of determination. They are like the pain in my knees and my back. They provide me with perspective, with pokes, pinches, and jabs of what God gave me as his gift, to make me strong, by giving me the opportun-ities to learn from my mistakes. They are what make me human, it is what my body is made of, the perfectly imperfect manifestation that contains my true essence… Soul. That is the only thing I can think of that I never want to loose possession of; the awareness that God loved me so much, that he made me… exactly as I am.

Once again, I'm faced with the problem of my ego. Working without taking credit, and leading without controlling or dominating; these are traits I have yet to acquire. They are like muscles that have not been exercised. I admit my weaknesses, and these are areas in which I have much progress yet to make. Fortunately, I have gained a substantial amount of patience during this period of my spiritual development, and although The Tao does not acknowledge patience as the primal virtue, I believe that it is a secondary one. I am cur-rently satisfied with my progress and yet I also know that my journey has only begun. I am confident that eventually I will strengthen these muscles… enough to loosen my grip on them!

It is best to prefer that which is within, to that which is without.

I realize this is spiritually incorrect for me to do, but if I was to put my spiritual develop-ment in this area on a scale… I would say I used to be a 1, and am now a 2 or a 3. I used to hide from myself, and instead look for beauty, amusement, and companionship in people and things outside of my self. Now, I am slowly learning to love myself; find the answers to my questions from within; and hope to gain the inner peace necessary to then be able to truly appreciate and love the people and the world outside me.

* They no longer have as much control over me as they used to. *

The reason we have a lot of trouble is that we have selves. If we had no selves, what trouble would we have?

I believe this passage is making reference to the fact that we are all made of the same stuff; cosmic dust and a spark of God's Love. Thinking about each other as unique and individual is one thing, but thinking that we are totally different in our essence, is what creates a problem. We are not all that different when you get down to what we really are; God's gifts of Love.

That which cannot be seen is called invisible.
That which cannot be heard is called inaudible.
That which cannot be held is called intangible.
These three cannot be defined; therefore, they are merged as one.
Each of these three is subtle for description.
By intuition you can see it, hear it, and feel it.

Then the unseen, unheard, and untouched become present as one.
Its rising brings no dawn, its setting no darkness.
It goes on and on, un-nameable, returning into nothingness.
Approach it and there is no beginning; follow it and there is no end.
You cannot know it, but you can be it, at ease in your own life.
Discovering how things have always been brings one into harmony with The Way.

After being an avid and active member of our three-dimensional society for over half a century now, it's a nice change to spend some quality time outside that reality. Slowing my thoughts and emptying my mind is extremely difficult for me, but when I am able to do it… the indescribable feeling of peace and contentment that surrounds and bathes me, is… well… indescribably delicious.

The very first tattoo I ever got, is the Japanese 'symbol' that translates as;

"Harmony is the greatest of all virtues."

I'm still not synchronized and in tune with The Way, but I hear its musical vibrations more often, and now more than ever, my goal is to learn to harmonize with it, and create a beautiful life.

How do I know the ways of all things at the beginning?
I look inside myself and see what is within me.

This is one of the most baffling, confusing, and frustrating aspects of spirituality that I've found on my Path. The consensus seems to be, that each of us already has all the answers to all of our questions within us. I've always known God has a sense of humor; why would he create beings like us, if he didn't? Isn't it just 'hysterical'… that he would give us the spark of imagination that allows us to ask these difficult, mind-boggling questions about our existence… hide the answers within each of us… then make it so freaking difficult for us to become aware of them!?

                To know humanity… understand earth. To know earth… understand heaven.
To know heaven… understand the Way.
To know the Way… understand the great that is within yourself.

This, my family and friends… is my greatest battle (well, the next greatest, after the battle with my ego). After so many years - - - decades - - - of believing with all my heart that I am one of the greatest human beings to ever walk this planet… then coming to discover that I am actually one of the most common… it is not easy for me to rebuild my sense of confidence.

I am beginning to understand that the greatest treasure within me is my conscious admission and acceptance of the weaknesses and faults that make me who I am.

The successful person is poised and centered in the midst of all activities.
To be restless is to lose one's self-mastery.

I used to think I was successful. But looking back on my life from where I am now, what I see mostly is a lunatic, running around waving his arms and shouting nonsense.

One who understands splendor while holding to humility, acts in accord with eternal power.

I have another tattoo… the Japanese 'symbol' for ETERNAL. When I got it, I was thinking more along the lines of the strength of my pride and ego. Now… it means something com-pletely different to me. It’s a statement of my belief that Soul is my essence. Now, my strength comes from a position of gratitude and appreciation; of nothing other than life.

Everything under heaven is a sacred vessel and cannot be controlled. Trying to control leads to ruin.

I can certainly attest to this. My life is a perfect example of it. I used to think that most of what was around me, both people and things, were provided for me to use and manipu-late in order to get the benefits and results that I wanted for myself. I think I was fairly gentle and polite about it most of the time, but I also must admit that there were other times, when the affects that my actions had on others was nowhere in my thought process.

                    Rivers and streams are born of the ocean, and all creation is born of the Tao.
Just as all water flows back to become the ocean,
all creation flows back to become the Tao.

In the religion of ECKANKAR, one of the terms they use for God is, "The Ocean of Love and Mercy." I'm lucky enough to have been raised on the shore of The Pacific Ocean, and also spend time in The Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is very easy for me to understand the symbolism in this passage. To me, the Tao is similar to The Holy Spirit. It cannot be touched, felt, or even truly comprehended on a visceral level. To me, both concepts are perfect examples of the definition of 'faith.' One of my favorite lines is,

"If you believe it to be true, it is much more likely to be true.

By not wanting there is calm, and the world will straighten itself.
When there is silence, one finds the anchor of the universe within oneself.

I used to constantly want to control the world around me; I thought it was my duty. I was rarely silent. In fact, there were times when I would quite literally become tired of the sound of my own voice. I was always in a state of want. I think I was the most wanton person I've ever known.

Wanton is defined as: irregular; lacking; deficient; undisciplined; unmanageable; sexually frolicsome; unrestrained; senseless; unjustifiable; deliberately malicious; cruel; reckless or arrogant; ignorant of justice, decency, and/ or morality; extravagant; wasteful.

There's more, but you get the point. Holy cow… I really was wanton! Now, I'm much more quiet. Silence does not make me feel anxious or uncomfortable any more. I do not want nearly as much as I used to. Whew, it's amazing I had any friends at all…

By following the Way, one does not become complicated, extraordinary, or prominent.
Rather, one becomes subtle, simple, and uncomplicated.

Its no wonder my spiritual development is at such an infancy… I actually took pride and put a lot of effort into being complicated, extraordinary, and prominent. I was subtle… yeah right, I was subtle like a Mack Truck; like a gorilla in a china shop; like a tornado; like a … well… again, you get my point.

                               A great scholar hears of the Tao and begins diligent practice.

                         A middling scholar hears of the Toa and retains some and loses some.                                                         An inferior scholar hears of the Tao and roars with ridicule.

   Without that laugh, it would not be the Tao.

So there are constructive sayings on this: 

The way of illumination seems dark; 

Going forward seems like retreat; 

The easy way seems hard; 

True power seems weak; 

 True purity seems tarnished; 

True clarity seems obscure; 

 The greatest art seems unsophisticated; 

The greatest love seems indifferent; 

 The greatest wisdom seems childish.

The Tao is hidden and nameless; The Tao alone nourishes and brings everything to fulfillment.

This is simple; simply astounding; simply confusing; and simply simple. The key for me, to grasping this type of concept is to not try and make sense of it. It goes back to 'faith.' You either relax and accept it as it is, or… you can spend the rest of your life trying (and failing) to make it fit into a box.

Let go of your need for more, and live in a subtle state of pure gratitude.
When you give, it replaces the demand to acquire more.

It's a sad thing, how so many of us (as I raise my hand admittedly) have to deteriorate into a piece of quivering goo, before we decide to change our attitude about being grateful for the gift of life itself.

I have always admired the philanthropists of the world. Now, I appreciate them even more. Those who are able to realize, adopt, and embrace this concept of giving, without having to loose everything first, are to be truly commended. And those who are able to be grateful for the gift of life itself without ever having had anything to begin with at all, are to be commended even more.

The experience of inner peace is the true gauge of all accomplishments.

This is the passage that made me want to put my comments about The Tao in writing. I was raised by two very loving and caring parents, who were both fairly advanced in their spiritual development. They were however, also pretty much 'old school' in their teaching style, and although I'm sure their Souls felt and understood the concept of this quote, they were unable to share with me, the wonderful insight and truth contained in it.

I grew up thinking that my accomplishments, the things I was able to provide and add to society and the world around me, defined me. There is still a part of me that believes this to be true, and I have a feeling there always will be.

But my general attitude about it is changing. After all… when I (humbly) look back at all the things I have provided and accomplished… I realize that although I have indeed, helped make other peoples' lives better… I do not feel my contributions have provided me with any true satisfaction. The only true satisfaction I've ever felt is when I am in deep contem-plation, and feel the Spirit of God, embracing me with its warmth and love.

That feeling, that inner peace, makes all other feelings pale in comparison.

Stillness and tranquility set things in order in the universe.

As you probably have inferred by what you've read already, the first part of my life has mostly been like a ride on a roller coaster. In fact, I used to say that my life was an "E-Ticket Ride." If you didn't want to experience a series of thrills and near disasters, you best not step aboard. "Be afraid… be very afraid." That was something else I used to say about myself. And another one was, "Hey… it ain't easy bein' me."

Now, I would honestly say that I've spent more time in stillness and tranquility in the last two years than I had in the previous 52. Gaeir Louise Dietrich has helped me make that happen. She has given me the guidance, and more importantly the freedom --- the time --- and the space, to find and experience the importance and the power that can be found in stillness and tranquility. Who would have thought it? I'm sure those of you reading this, who have known me for more than a little while, wouldn't have guessed it.

The worst of faults is wanting more. Contentment alone is enough.
The bliss of eternity can be found in contentment.

I was talking to someone at the gym this morning about this. I told him that in the past, I'd always thought of contentment as something bad. I thought of it like if I was content about something, I was settling for less than what I really wanted or what I thought I deserved.

I am now learning and understanding, that being content, about something in particular or in general, can be a perfectly satisfactory condition, in and of itself. Not having anything, and yet not wanting anything either, is a very unique place for me to be. I don't think I've gotten anywhere near the state of 'eternal bliss' during my feelings of contentment, but I have definitely found myself not feeling like I am cutting myself short, either. Baby steps.

True mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way.

It cannot be gained by interfering.

Keeping my hands (and advice) out of other peoples' business is something else that's new for me. I was always more than happy to offer my opinion to someone, even if it was not asked for, and sometimes even when I was not even part of the conversation. I'd often butt in, thinking I was being considerate and helpful, when really all I was doing was trying to show off. It amazes me now looking back… I actually thought I was a wise and thoughtful individual. What I really was, was insecure; looking for a way to boost my own vision of myself, trying to make myself more self-confident and secure. I was most definitely NOT comfortable in my own skin, and was attempting to prove I had wisdom and information that others did not have.

There is an age-old adage that applies to this. I've known it, and actually used it on occasions, but now I'm starting to understand it at a much deeper level. It goes like this,  "A wise man knows how little he knows."

It is your choice to be kind to those who are kind.

                                       It is your choice to be kind to those who are unkind.                                                                                             The nature of your being is kindness, and that is all you have to give away.

I sent this quote to one of my new friends, and told her it reminded me of her. Personally, I'm still at the stage where if someone is unkind to me, I must separate myself from their presence. At least I don't feel vengeful or have any need for retribution, but I also have not developed the ability to smile and continue interacting with them. On the other hand… maybe the fact that I do separate myself from them, is showing them kindness. I'm very aware that I am not always the most pleasant person to be around sometimes. That's partially a joke, and partially true.

The sage lives in harmony with all below heaven. 

He loves everyone as his own child. 

All people are drawn to him, because he behaves like a little child.

The older I get, the easier it is for me to see past someone else's 'faults.' Most likely this is because I have pretty much succeeded at one of the goals I established for myself when I was younger. I determined I was going to try not to make the same mistake more than once. Besides a few repeated offenses, I've been fairly good at this. The thing is though… I didn't realize how many different mistakes there were that I could make just once.

I used to take myself very seriously. Now, not so much. Child-like versus child-ish. Check.

You are an immortal spiritual being having a temporary human experience.

The more I think about this concept… the more plausible it seems to me.

Realize your essence and you will witness the end without ending.

My essence is Soul; a spark of God's energy - - - God's Light. If this is true, and as Soul, I am immortal… then time has no meaning, and therefore there is no beginning and no ending to my existence. This reminds me of the concept of infinity; very difficult to grasp on a three-dimensional, intellectual level.

The Tao is everywhere; it has become everything. 

To truly see it, see it as it is. In a person, see it as a person; In a family, see it as a family; 

In a country, see it as a country; In the world, see it as the world. 

How do I know this is true? By looking inside myself.

The concept of infinity comes to mind again. Is there any difference between infinitely expansive and spacious, as opposed to infinitely small and confined? I believe not. The principle is the same. Three-dimensional language simply cannot define it.

The less you care about the approval of others, the more approval you will receive.

This may be true, but for me… as I have begun to stop looking (as much) for approval from others… the less I care if I receive it or if I don't. And when I do get it, it seems to come more from the other person's heart, and is much more meaningful for both of us.

Close your mouth, untie your knots, soften your glare, settle your dust. 

This is known as the primal union or the secret embrace.

These things are some the biggest changes I've seen in myself over the last couple of years. I used to be constantly on edge… anxiously looking for some sort of stimulation or activity to distract me… from myself. It was very difficult for me to sit still for very long. I was always trying to find something or someone to interact with.

I am less lonely now, without having anyone in my life to interact with, than I was when I was surrounding myself with people.

That doesn't mean I'm not lonely now; far from it. The point is that I'm not struggling to find someone… anyone… to entertain me. I am more comfortable in my own skin. I am not afraid to be alone anymore.

If people would refrain from harming each other,

 all the benefits of life would accumulate in the kingdom.

What a wonderful dream.

When heaven wants to protect someone, does it send an army? 

No, it protects them with love.

God's love has protected me… mostly from myself.

Remain serene in the midst of sorrow, thereby preventing evil from entering your heart.

The spiritual exercises I've been doing are much more effective in helping me cope with my sorrow, than the anti-depressant medications I used to take. The meds masked my unhappiness. The exercises teach me to accept the discomfort; and learn from it.

I will end this spiritual exercise with a poem I wrote many years ago.

It was the first poem I ever wrote, and is still my personal favorite.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO NED

There is no just one right way

To get to the other side, I say

Different means of transportation

Different types of affiliation

Roads, passages, trails and hikes

There are so many rites

Children sometimes take trikes

All the same destination, different flights

The house of God is what we search

Whatever the method, it’s a march

Some build theirs with sticks and sod

But there is only one good God

Baraka Bashad

May The Blessings Be