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The Power of HopelessnessT. S. Eliot wrote, “Wait without hope, for hope would be hope for the wrong thing.” Everything seems to be decaying, deteriorating, falling apart. Many young women are seriously wondering how it can be a moral act to bring a child into a future that looks so grim. Many of us are […]

#80The harder I hold onThe sooner my hand cramps.Just let it go. Lesson # 81 Truthful words may not sound sweet. Sweet words may not be truthful. Skillful people are not argumentative. Argumentative people are not skillful. The wisest are not the smartest. The smartest are not the wisest. The sage has discovered this simple

#80In a perfect worldI am always happy.Why is my tea cold? Lesson # 80 In a perfect world, people would work and live in communities of less than 200 souls. They would use technology,but not be used by it,or let it dominate their lives.They would have the means to defend themselves, but instead would work

79voluptuous strawberriesnourished fromthe corpses beneath them. Lesson # 79 Things go wrong, and people get hurt.What are you to do when you get wounded?Wounds can fester.Choosing resentment only makes the wound more toxic. It is up to you. Somehow,choose love, forgiveness, compassion.Hold up your end, but then let it go whenyou are not met in

78mountain unmovingwind and water wear it awaystay flexible Lesson # 78 Consider water.Nothing is more yielding, flexible, fluid, and yet nothing surpasses it in eroding, dissolving, wearing down that which is hard, solid, inflexible. Water teaches us that the supple and malleable will overcome the unbending, stubborn, and unyielding.All men know this,yet, no one is

77the beggar in the streetand the king on his balconywatch the same moon rise. Lesson # 77 Imagine stringing a bow, and you can understand how the Tao works in the Universe. You increase or decrease the length of the string, until it is just the right length.You bend the bow until it is at

#76 in death all is stiffat birth it’s soft and gentlesoft will overcome From 81 Lessons from the Tao Lesson # 76 At birth, we are soft and tender. At our death, we become rigid and hard. In life, plants and trees are soft and pliant. In death, they are withered and tough. Thus, rigidity

75greed appears to winthe people are enslavedsit still, watch, and wait. Lesson # 75 People starve because others with wealth just want more money.People are oppressed because others in power just want more control. If you value your life, live simply. Stop when you have just enough.Be kind to others. Enjoy what you have. Seek

74The executionerlays down his bloody axand walks away. Lesson # 74 If you do not fear death then no one can threaten you with execution. If you live in constant fear of death, you will walk the straight and narrow, always fearing retribution for breaking someone else’s laws. The Lord of Slaughter comes to us

73blood on her faceshe walks away from the crashyet the moon rises. Lesson # 73 Sometimes the bravest soldier dieswhile the craven coward lives on.Sometimes it appears that, no matter how good you are, the Universe is out to get you.The wisest person cannot answer this simple question, “Why me?”We might catch the faintest glimpse