Tao of the Day

Today I started out reading #61, Lo joined me for #80 because her mom woud have been 80. Melissa and Linda then came up and chose #16 and #17 respectively.
#16 "Stillness and Integration"
Being empty of mind is of the utmost importance
And it is to be guarded with fervor.
We have all seen states of action arise,
And always beyond it returns stillness.
When any state of action is complete
It naturally returns to stillness.
This allows integration of what arose from action
Which is the natural cycle of maturation.
If stillness and integration cannot be achieved
Constant action will lead to anxiety and wild movements.
Yielding to stillness makes one impartial,
And all particular things fall away,
Then when it is time to die
One can be impartial to that as well.
#17 "Of Masters and Leaders"
In the time of the great Masters there were no leaders.
Then, those whom the people loved, led the way.
After having created the position
The people feared their leaders,
Then they despised them.
Having created leaders, their faith in Tao was diminished.
Having become a leader, his trust in the people was diminished.
When there are great Masters there are no leaders
She works day and night and says nothing about it,
When the work is done the people say
"Amazing! We did it all by ourselves!"
#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.
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.
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.
#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 I had Kizzy join for her first visit and we talked about #7 Melissa then came up and we unpacked #22. Linda E and I then talked about #62.
#7 "The Wisdom of Not Having Preference"
Tao is infinite
It doesn't grow old or tired.
Because it has no preference for itself
It can always persist.
The Master puts herself last
And always finds herself first.
By being detached from preference
She can give herself to what is
And find fulfillment there.
#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.
#62 "Everybody's Treasure"
Tao benefits all things
A treasure for those who know
An opportunity for those who don't.
To witness one act or speak to gain position
Know they are under the influence of manifestation,
Be like Tao and do not abandon them,
For knowing Tao is learned by example.
Therefore, when a new leader takes office
Don't offer words, gifts, or actions
Offer instead to teach them Tao.
Why is Tao so universally loved?
Because if you acknowledge it or not
Tao is your treasure,
Always in harmony
Every mistake forgiven.

We talked a lot about having a life practice today. With #36 being my number and then Julie and Melissa came up to talk abou t#12 and #9 respectively.
#9 "The Danger of Extremes"
Having to prove yourself
Will allow challenges to best you.
Focus your attention on money
And lose sight of what is valuable.
Keep in mind outside influence
And you will be its prisoner.
Do what you do and move on,
It isn't yours anyway.
#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.
#36 "Going about your Business"
If you want to take a deep breathe
You must first empty your lungs.
If you want to make something weak
Then observe it first as powerful.
If you want something destroyed,
Then see it first glorified.
Identify your rigid desires,
Meet them with flexibility.
The soft overcomes the hard,
The slow overtakes the fast.
Just quietly go about your business,
The results will speak for themselves.

Today I chose #71 but didn't get too far into it when Mary Way joined me to tell me she was Okay wiht #56. Melissa joined me for #74 and Jay K for #33.
#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.
#56 "Learn to be Silent"
Those who know, aren't drawn to speak
Those who don't know, are compelled to.
Can you close your senses and your mouth?
Can you be guided by the empty void?
From there, meditate in silence,
Blunt your sarcasm and wit,
Simplify your struggles,
Shade your brilliance.
Be at one with the dust,
This is primal existence.
Be like the Master:
She is uninspired to acquire fame
Yet honors are bestowed upon her.
She is possessed by no one and possesses no one
Yet is always loved by many.
She is Immune to both attraction and repulsion,
Receptive to both profit and loss.
She is noble and is held in high esteem by all beings.
#71 "To Know We Don't Know"
To be aware that one does not know is healthy for all things.
Avoiding awareness of this is a current plague.
By acknowledging you have been infected
You can become aware and move toward healing.
The Master has cured herself
She is aware that she does not know.
She is healthy in all aspects.
#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.

Today I covered #1 and #2 with Julie and Melissa joined for #30.
#1 "Expressing Tao"
Words are particular,
They cannot express Tao.
To have a name is to be limited to manifestation
That which is nameless is the source of manifestation.
Self-referential, those who name, name themselves.
Want to experience the depth of the mystery? Stop identifying.
Want to experience the shallowness of the manifestation? Differentiate.
Either way no one can tell,
The difference is in your experience.
#2 "Identifying the Manifestation"
Opposites exist amongst the particular.
Identifying the beautiful creates the ugly.
Identifying good creates evil.
Identifying the particular separates all manifestations:
Reality and fantasy are opposing thoughts.
Difficult and easy are opposing degrees.
Long and short are opposing perceptions of time or space.
Because of this the Master doesn't rely on words.
She teaches by being without explanation,
In this way she is the most helpful.
She inspires all things to be without rejecting them.
She gives them life but refuses to possess them.
Her actions spring forth from perfection,
They are not hers to own
Thus they will never be forgotten.
#30 "Tao Does Not Dominate"
Governing, in any capacity, when led by Tao
Doesn't use force to gain power.
Every force applied will suffer equal counterforce.
So violence, however it is intended,
Will always rebound upon itself.
Where armies march briers grow
And in their wake follows hunger and villainy.
Skillful in what she does
The Master achieves her goal and stops;
Neither forcing nor manipulating further.
She knows that dominating
Goes counter to Tao
And whoever opposes Tao
Will certainly die early.