“If I have any sense, I should walk the Great Way, and my only fear would be straying from it.” – v.53 3. Everything the sheep chase will fall into your lap as you live a life of virtue, wisdom, and discipline.įeed your spirit and you will walk a path of bliss known only to few… This is the Great Way. And gather wisdom instead of catching up on the news.ĭon’t be a sheep following the crowd and feeding off low hanging fruit. Value discipline over immediate gratification. Our outward depression is a result of feeding our bodies and mind the wrong values and input. In reality, we are ignoring and smothering the cries of our souls. In their disregard, people aimlessly try to do life better their way and find themselves depressed, stressed, and run down in time. Today, people think lasting happiness can be bought, drank, or eaten.Įveryone lives by their ego, thinking timeless wisdom is a set of rules rather than the guidelines to a smoother life that it truly is. The secrets to lasting peace and happiness really aren’t a secret, they are just ignored. Dont Value What Others Have “The Great Way is smooth and easy, yet people prefer the devious side paths.” – v.53Ī better way of life has been around for thousands of years. By giving everything he has, he receives more than he could ever wish for in return. He lives in an attempt to nourish all of creation taking no favorites and turning his back to no person or creature in need.Īs a result of the Sage’s compassion, his life is naturally filled with purpose, great relationships, and lasting reward. The Sage lives from a position of Universal Oneness. With this fact, he lives to give back, not to acquire or steal. The Sage recognizes that life owes him nothing. His emotions come from his center, therefore, external conditions never tip him too far off balance. Instead, he stays rooted in his calm center preserving his energy for important tasks. He never allows himself to go too high or too low. Therefore, the Sage stays rooted in the Tao – the one true constant. What we place our identity and happiness in today may not be around tomorrow. When we make any good thing a Godly thing, we set ourselves up for disaster. We aren’t just talking about the typical drugs, fast food, and sex either.Įven things we perceive as good become harmful when we overindulge. Humility gives the sea its power.” – v.66 ModerationĮverything in excess becomes harmful. “All streams flow to the sea because it lies below them. The humble person is rooted on the ground while their quality of life soars past the stars. Being humble means you have confidence yet you don’t need to impose it on anyone. There is an assumption that being humble means you can’t have confidence. As a result, his relationships are deep, genuine, intensely rewarding, and abundant. The humble person doesn’t elevate himself or his needs above anyone else. Furthermore, they aren’t afraid to ask for help and, in return, they receive more assistance than anyone else. These answers allow them to live a more fulfilling life. They search for answers and they always get them. The humble recognize they don’t know everything. This is where their true power comes from – their weakness. The humble person admits they are far from perfect. In reality, humility is a key to true power. Today, humility is thought to be a weak trait. It states that the sage values three virtues above all else: humility, moderation, and compassion. The Tao Te Ching is ultimately a passing down of this soul-freeing wisdom. Instead, they soak in the beauty of life, experiencing a heaven on earth. Most likely, they have reached enlightenment and understand the true meaning of life.īy understanding the meaning of life, the Sage lives a life that is free of emotional resistance. The Sage is simply a person of elevated wisdom. Many times throughout the Tao Te Ching we see The Sage being referenced. “That which is well planted in the Tao cannot be uprooted.” – v.54 1. I urge you to read this list with an open mind and see if even a single one of these lessons doesn’t improve your well-being. The following is a list of some of the most powerful teachings and ideas from this text. When this power is realized and acted upon, the Tao Te Ching is capable of bringing us back to our roots where the problems of the world do not affect us. For this reason, the teachings require study, meditation, and daily application for their true power to take effect. It is composed almost entirely of paradox. Many of the lessons will contradict the lessons of the outside world. The purpose of Taoism is to create a life abundant in peace and joy through effortless living. It is the basis of the “religion” of Taoism. The Tao Te Ching is one of the most revered spiritual texts of all time. This guest post is from Regan Jacklin, a fellow traveler and blogger I met in Mexico late last year.
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