progress is won through discipline

konstantin tronin

 

Lasting progress is won 

through quiet self-discipline.

 

This hexagram outlines the foundation of proper conduct within ourselves, with those with whom we may have conflicts, and within the larger society. It serves to remind us that no genuine gains can be made unless we are rooted firmly in the principles of the Sage.

An image often associated with this hexagram is that of treading on the tail of a tiger. The “tiger” may be some strong or malevolent force in your own personality, or it may be a particularly volatile individual or situation with which you have to deal. In either case the advice of the I Ching is the same: one avoids the bite of a tiger by treading carefully. To tread carefully means that we remain steadfastly innocent and conscientious in our thoughts and actions. 

It is inevitable that people will display varying levels of spiritual understanding. It is not our duty to condemn or correct others, but simply to go on developing ourselves. Do not imagine that you can hasten your progress through aggressive actions now. Power that is sought and wielded pridefully has a way of evaporating when you need it most, thus exacerbating your difficulties. The only lasting influence is that which arises naturally from a course of steady development.

In the end, it is our inner worth that determines the outer conditions of our lives. Those who resolve to persevere in humility, sincerity, and gentleness can tread anywhere – even on the tail of a tiger – and meet with success.

 

from The I Ching, or Book of Changes

Hexagram 10, Lü / Treading

 

Further guidance from the
Wei Wu Wei Ching

By seeing
all the way through
things we are able to perceive
the perfection of existence. The
foreground of mind is noisy chatter,
but by simply watching that with
discipline and perseverance, we
see it quiet. In its place arises
a vast, silent, illuminated
emptiness.

So also with life.
The foreground is rife
with suffering and difficulty,
but by doing non-doing and
quietly observing, we
become aware of
its purity.

 

ebooks & apps of the Tao the Ching, I Ching,

Hua hu Ching, and Art of War for

iPad, Phone, Kindle, Nook,

or Android

 

🐅

 

You

can now buy

the I Ching as part of a

five-app bundle of Taoist classics 

for iPhone or iPad for less than

the cost of one hardcover

book.

brian browne walker taoist app bundle ios ipad iphone

 

hexagram 23, po / splitting apart

remain free and uninvolved

 

Do not attempt to intervene now.

 
A period has been entered when inferior influences will prevail. Even a superior person who seeks to act now will be undermined by the time. There is no reason to resist this state of affairs; indeed, it is natural that the inferior elements periodically come to the fore. Adversity is often a stimulant to our spiritual growth, and what is important is the spirit in which we meet it.

When challenging situations come to call, we are often overwhelmed with feelings of anxiety, doubt, and fear. We fear that if we do not act immediately and vigorously, we will be ruined, we doubt the power of the Creative to resolve the situation favorably.

It is when we act upon these feelings that we engage in “splitting apart”: we split apart from our spiritual path, our devotion to the Higher Power, and the wisdom of patient nonaction in the face of difficulty. If you take this course now, you will prevent the Creative from coming to your aid and unnecessarily increase your own misfortune.

The guide to proper behavior at such times lies in the image of the hexagram, which is “mountain over earth”. By keeping as still and quiet as a mountain, by resting firmly on your foundation of proper principles, by accepting the nature of the time and not resisting it, you weather all storms. By trusting in nonaction, acceptance, and patience, you gain the strength of the very earth.
 

from The I Ching, or Book of Changes

Hexagram 23, Po / Splitting Apart

see also Wei wu Wei Ching 23

 

ebooks & apps of the Tao the Ching, I Ching,

Hua hu Ching, and Art of War for

iPad, Phone, Kindle, Nook,

or Android

 

You

can now buy

the I Ching as part of a

five-app bundle of Taoist classics 

for iPhone or iPad for less than

the cost of one hardcover

book.

brian browne walker taoist app bundle ios ipad iphone

 

roads for entering the path

the ultimate path

 

Bodhidharma taught:

There are many roads for entering the Path,

but in 
essence they do not go beyond two kinds: one is

entering 
through inner truth, and the other is

entering through
 practice.
 

Entering through inner truth

means using the Teachings to awaken to the source.

It means deep belief that 
living beings both ordinary and

sage share one and the 
same reality-nature; it is just

because of the false covering
 of alien dust

that it is not manifested.

 

If you abandon the 
false and return to the real,

concentrate your attention 
and gaze like a wall, then there

is no self and others, and 
ordinary and sage are equal. Firmly abiding

and unmov-ing, you no longer fall into the verbal teachings. This is


tacit accord with the real inner truth: without discrimination,

it is still and nameless. This is called “entering


through inner truth.”

 

Entering through practice

refers to the Four Practices
— all other practices

are contained within these. What
 are the Four Practices?

First, the practice of repaying
 wrongs. Second, the practice of

going along with the 
causal nexus. Third, the practice of

not seeking anything.
 Fourth, the practice of

according with the Dharma.

 

What is the practice of repaying wrongs?

When receiving suffering, a practitioner who cultivates

the Path
 should think to himself: “During countless ages past I


have abandoned the root and pursued the branches, flowing into the

various states of being, and giving rise to 
much rancor and hatred —

the transgression, the harm
 done, has been limitless. Though I do

not transgress 
now, this suffering is a disaster left over

from former 
lives — the results of evil deeds have

ripened. This suffering is not something

given by gods or humans.”

 

You
 should willingly endure the suffering

without anger or
complaint. The sutra says: “Encountering

suffering, one
 is not concerned. Why? Because one is conscious of the


basic root.” When this attitude toward suffering is
 born, you are in

accord with inner truth, and even as you
 experience wrongs,

you advance on the Path. Thus it is 
called

“the practice of repaying wrongs.”

 

Second is the practice

of going along with the causal
 nexus.

Sentient beings have no selves, but are trans
formed

in a manner causally linked to their deeds.
They receive both

suffering and happiness — both are 
born from causal conditions.

If we get good rewards,
 glory and fame and the like, this is brought

about by past
 causes. We receive them now, but when the causal nexus


is ended, they will not be there — how can we rejoice?
 Gain and loss

follow the causal nexus: Mind is neither
 augmented nor

diminished. If the wind of joy at gain
and sorrow at

loss does not stir, you deeply accord with 
the

Path. Thus it is called “the practice

of going along
 with the

causal nexus.”

 

Third, the practice of not seeking anything.

Worldly 
people are always deluded, craving everything,

becoming attached everywhere. This is called “seeking.” The
 wise

awaken to the real. Using inner truth, they reach
 the conventional

world. Pacifying mind without contrived activity, changing

shape as they go, the myriad 
states of being are thereby

emptied, and there is nothing
 wished

for to take joy in.

 

Along with this, the darkness


of “meritorious deeds” contrived based

on dualistic
 views is forever banished. Dwell for long

in the triple
 world?— it is like a house on fire. All who have bodies


suffer — who can find peace? When this is completely 
comprehended,

thoughts of the various states of being 
cease and there is no seeking.  

The sutra says: “All who 
seek, suffer. If there is no seeking,

only then is there 
bliss.” Thus we know that not seeking

anything is truly 
a practice of the Path.
 

Fourth, the practice of according

with the Dharma.
The Dharma, the Teaching of Reality,

is based on the 
inner truth of the inherent purity of all things’

true 
identity. By this inner truth the multitude of forms are 
all empty:

there is no defilement, no attachment, no this,
no that. The sutra

says: “The Dharma has no sentient 
beings, because it is

detached from the impurity of sen
tient beings.

The Dharma has no self, because it is

de
tached from the impurity

of self.” 

 

If the wise can believe


and understand with certainty this inner truth,

they
 ought to practice in accord with the Dharma. The body


of the Dharma is not stingy with the physical body and 
life. This is

practicing giving: let there be no stinginess 
or holding back in the heart.

Realizing that the one 
receiving the gift, the giver, and the gift itself

are all
 empty, you don’t depend on them or get attached to 
them.

They are just used to get rid of impurities, and
 embrace

and transform sentient beings, without

grasping
 at forms.
 

This is benefiting oneself

and also being able to 
benefit others,

and being able to adorn the Path of Enlightenment.

Since the perfection of giving is thus, so
 are the other five

(the perfection of morality, patient
 endurance, energetic progress,

meditation, and wisdom). To practice the six perfections to

remove false 
thinking, and yet to have nothing that

is practiced — this 
is the practice of

according with the Dharma.

 

Records of the Teachers and Students of the Lanka

full text here

 

the universe comes to you

fabio oliveira

 

Die 

the great death,

and in the cool ashes of the

funeral pyre you will

meet what never

dies.

 

How is

this accomplished?

By letting go of thoughts,

sacrificing all sentiment,

abandoning emotion,

ignoring the

senses.

 

Solitary,

transcendent, unseeking,

absorbed in stillness and doing

non-doing, you will find that

the universe comes

to you.

 

Wei wu Wei Ching, Hexagram 12

Paperback / Kindle here

iPad/iPhone

iBooks

 

brian browne walker taoist app bundle ios ipad iphone

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

the cost of one hardcover

book.