72
as the bluejay soars
far away from the village
church bells ring
Lesson # 72
When folks conquer one fear
it seems like another one
always comes along.
When it is very hard
to get the simple things they need,
folks become weary, hopeless,
and start looking for
easy answers from messiahs.
Do not become one a false spiritual leader.
Know yourself
but don’t parade your knowledge.
Love yourself
but don’t exalt yourself.
Let go of the need for
admiration, praise, or adoration.
Hold close to the real treasure,
inside of you.
From: 81 Lessons from the Tao Te Ching
Number 72 Hold close
When folks conquer one fear
it seems like another one always comes along
Really all folks need is
shelter sustenance work
and some sort of family or small community
When it is very hard to get these
folks become weary and hopeless
and start looking for easy answers or messiahs
Do not become one of those
Know yourself but don’t parade your knowledge
Love yourself but don’t exalt yourself
Let go of the need for admiration, praise or adoration
Hold close to the real treasure, which is the knowledge
that your words are just wind blowing through you
NUMBER SEVENTY TWO
If the people do not dread majesty,
Then great majesty will come to them.
Let them guard the innermost of their dwellings,
Let them press towards the innermost of their life.
The Master indeed is not bound,
That is why he is not bound.
That is how the self-controlled man knows the Self and perceives the not-Self.
He loves the Self, and honours the not-Self.
Therefore he passes away from the latter and takes hold of the former.
Isabella Mears, The Tao Teh King, A Tentative Translation from the Chinese, William McLellan, Glascow, 1916.
Number 72 (commentary) Why do so many spiritual leaders generate scandals?
People are hungry for leaders. They want strong, virile political leaders. They want dynamic, motivating business leaders. They want wise, compelling, inspirational spiritual leaders,
To become a spiritual leader requires little beyond charisma.
When you set yourself up as a spiritual leader, you feel the hunger of those you lead. Feeding that hunger can easily become an addiction to the adoration, respect, admiration and even reverence they give you. When you see yourself as extraordinary, disaster can soon follow.
Be like Lao Tsu. Don’t have followers. No disciples.
It’s hard enough just to do your own work on yourself.
Tangent and Tool #72, “No religions, too” A question and a reflection: “How can I teach others all that I have learned?” In John Lennon’s song “Imagine” part of his idealized world was one without religions. Be careful! Lao Tsu would agree with John Lennon. I imagine the last thing Lao Tsu would want is a religion based on his work. Religions breed experts on holy texts, priesthoods based on rigid social order and ministers interpreting the holy word through their own moral and social filters to the ignorant masses. Real spiritual work is done inside and alone. Pilgrims along the way can give occasional solace, comfort, advice and company. But ultimately, it is up to you to dismantle your own ego and to align with energy far greater than yourself. Discovering deep truths, about yourself or about the universe does not make you a prophet. There is no need to proselytize. In fact, it is a trap designed to derail your own growth. Be content with your own excavations.
OK, I know. I wrote this book. Isn’t that doing what I said not to do? Well, yes. I am a hypocrite. But I only wrote it because the itch to write it would not leave me alone. Don’t blame me, blame the itch. I am not wanting to start a cult, religion or mystery school. I got nothing beyond these words for you. All I can do to defend myself is to fall back on the words of Walt Whitman,
“Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)”