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January 10, 2005

Lao-tzu and the Tao

Some time ago, I breezed my way through S.'s copy of the Tao Te Ching and was impressed with the philosophical thinking that Lao-tzu accomplished in a very minimal form. I had a conversation with a friend of mine today in which I tried to remember some of the profound insight that I had gained as a result of reading this short treatise, but, as is far too often the case, my memory did not prove to be up to the task. I said some things that were far too simple to really encapsulate the depth of understanding which is evoked on these pages. Stephen Mitchell, in the introduction to the copy in my hands, writes:

"Lao-tzu's central figure is a man or woman whose life is in perfect harmony with the way things are. This is not an idea; it is a reality; I have seen it. The Master has mastered Nature; not in the sense of conquering it, but of becoming it. In surrendering to the Tao, in giving up all concepts, judgments, and desires, her mind has grown naturally compassionate. She finds deep in her own experience the central truths of the art of living, which are paradoxical only on the surface: that the more truly solitary we are, the more compassionate we can be; the more we let go of what we love, the more present our love becomes; the clearer our insight into what is beyond good and evil, the more we can embody the good. Until finally she is able to say, in all humility, 'I am the Tao, the Truth, the Life.'" (pp.ix-x)

This kind of profound harmonious relationship between who one is and the world where there ceases to be any distinction between the universal and the particular is the type of existence that we should all aspire to. Without any doubt in my mind, I see the necessity of living harmoniously in relation to the way of life. I think I am still very far from realizing this kind of peace and equanimity in my life, but this does not mean that I feel estranged or alienated from what happens to me. I almost feel as if I am on the cusp of understanding, but I realize that the cusp is where we always are and, the sooner we realize and accept this, the better it will be for us. But enough of that, I should let Lao-tzu speak for himself.

23

Express yourself completely,
then keep quiet.
Be like the forces of nature:
when it blows, there is only wind;
when it rains, there is only rain;
when the clouds pass, the sun shines through.

If you open yourself to the Tao,
you are at one with the Tao
and you can embody it completely.
If you open yourself to insight,
you are at one with insight
and you can use it completely.
If you open yourself to loss,
you are at one with loss
and you can accept it completely.

Open yourself to the Tao,
then trust your natrual responses;
and everything will fall into place.

I am reminded after reading this of a sense I had at one time in my life in which it seemed that everything had fallen into place. It was a marvellous and miraculous time. The mere thought of those experiences throws me back into memories where the everydayness of the world was accepted. This acceptance allowed me to accomplish what I needed to and not worry about those things that weren't important. I need to find a way back to that kind of existence and I am beginning to realize that the only thing keeping me from it is myself.