Those people
who actually realize it just
keep serene and free at all times,
without cravings, without
dependence.
Posts Tagged → lao tzu
the guardian spirit lodged within
If you find anything
better in human life than justice,
honesty, moderation and courage — if,
to put it generally, you find anything better
than the self-sufficiency of your mind on those
occasions that your actions are compatible with
right reason, as well as when something is allotted
to you by fate without your having chosen it —
if, I say, you’re aware of anything better
than this, turn to it with all your heart
and enjoy the supreme good
you’ve discovered.
But if you find
nothing better than the
guardian spirit lodged within you,
which has brought all your particular
impulses under its control, which scrutinizes
your thoughts, which, as Socrates used to say, has
withdrawn itself from sensations, which has put itself
in the gods’ hands, and which cared providentially for
other people — if everything else turns out to be
trivial and worthless by comparison,
then make room for
nothing else.
a time for creating union
Seek union with others
and with the Sage.
“Holding together”
denotes a time for creating union
with others in order to complement and assist
one another, just as the rain complements and assists
the earth, which is an image often associated with
this hexagram. In order for your unions to bear
the greatest possible fruit, certain
requirements must
be met.
The first
requirement for holding
together with others is that we hold
together with our own inner truth. This means
that we adhere to proper principles as a matter of habit,
striving always to remain innocent, balanced, and
correct. In short, marry the Sage first and
faithfully, and good fortune will
come to all subsequent
marriages.
The second
requirement for holding
together with others is that we
steadfastly resist the clamoring of
the emotional inferiors within. Every union
meets with challenges, and if we are not resolute
against the effects of fear, doubt, despair, and anger,
no lasting success will be possible in any relationship.
This is a good time to ask yourself if you are
displaying the steadfast correctness and
strength of character that are
at the heart of all great
unions.
Finally,
it is the responsibility
of one who would unite to see
that it is possible for others to enjoy union
as well. The desire for community is deeply felt by
all humans, and it is the shared responsibility of all those
on the higher path to make some sort of “family”
available to those in need. In doing this,
we pay homage to
the Sage.
from The I Ching, or Book of Changes
Hexagram 8, Pi / Holding Together
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he helps all beings become themselves
What has equilibrium
is easy to maintain. What hasn’t
begun is easy to plan. What is fragile
is easy to shatter. What is small
is easy to scatter.
Deal with things
before they arise. Cultivate
order before confusion
sets in.
The tallest tree
springs from a tiny shoot.
The tallest tower is built from a pile of
dirt. A journey of a thousand miles
begins at your feet.
Interfere with things,
and you’ll be defeated by them.
Hold on to things, and you’ll lose them.
The sage doesn’t interfere, so he
doesn’t fail; doesn’t hold on,
so he doesn’t lose.
Because projects
often come to ruin just before
completion, he takes as much care at
the end as he did at the beginning,
and thereby succeeds.
His only desire
is to be free of desire.
Fancying nothing, learning not
to know, electing not to interfere,
he helps all beings become
themselves.
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Wei wu Wei Ching, Hua hu Ching, and
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the universe is a harmonious oneness
Forget
about understanding and
harmonizing and making all things one.
The universe is already a harmonious
oneness; just realize
that.
If you
scramble about in
search of inner peace,
you will lose your
inner peace.
You
can now buy
Wei wu Wei Ching as part of a
five-app bundle of Taoist classics
for iPhone or iPad for less than
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book.