Don’t
try to escape from
the movements of the world.
Remain in the midst of everything,
focused into the empty space
at the center of your
self.
Pouring
your whole being
there without pause, alert, quietly
smiling, you detach from clamor and
chaos and become independent
and free. From here you
can teach yourself
everything.
With all this
talking, what has been said?
The subtle truth can be pointed
at with words, but it can’t
be contained by
them.
Take time to
listen to what is said
without words, to obey the law too
subtle to be written, to worship the
unnameable and to embrace
the unformed.
Love your life.
Trust the Tao. Make
love with the invisible
subtle origin of the universe,
and you will give yourself
everything you
need.
You won’t
have to hide away
forever in spiritual retreats.
You can be a gentle, contemplative
hermit right here in the middle of
everything, utterly unaffected,
thoroughly sustained
and rewarded by
your integral
practices.
Encouraging others,
giving freely to all, awakening
and purifying the world with each
movement and action, you’ll
ascend to the divine
realm in broad
daylight.
The breath of
the Tao speaks, and
those who are in harmony
with it hear quite
clearly.
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photo: Gerry Smith
This thing
is there with everyone
right where they stand. But only if you
have planted deep and strong roots in the past
will you have the strength in the midst
of worldly truth to push
entangling objects
away.
You must
consciously step back from
conventional perceptions and worldly entanglements to
move along on your own and reflect with an independent awareness.
Cleanse and purify your karma of mind, body, and mouth,
sit upright and investigate reality, until you arrive
at subtle insight and clear
liberation.
Right
in your own life,
detach from conditioned views
and cut off sentiments. Stand like a wall a mile high.
Abandon the deep seated conditioning and the erroneous perception
that has been with you since time without beginning. Smash
the mountain of self to pieces, dry up views based
on craving, and directly take up
the truth.
Everyone
holds a luminous jewel,
all embrace a precious gem. If you
do not turn your attention around and
look within, you will wander from
home with a hidden
treasure.
Don’t
try to hold onto the
wave that’s breaking against
your foot; so long as you stand in
the stream fresh waves will
always keep breaking
against
it.
