"Hence always rid yourself of desires in order to observe its secrets; But always allow yourself to have desires in order to observe its manifestations.
What struck me was this seemed to be about interactions with the mind and it's capacity to attach to things as reality when they aren't, they are fleeting, similar to Buddhist thought. But that also the joy of life is also in the desire.. you have to live and be part of the world yet not get too absorbed in desire that you aren't truly living.
I've never studied the Tao Te Ching so this dialogue is really interesting.. thanks for the musings, you two. Looking forward to the rest.
I also never knew Le Guin wrote commentary on the TTC. I love her writings. I'm just 're reading The Word for World is Forest.
Ya, I think part of why Taoism has spoken to me so strongly is because it often feels like a cross between Abraham-Hicks & Buddha. Don't be attached to it, don't think that what you see is what there is, but have fun seeing it & playing around with it!
I hadn't heard about UKLG's translation until researching for this article. That woman is ever astounding me :-)
Really cool series! I like this. Man the Tao te Ching is always to clear yet mysterious to me. This first chapter can be a real mind bogler but I feel has the essence of what spiritual maturity really is. Its accepting that no matter how hard we try we cannot define or name the infinite. The true nature of reality. That all language is a lie! That we have to succumb that whatever underlying forces that make up the universe are inherently unknowable and mindbogglingly and any attempt to say that we have nailed it down and figured it out, that our god it's names and all symbolic deification of it are pretty ridiculous. I love the simplicity of Taoism and its acceptance of really not knowing the ultimate truth and finding peace and balance within it. Thanks for starting this series. I look forward to reading your writings about the future chapters and participating. Much love!
Ya, I feel like this chapter definitely lends itself to a broad reading of MANY spiritual texts and diving down lots of different rabbit holes, since none of them will encapsulate the Truth, and yet all of them can offer some glimpse, some angle on that Truth.
I am so, so looking forward to diving into this wonderful text fully with @TheLynx, and with everyone else on STEEM that wants to get involved :-)
This was one of the first books I read at Banyen Books as I began my quest about 40-years ago; that and a little black book called The Impersonal Self.
They've always stayed with me even as a Christian Gnostic. I see the Dualism as similar as is the Tao similar to the unknown God of the gnostic tradition.
I see all the rabbit holes as similar to all the theme parks within WestWorld.
I definitely see a ton of intertwining & commonalities between all of the spiritual traditions, and honestly that's part of the fun for me. Where are the key truths that they're all pointing at? Why are some of the key foundations of one school so polar opposite another when other factors are almost identical.
Most importantly, for me, it all comes down to what will help me to be the best that I can be and to live the happiest, healthiest life that I can :-)
All I can tell ya is that ole Schopenhauer becomes more compelling the older I get! lol
Your philosophy does make sense even if we are in the hell of an eternal recurrence...
The Tao Te Ching has been a great influence in my life. Thank you for bringing light to it in our community. I'd love to be part of it if you open up for guests.
That is something I would absolutely love! We're going to head through chapter by chapter (so chapter 2 in five days), so any time you want to jump in just let me know and I'll include your insights into the post itself :-)
think I am going to hang out here when I want to take a break, Taoism is such a valuable philosophy. Well I only read Mantak Chia so far. Will finish your blog this weekend when I wake up with my cup of tea.
Thank you for sharing @kennyskitchen... following of course
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Excellent. I've been looking into Buddhism recently after reading "The Art of Communication". The author pointed out the practice of bowing as an act of awareness of the little Buddha within each of us. The "little Buddha" representing the highest potential of enlightenment, kindness and understanding within. I may end up taking that as my new greeting.
In regard to this chapter, I'm reminded of something Walter Russell suggested. That there is universal source that is Light and that that light exist everywhere, darkness is just space within the spectrum that we cannot see or chose not to. Which also reminds me of Dewey Larson's "Inverse Theory" which suggests the opposite of the whole is 1/the whole. It makes me wonder if matter and spirituality are a similar relationship, thus the final thought describing the same thing.
Very grateful to you both for your efforts to bring this to us.
I dig that, and remember how much the importance of bowing was focused on in most every martial arts class I took as a kid, regardless of the style or the culture from which it originated.
darkness is just space within the spectrum that we cannot see or chose not to
I love that!
It makes me wonder if matter and spirituality are a similar relationship, thus the final thought describing the same thing.
That certainly aligns with many of the teachings I have come across, which basically place physical reality as one side of the coin, which has consciousness as its other.
What struck me was this seemed to be about interactions with the mind and it's capacity to attach to things as reality when they aren't, they are fleeting, similar to Buddhist thought. But that also the joy of life is also in the desire.. you have to live and be part of the world yet not get too absorbed in desire that you aren't truly living.
I've never studied the Tao Te Ching so this dialogue is really interesting.. thanks for the musings, you two. Looking forward to the rest.
I also never knew Le Guin wrote commentary on the TTC. I love her writings. I'm just 're reading The Word for World is Forest.
Posted using Partiko Android
Ya, I think part of why Taoism has spoken to me so strongly is because it often feels like a cross between Abraham-Hicks & Buddha. Don't be attached to it, don't think that what you see is what there is, but have fun seeing it & playing around with it!
I hadn't heard about UKLG's translation until researching for this article. That woman is ever astounding me :-)
Really cool series! I like this. Man the Tao te Ching is always to clear yet mysterious to me. This first chapter can be a real mind bogler but I feel has the essence of what spiritual maturity really is. Its accepting that no matter how hard we try we cannot define or name the infinite. The true nature of reality. That all language is a lie! That we have to succumb that whatever underlying forces that make up the universe are inherently unknowable and mindbogglingly and any attempt to say that we have nailed it down and figured it out, that our god it's names and all symbolic deification of it are pretty ridiculous. I love the simplicity of Taoism and its acceptance of really not knowing the ultimate truth and finding peace and balance within it. Thanks for starting this series. I look forward to reading your writings about the future chapters and participating. Much love!
Ya, I feel like this chapter definitely lends itself to a broad reading of MANY spiritual texts and diving down lots of different rabbit holes, since none of them will encapsulate the Truth, and yet all of them can offer some glimpse, some angle on that Truth.
I am so, so looking forward to diving into this wonderful text fully with @TheLynx, and with everyone else on STEEM that wants to get involved :-)
This was one of the first books I read at Banyen Books as I began my quest about 40-years ago; that and a little black book called The Impersonal Self.
They've always stayed with me even as a Christian Gnostic. I see the Dualism as similar as is the Tao similar to the unknown God of the gnostic tradition.
I see all the rabbit holes as similar to all the theme parks within WestWorld.
I definitely see a ton of intertwining & commonalities between all of the spiritual traditions, and honestly that's part of the fun for me. Where are the key truths that they're all pointing at? Why are some of the key foundations of one school so polar opposite another when other factors are almost identical.
Most importantly, for me, it all comes down to what will help me to be the best that I can be and to live the happiest, healthiest life that I can :-)
I'll have to add The Impersonal Self to my list.
All I can tell ya is that ole Schopenhauer becomes more compelling the older I get! lol
Your philosophy does make sense even if we are in the hell of an eternal recurrence...
I'm going to go pick up a copy today :-)
The Tao Te Ching has been a great influence in my life. Thank you for bringing light to it in our community. I'd love to be part of it if you open up for guests.
That is something I would absolutely love! We're going to head through chapter by chapter (so chapter 2 in five days), so any time you want to jump in just let me know and I'll include your insights into the post itself :-)
idk why i didnt see this comment until now. i apologize. what should i focus on now?
We're going to do chapter 3 tomorrow
think I am going to hang out here when I want to take a break, Taoism is such a valuable philosophy. Well I only read Mantak Chia so far. Will finish your blog this weekend when I wake up with my cup of tea.
Thank you for sharing @kennyskitchen... following of course
Awesome, super stoked to get as many wonderful Steemians as possible in on the conversation :-)
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts after you finish it up!
Yin and yang the balance is important in life
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It certainly is :-)
This is my first exposure to this text - thank you - I need some time to process...
It's definitely one of the most powerful spiritual texts I've wandered into myself :-)
It was on the periphery of my mind for a LONG time, and after reading @dbroze & @johnvibes first book Reflections on Anarchy & Spirituality, I knew that I needed to learn much, much more about it!
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Excellent. I've been looking into Buddhism recently after reading "The Art of Communication". The author pointed out the practice of bowing as an act of awareness of the little Buddha within each of us. The "little Buddha" representing the highest potential of enlightenment, kindness and understanding within. I may end up taking that as my new greeting.
In regard to this chapter, I'm reminded of something Walter Russell suggested. That there is universal source that is Light and that that light exist everywhere, darkness is just space within the spectrum that we cannot see or chose not to. Which also reminds me of Dewey Larson's "Inverse Theory" which suggests the opposite of the whole is 1/the whole. It makes me wonder if matter and spirituality are a similar relationship, thus the final thought describing the same thing.
Very grateful to you both for your efforts to bring this to us.
I bow to the Buddha within each of you!
I dig that, and remember how much the importance of bowing was focused on in most every martial arts class I took as a kid, regardless of the style or the culture from which it originated.
I love that!
That certainly aligns with many of the teachings I have come across, which basically place physical reality as one side of the coin, which has consciousness as its other.
Thanks for your thoughts brother!