36the banana slugslides across decaying barkof the once mighty oak Lesson # 36 If you only inhale and hold that breath in,you cannot breathe.You must release that air.Try to stay strong all the time and you will collapse.You must take time to relax.The greatest gift is to give awaythat which you most dearly cling to […]
Number Thirty Six The Cycle Read More »
35the night skygoes on forevereasier to look at the moon Lesson # 35 How do you teach enlightenment?Not by attracting othersto your great wisdom.Just greet those who come to you,feed them well, talk gently about inconsequential things. The traveler will not understand what impact your peace of mindhas on them,but you will be doing the
Number Thirty Five Don’t Tell Read More »
34drifting on a spit of landwhere the river endsand the ocean begins Lesson # 34 The Tao is in all things,yet it does not dominate them,but it leaves them to find their own way. The Tao is there in the living and the dead,in the past and in the future.It owns nothing, and yeteverything rests
Number Thirty Four The Gift Read More »
33a vase of rosesscarlet against the white snowand the gray tombstone Lesson # 33 After a lifetime of studying other peopleyou may appear wise,but by studying your own true natureyou open the door to true wisdom.Imposing your will on othersmay make you feel powerful for a moment,but becoming the master of your thoughts and emotionsrequires
Number Thirty Three Read More »
32Earth holds us to ithands of force around our feetpulling us closer Lesson # 32 Infinitesimally small, essentially gentle,the Tao connects everything like gravity. It holds us all, calls us forth to our destiny,and gathers everything, living and dead, into its name. Rest now, and let it carry you home to the sea. From: 81
Number Thirty Two Unnamable Read More »
31the broken sword rusts nestled in the Miner’s Letticeand Poison Ivy Lesson # 31 Do not cherish your weapons.Any sane person should hate to use them,should pick them up only as a last resource, and should drop them as soon as possible. Victory through violence is bitter.Wars lead only to mourning. Those who find violence
Number Thirty One War Read More »
30the Army marches onbehind them, barren groundthistles and thorns Lesson # 30 After the army passes, all that can grow are thistles and thorns.Crops fail long after the soldiers have moved on. Embrace violence and you will leave suffering in your wake.Embrace peace and goodwilland the universe sighs with gratitude. From: 81 Lessons from the
Number Thirty Violence Read More »
29you, Earth, Sun,Milky Way, Universeyou can’t fix it. Lesson # 29 Ah, so you want to make this a good world!Sorry it can’t be done.The universe just is.When you try very hard to improve people, you can break your will on that hard stone.When you try to control things, control can slip right through your
Number Twenty Nine Frustration Read More »
28anyone can be a spooncarved from a chunk of woodbe the uncarved block Lesson # 28 Dance the feminine and the masculine danceto your own music. Embrace the light and the darknesswithout guilt or judgement. Watch fame rise and fall,watch failure rise and fall,and stay unscarred by either.Stay as simple as a block of wood,available
Number Twenty Eight Embrace It All Read More »
27the lead goose tiresanother takes pointno one left behind Lesson # 27 Can you walk through this worldleaving no scars in your wake?Can you speak your truthwithout wounding others? Can you know your truthwithout needing to justify or prove anything?Can you hold it togetherwithout straining or clinging? Do just enough but do it well. You
Number Twenty Seven Stewardship Read More »