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 »
26the pine tree bendsagainst unceasing windroots deep in earth. Lesson # 26 Consider a tree.The twigs and leaves or needlesare grounded by the trunk.Wind may whip or break them, but solid and still, the trunk does not move.As you travel throughThe Great Mall of the World,turn away from the winds of distractionthe shiny baubles and
Number Twenty Six The Tree Read More »
25old black dogasleep, twitching I write haiku Lesson # 25 There are three great truths: 1-Everything originates, even before the Big Bang, from the Mother of Everything. 2- There are four great patterns in Creation:1) space/time, 2) energy,3) matter, and 4) consciousness. 3- We serve the Tao, and the Taojust wants to know itself. From:
Number Twenty Five Mother of Everything Read More »
24stand on your tip toesreaching up as far as you canforever Lesson # 24 How long can you stand on your tiptoes?How long can you run before collapsing on the ground? How many people do you have to impress before you love yourself? How many people do you have to make wrong before you know
Number Twenty Four Trying Read More »