Introduction to the Tao Te Ching - Chapter 1
In the ABOUT section, I summarized the building blocks of a prosperous life based on Freedom, not Wealth.
Borrowing from Tantra and Tao teachings, I created my own mantra to motivate and inspire me to achieve the prosperous life I desire:
My Process Of Living is Tao-Tantra
My Style of Living is Minimalist
I live in a State of Mindfulness
I Speak the Language of Love!
After a lifetime of searching and questioning, I found the Tao Te Ching (Book of the Way) – an ancient, 81-verse, Chinese writing.
Its origin or author(s) will never be fully understood nor agreed upon but that is of no importance to me. The writings resonate with my personal beliefs and the Tao Te Ching is at the core of my process of living.
But reader beware – the Tao Te Ching is not a guidebook. It does not offer a clear set of rules, commandments, or instructions to live by. Instead, it reads like a poem with powerful phrases and paragraphs that require thought, interpretation, and contemplation.
Will the real TAO TE CHING please stand up?
The written Tao Te Ching is ultimately just an attempt to capture the progressive thoughts of someone in ancient China using the limitations of language at that time. To make matters worse, the script has been translated many times, most probably leaving us with different interpretations of what was meant by the original philosopher(s)!
In my writings, I use translations from two authors and I highly recommend their work. There are others - just pick one that speaks to you!
Derek Lin and Jane English - Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained
Adding to the confusion are hundreds of spiritual “masters” who teach various styles of Taoism, renowned authors with best-selling books about the Tao Te Ching, and social media influencers with strong opinions about living in conformity with the Tao.
Tao Te Ching - Chapter One
The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named is not the eternal name
The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth
The named is the mother of myriad things
Thus, constantly without desire, one observes its essence
Constantly with desire, one observes its manifestations
These two emerge together but differ in name
The unity is said to be the mystery
If one considers the first two lines of the Tao Te Ching, much of what we hear and read becomes problematic!
The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
Basically speaking, we are told to be careful about attempts to define the Tao. Books, lectures and social media posts about the Tao Te Ching are interesting reads and serve to expand our thoughts but one must not get attached to anyone’s opinion, translation, interpretation, or teaching.
Accept the Mystery
It is human nature to analyze, study, and dissect things we do not understand.
When I first read the Tao Te Ching it became an obsession to understand its full meaning. I listened to podcasts, watched YouTube videos, and read books by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer and countless others! During this research, I learned that Taoism, like religion, is big business and there are many “mentors” ready to help unlock its mysteries – at a price!
In my opinion, the next few lines of the Tao Te Ching offer a warning:
The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth
The named is the mother of myriad things
Thus, constantly without desire, one observes its essence
Constantly with desire, one observes its manifestations
The Tao Te Ching is not meant to be fully understood and explained. These lines serve as a reminder to NOT limit ourselves to any one interpretation or analysis of the text. It is almost as if the original author foresaw the way future spiritual leaders would adapt the Tao Te Ching to suit their beliefs or religions.
For example, it is very easy and desirable for someone to turn the Tao Te Ching into a playbook (or rule set) in support of a specific religion, sect, or belief. I've listened to several interpretations by Christian authors who associate the writings with God and the Bible. Is this not a "desire" to adapt the Tao te Ching to a certain belief? By doing so one sees a manifestation rather than embracing the mystery of free thinking and new possibilities.
I understand why folks are doing this. There are no ill intentions. They are trying to explain the Tao Te Ching in words and actions that we are familiar with! Even the great Dr. Wayne Dyer associates part of the text with the phrase "let go and let God". In Christian beliefs, we are told to give control of our lives over to God, for example, when we feel overwhelmed. It is a feel-good statement and Dr. Dyer is simply trying to help us understand the concept of accepting the mystery of the Tao. Nevertheless, we have to be careful with associations and rather focus on accepting the way things are rather than trying to explain them through religion and beliefs.
Assuming we can free our minds of the constraints of modern-day living and beliefs and rules and are open to accepting the mystery of the Tao, then we are ready to derive true meaning and purpose from the Tao Te Ching.
However, this must be a personal journey because we are all different. Your path will be different than mine.
Imagine two souls from vastly different backgrounds, both trying to apply the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching to their lives. One is a millionaire living in a high-rise mansion in New York, the other a nomad in Tibet with a small herd of cattle as his only possession.
The millionaire desires a healthier and more spiritual life whereas the nomad dreams of green pastures and cattle fertility as a means to support a growing family.
Both will benefit from studying the Tao Te Ching but their interpretations, paths, and conclusions will differ greatly. And that is exactly how it should be.
Where Do We Start?
Fortunately, the Tao Te Ching has a simple answer!
Thus, constantly without desire, one observes its essence
Constantly with desire, one observes its manifestations
Stop seeing everything in the way we want it to be (based on the limits of our knowledge) and focus on how things are, right here and right now.
In other words, making peace with ourselves in our current situation rather than obsessing about how much better things could be if we had everything we desire.
If we free ourselves from desire, we have a blank canvas to start with. From here we can study Tantra and the other verses of the Tao Te Ching and learn how to be like water in sync with the universe.
Is "being at peace" a passive existence with no growth?
Making peace with yourself in your current situation does not mean you want to be stuck there forever!
"Be like water" is a phrase I use often, but even water is not content with staying in one place. It is always trying to escape either downwards via gravity or upwards via condensation.
And being at peace does not mean "take no action". Should you fall off a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean, you must take action. Surprisingly, the best action may be to simply roll over on your back and float until the rescue team arrives. By not exhausting yourself trying to swim to the ship or the shore, you are actually taking the best possible action!
There is peace and freedom in spirituality, and limitations in worshipping possessions. In the next article, we explore ways to make peace with ourselves regardless of our situation.
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