The highest virtue is to act without a sense of self The highest kindness is to give without a condition The highest justice is to see without a preference When Tao is lost one must learn the rules of virtue When virtue is lost, the rules of kindness When kindness is lost, the rules of justice When justice is lost, the rules of conduct - Laozi, Daodejing verse 38 (trans. Jonathan …
Taoism
Seeing The Field
Though perhaps a tad schmaltzy, the Seeing The Field scene of The Legend of Bagger Vance remains a favorite: A beautiful expression of what in Taoism we refer to as wuwei, non-volitional action. Or what athletes refer to as "being in the zone." When we abide as the field of Reality, with the bodymind re-membering itself (with joyous delight) as a jewel in Indra's Net. * …
The God Whistle
Yesterday, after sharing a midday Thanksgiving meal, I tagged along with a friend as she took her dog – a year-old Belgian Malinois named Koan – for a walk. On this particular afternoon we went to a dog park: a fenced-in area where Koan could run and play with other dogs. Because the area was fenced-in, there was no danger of the dogs running off, so it was easy to just hang out chatting with my …
Practice Notes: Cherry Tomato
Nice Catch? So then, I’m sitting in the outdoor café area of Ideal Market: a local whole-foods grocery. Beautiful sunny day, and great view of the Flatirons! In the course of enjoying my salad, I pick up a cherry tomato, with the thumb and first finger of my right hand. En route to my mouth, the cherry tomato squirts out, and begins its parabolic arc toward the ground. Before I know it …
Practice Notes: The Source Of All Phenomena
According to Advaita Vedanta, the source of all phenomena is Pure Awareness, with (apparent) objects appearing and disappearing in the manner of waves upon an ocean. Taoism points to something similar, but in its own language: The ineffable immeasurable boundless Tao (or Wu Chi) giving birth to the ten-thousand-things (i.e. to worldly phenomena). In Buddhism it is the luminous openness of …
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What Person Listens?
Staying Overnight At The Daoist Abbey Called The Cave Palace Of Heavenly Mist Autumn mountains Inexhaustible, Autumn thought Has no boundary. Creek Of azure green, Flowing with red leaves. Blue-grey woods Dotted with white clouds. In chilly shadow A lone bird alights. At sunset Confused cicadas scatter. Rain tonight On the banana trees. What person listens From the …