Tao of the Day

Today I started talking a lot about compartmentalizing and Sandy Joined me for #8 and Susan for #80. Melissa popped up for #24 and Jay K for #54.
#8 "Be Like Water"
Water is humble,
Always traveling to the lowest place,
Nourishing, without taxing
Everything along the way.
In so doing, it is like Tao.
The Master aims to resemble water:
In thinking, she is simple.
In conflict, she is yielding.
In governing, she doesn't need control.
In work, she does the obvious thing.
In family life, she is continually present.
When one can be content with being,
And not require comparison or praise,
It is said they invest in their life
By making of it a donation.
#24 "Do What is to be Done"
Standing on tiptoes robs you of firm footing.
Rushing ahead robs you of knowing where you are.
Looking at yourself robs you of seeing.
Boasting of yourself robs you of your brilliance.
Overpowering others robs you of your power.
Clinging to your work robs you of longevity.
If you want to align with Tao
Just do what is to be done and then stop.
#54 "Observing Virtue"
Tend to Tao in your life and it will never be uprooted.
Hold fast to Tao and it will never slip away.
Filled with Tao, respect the children and they will respect the children
That simple virtue will continue for every generation.
This can only start with an individual and when her virtue can be realized
She will cultivate it in her family and it will become great.
They will cultivate this virtue in their community and it will continue to grow,
Naturally spreading across the nation and becoming abundant.
Because it is abundant it will touch every part of the Universe.
How do I know this is the way?
By quietly observing myself.
#80 "What's Important"
Any state wishing to align with Tao remains small.
Too many people bring about too many options and opinions.
In a small State its inhabitants are skilled and wise
However there is never a need to put their skills on display
They will be happy to humbly use their skills and work together.
They never dwell on anything too long
The next thing to do is always making itself known.
They love their surroundings so have no desire to travel.
Although they have a few trucks and boats
None are inspired to use them.
They love their lives and their simple food,
They make their own clothes,
Spend time in their gardens while speaking to neighbors
They take the greatest pleasure being with family.
Even though there is a bus to the city that travels through every week
Everyone here will be content without ever having made the trip.

Today we talked about living resonably and reflecting on how we feel when we make a mistake. Jay K started us off with #58, Julie follwed her up with #43. Melissa reflected on her choices and #22 and Sandy's story gets filled in a bit with #79.
#22 "Looking Away from What You Want"
To become complete
Know that you're partial.
To become straight
Know that you're crooked.
To become full
Know that you're empty.
To be new
Know that you're worn out.
He who wants it all
Must know what all includes.
Thus, the Master stays centered in Tao
And becomes an example for the world.
Because she knows her light is forfeit
People can see it.
Because she has no point to prove
People can trust her words.
Because she has no identity
She becomes a mirror for others.
Because she has nothing to attain
Nothing can be kept from her.
Thus, when it is said
"To become complete know that you're partial."
It is wise to heed and surrender to it.
Only by living in collaboration with Tao
Can one find completion.
#43 "Be Silent and Learn"
The flexible will outlast the ridged.
The gentle will outlast the hard.
Tao, which has no structure, has penetrated all
Even that which has no space to enter.
Through this I see that unforced action, and silence are the only path to completeness.
Action, free of expectation and desire,
This is the lesson of the nature of things.
Listen to your nature, be silent and learn.
#58 "To Oversee, Don't Interfere"
In overseeing anything, don't interfere,
Let everything flourish in its own time.
Interfering, you get met with resistance
Or worse, apathetic adherence.
Misery and misfortune are tied to expectation.
To expect success is to focus on failure,
To expect happiness is to invite misery,
To expect moral adherence is to flirt with tragedy.
There is no escaping it, expecting good yields bad,
This is interfering, it has always been true.
The Master therefore is content to simply be an example
She has no desire to impose, and trusts all she oversees,
She is firm but yielding, she is sharp, yet none are cut by her
She is radiant, but easy on the eyes.
#79 "Conflict Resolution"
Every conflict creates an "Other"
Even after a resolution, animosity remains.
Is that good enough for you?
Therefore, the Master always does her part
Keeping the peace, not placing blame,
Correcting her own actions,
Without requiring the same from others.
Tao doesn't care who's right
If you do, you'll find it difficult.

We talked a lot obout humility today, starting off with Jay K and #61. Terry had a few comments and we briefly went over #68. Johnny joined to clarify a few things and I chose #22 for him. Sandy joined for #8 and Melissa was full of gratitude and chose #45.
#8 "Be Like Water"
Water is humble,
Always traveling to the lowest place,
Nourishing, without taxing
Everything along the way.
In so doing, it is like Tao.
The Master aims to resemble water:
In thinking, she is simple.
In conflict, she is yielding.
In governing, she doesn't need control.
In work, she does the obvious thing.
In family life, she is continually present.
When one can be content with being,
And not require comparison or praise,
It is said they invest in their life
By making of it a donation.
#22 "Looking Away from What You Want"
To become complete
Know that you're partial.
To become straight
Know that you're crooked.
To become full
Know that you're empty.
To be new
Know that you're worn out.
He who wants it all
Must know what all includes.
Thus, the Master stays centered in Tao
And becomes an example for the world.
Because she knows her light is forfeit
People can see it.
Because she has no point to prove
People can trust her words.
Because she has no identity
She becomes a mirror for others.
Because she has nothing to attain
Nothing can be kept from her.
Thus, when it is said
"To become complete know that you're partial."
It is wise to heed and surrender to it.
Only by living in collaboration with Tao
Can one find completion.
#45 "Beware of Words with Meaning"
To not define your accomplishments
You will always have patience to spare.
To not acknowledge your fullness
You will always have space to spare.
When we define something as straight, we see how crooked it is.
When we define someone as skilled, we focus on how clumsy they are.
When we call a speech eloquent, we notice the stammering therein.
The Master needn't define things,
What they are will arise naturally.
By removing herself, and her need to know,
She can see Tao express itself fully.
#61 "Being Great"
Being great requires the ability to be humble
So as to receive that which is attracted with tranquility.
Attraction is the most primal of expressions
To receive that which is attracted is to know oneself.
All great beings realize when they error, having realized it
They admit it and correct it to the best of their ability.
The greatest beings seek out those who can help identify their faults,
They consider their enemy a part of themselves that requires attention.
To be centered in Tao is to nourish all related things,
To not interfere or meddle in the errors of others.
#68 "Do What you Love to Do"
Great athletes love to play, not win
Great fighters love to fight, not be angry
Great generals love to strategize, not destroy
Great employers love to employ, not be a boss.
Great musicians love to play, not perform.
They are not attached to identities or outcomes,
They simply dance with what they love to do.
This is in harmony with Tao.

I kicked off stating talking abou tgetting poked in the eye, Sandy joined me for #77. Melissa shared her story of oficiating her daughter's wedding and we read #65. Julie joined me for #59, and I had Ancelot joine for #57. Jay K spent some time going over #21.
#21 "Tao is not Temporary"
The Master is at peace knowing she is of manifestation
And that manifestations are always temporary.
Knowing this, she always follows Tao.
How can she be at peace knowing she is temporary?
Because she doesn't cling to her life or ideas
And still she is fulfilled.
Tao cannot be fathomed or known; how can she follow it?
She allows it to lead her from moment to moment.
Tao is, and is always,
Even before the manifestation of time and space.
Tao is beyond both temporary and forever.
How do I know this to be true?
The evidence is within me as it is within you.
#57 "Laws are All in the Heart"
Tao governs all things by discarding objectives.
Never possessing or interfering,
All things only need abide the law in their heart,
In this way they are free from desire.
When Tao is ignored, objectives rule the day.
Rules are created that make people expend energy to get around them.
Intelligence is praised and rewarded while products become more demonic and intrusive.
Weapons are paraded, fear spreads, and the hearts of all things close off.
As litigation becomes a national focus politicians and criminals multiply.
The Master needn't engage these traps
She is quiet, and people follow their light
She is peaceful, and people are compelled to be honest
She does nothing, and all things flourish together.
Have no desire and all things will achieve primal existence.
#59 "Serving Others"
While serving others, be as reserved as you can be.
Be like Tao, nurture all things without influencing them.
This is possible through moderation
Free yourself from the constraints of your own ideas.
Respect all things as they are and remove their limits.
Embrace this virtue and your limits are removed as well.
Find within yourself both solid ground and yielding sky.
Be at one with Tao and the landscape creates itself.
Limitless you achieve immortality.
#65 "Simple Awareness"
Masters aren't interested in educating people
They would rather them be yielding and kind.
When people put their faith in knowledge
They lack faith in their own awareness.
When they are happy to not know
They have no choice but to put faith in themselves.
When Governing a Country, Family, or Self,
Avoid being clever and using knowledge to guide you.
People are not naturally stupid or submissive.
When not leaning on knowledge
All things are guided by awareness.
#77 "The Bending of a Bow"
Tao acts on the world as the bending of a bow.
The top is forced down when the bottom is moved up.
It is impossible for the one to act
Without the other responding.
Unlike man, Tao is patient and neutral
Quietly adjusting excesses and deficiencies,
Taking from what is too much and giving to what isn't enough.
Ordinary men go against Tao,
Taking resources from the areas that are deficient,
Giving resources to the areas that compulsively consume.
The Master knows all things are being adjusted.
Although she cannot always see it in action
She has faith it is working through her.
In this way, she allows her actions to unfold
Neither dwelling on them nor taking credit.
Aligned with Tao they complement all things.

I foget what we talked about overall but it was a good enough episode to take a note that I needed to make it a podcast episode. Enjoy Julie's #74, Harry, a new caller that is into D&D chose #37. Terilyn had news her son was injured and chose #52. Malissa chose #33 and Jay K #12.

#12 "The Senses"
Colors blind the eyes of men.
Sounds deafen the ears of men.
Flavors dull the tongues of men.

Thoughts will lead a mind to turmoil.
Desires and greed will lead a life to turmoil.

Therefore, the Master satisfies her inner vision
Allowing external cravings to come and go.

#33 "You are Not Manifestation"
Study others and gain some knowledge.
Study yourself and gain deep wisdom.

Controlling others takes strength.
But controlling your ego and desires
Takes power and perseverance.

Knowing that you have enough gives you wealth,
Grasping for money and love forces you to conform.

Embrace who you are and stay centered in that
And although you will die you will not perish.

#37 "Inspired Action"
Tao never does anything
Yet inspires everything to do.

When beings maintain the action of Tao
They spontaneously transform from within.
When that transformation acquires a name (an identity)
External forces inspire actions from desire.

Actions without identity
Are free from external goals.
Without desire, honoring stillness,
All things are at peace.

#52 "Like Tao so too You"
All things issue from Tao, it is their mother
Then, in their own time, they return to Tao.

Like Tao, so too you act in the world of manifestation.
When you recognize you are the mother of your experience
You can identify the children your actions birth,
Loving them as your children you free yourself of sorrow.

Choose to not recognize your motherhood,
A victim, filled with desire and judgment,
There will be no end to your turmoil.
Look into the darkness and learn how to yield,
Not allowing your senses to guide you,
You will find peace in ever crevasse.

#74 "Don't Cut Yourself"
People are not naturally afraid to die
It is what we are born to do.

Fear of death is important if you want to rule over the people
However, you must artificially instill this fear into their hearts.
To accomplish this you kill as an example to control the masses.

Since the beginning of time there has been one executioner,
Trying to take its place will lead to nothing good.
As a novice with a master carpenter's tools
You're going to cut yourself.