12 March TAO (North Hemisphere)- ENTERTAINMENT

I just want to start by saying that Tao fascinates me as it falls on different days of the week each entertainment fell on the day of rest. Well, the verse itself is interesting and I will talk about it more detail below. However, here is the poem for today:

year. Today is Sunday and

'The mind that turns ever outward

Will have no end to craving.

Only the mind turned inward

Will find a still-point of peace.'

It is difficult to always look inside ourselves when so many people are entertaining themselves by recreating their inner world and making it into reality which we can see. In order for us to not be swayed by those worlds, we have to be aware of out inner mind- what it has. This does not mean to recreate a reality which you want, but to just acknowledge the existing one and let it be at peace with itself. Let it follow other worlds also, but do not let it drift and let this drifting be part of your daily life, i.e., ensure you do not switch from doing one this to doing another. Set yourself a goal and reach for it.

The above is supported by the following statement from the verse:

'True reality lies in withdrawal from the swirling variations of the outside world. It lies in looking within and then slowly peeling away the layers of subjectivity. What will remain is not a core of the objectivity, but a kernel of truth that absorbs rather than reflects. If we enter this kernel, our minds cease to continue their habits of creating stimulating realities, and we enter into a silence that feels perfect and whole.'

(Source: 365 Tao Daily Meditations, Deng Ming-Dao, p. 71)

What is meant by subjectivity here? It means 'peeling away the layers' the make up the world which you have created and realising what lies beneath those layers. You will create a 'kernel' that is able to be open to all realities which we see, but we will not reflect on these- just 'absorb'. This will allow us to be free of being swayed by different 'realities' and observe, while being true to our path.

Now, here is a nice relaxing melody to enjoy (click below). You can listen to it and read the verse over again to understand the teaching better or put your own interpretation to it you or just switch to YouTube and listen to ChilledCow's soothing melodies on the Afternoon Breeze playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhHGDOgjie4&index=8&list=RDDhzOK1fzC8s

Have a blessed Sunday.

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11 March TAO (North Hemisphere)- INDEPENDENCE

                                                      Today's verse is my favourite verse

' A solitary crane

In winter snow

    Needs no jewels.'

To be frank, I always thought this verse talked about a crane as in a machine. You would after reading the following lines:

' A single crane standing unconcerned in the falling snow is the very image of independence.'

(Source: 365 Tao Daily Meditations, Deng Ming-Dao, p. 70.)

Well, those cranes can be beautiful too and stand alone without jewels. Therefore, they too can be independent.

But, what is independence? Independence is being plane; it is being who you are. We might think our desires and our possessions define us. However, this is not the case. Indeed, out identity characterises who we are- it is our nature. Therefore, we are an individual. This makes us independent.

Relying on others or asking for help does not make us any less independent, for this is part of being human. We were taught to speak and communicate which makes us smart, but does not take away our independence.

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9 March TAO (North Hemisphere)- CREATIVITY

Today's Tao teaching is CREATIVITY.

The verse states:

'Strom breaks into pieces,

Clouds charge the horizon.

Revolving of the heavens

Generates al movement.'

Movement is key to all creativity. Without it, the earth is still and there is no evolution. Without evolution, an artist cannot explore their limits. When there are no limits, there is constant movement. We are inspired about what happens around us because of the motion which takes place- things grow, things die and things evolve into other things. With the evolution taking place, we are able to project what we see through different forms: painting, sculptures, writing and future plans or what we wish to happen. Because we are able to express ourselves, we reflects on what has already taken place and we allow ourselves to move with the earth and therefore also learn and grow by making plans and looking into the future.

The teaching itself tells you that a way to reach 'ultimate levels of creativity' is to:

'...[master] skill so thoroughly that it can be forgotten. Look at heaven and earth. Do they think about creating the weather, the seasons, and the cycles of growing? They only go on a revolving according to their nature, and the rest is generated without any thought or work on their part. This is truly effortless and is considered the highest skill that a follower of Tao can attain.'

(Source: 365 Tao Daily Meditations, Deng Ming-Dao, p. 68)

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Introduction

I have been reading Tao 365 for almost five years now and it does not get repetitive. Every time I read a verse, it seems as though it is the first time I am reading it. The teachings are truly inspiring and one thinks more philosophically, compared to when one does not read or study Tao.

This blog will focus on studying each verse in the book- not in the order of the days as they pass- and picking out the most important details about what the poems are communicating. The posts will appear two or three times a week, maybe daily until all 365 of them are briefly studied.

If  you have some thoughts or wish to add something to the posts, please feel free. However, this is a safe space for people to express what they think of each verse, and not what you think of people who are reading these teachings.

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Hope you enjoy and the blog will be beneficial to you as it is to me.

Dasha