Tao of the Day

A long and wonderful conversation with Sasha that started with #76 was fun and fruitful. Jay K and I then discussed #18.
#18 "Out of Touch with Tao"
When out of touch with Tao
Etiquette is observed.
When etiquette cannot be abided
We find excuses to make it proper.
When excuses gut the family,
Chaos favors the hierarchy.
When all the neighbors are in chaos
Blind loyalty is demanded.
#76 "Life is Flexible"
It is true for all things, that while aligned with life
There is yielding, flexibility, and grace.
It is also the case that aligned with death
All things are stiff, brittle, and inflexible.
In all things we can witness plainly
Rigidity, of any kind, is a companion of death,
Softness, of any kind, is a companion of life.
Be soft and yielding, it overcomes rigidity.

I have Alicia kick us off today wiht #81 after talking about the significance of 81. Terry joined and picked #9 wich was directly related to the 81 being 8+1 and 9*9. Melissa and Marianne wrapped the day up with #42 and #54 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.
#42 "Holding both Male and Female"
Tao gives birth to Universes.
Universes give birth to Planets.
Planets give birth to beings.
Beings give birth to everything else.
Tao is the great Mother
All else holds both Male and Female.
By all things embracing both
Harmony is achieved.
To feel alone is avoided by men
Yet that is where no identity resides.
The Master holds no identity
She embraces her aloneness,
Realizing when she is at one with herself
She is at one with all things.
#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.
#81 "Blossoming Leader"
True words may not sound comforting
Yet comfort those they are meant for,
However, comforting words are never true.
Connected to source there is no desire to prove
Desire to prove only exposes separation from source.
The Master's possessions are not part of the manifestation.
Giving away her possessions she only receives more.
Tao blesses everyone in this way.
When this blessing can be received,
Domination and power will yield
While all people will blossom as leaders.

Another Newbie Tuesday without a newbie. Mary Way joined after I spoke a bit about #74 and she chose #39. Sandy came up for #45 and Jay K selected #57.
#39 "Unity"
Unity is the standard
When achieved, all things are harmonious.
Heaven achieved it through purity.
Planets achieved it through solidity.
Beings achieve it through purpose (life),
Generation after generation,
Every individual being finds
Their own unity, their own harmony.
If Heaven were to lose its purity
So too its union with the Planets.
If Planets were to lose their solidity
So too their union with Beings.
If beings were to lose their purpose (lives)
Without unity, all would perish and decay.
The Master honors everything in every form,
She knows that there is nothing between the highest and lowest,
Differentiating we lose touch with Unity.
Always adjusting to find Unity
The Master lets herself be lived,
Constantly being renewed and shaped by Tao,
Rugged and full of resolve.
#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.
#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.
#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.

I realized this morning that the Tao of the Day App was published on Google Play. nd I got to talk to Marianne about #18 and Jay K came up and spoke with me about #66 and then Susan joined for #72.
#18 "Out of Touch with Tao"
When out of touch with Tao
Etiquette is observed.
When etiquette cannot be abided
We find excuses to make it proper.
When excuses gut the family,
Chaos favors the hierarchy.
When all the neighbors are in chaos
Blind loyalty is demanded.
#66 "Leading from Behind"
There are great benefits to humility
All rivers flow to the sea
Because its position is lower.
The Master emulates this by always being a servant,
Inspiring from below, leading from behind,
No one is oppressed, they find their own way.
Like rivers so too will the people flow to the Master,
Never feeling oppressed or as if they are in danger,
The whole world supports her and keeps her in their hearts.
Without a reason or a desire to compete
She is never met with competition.
#72 "With Nothing to Teach"
The knowledgeable, having lost their sense of awe, seek to be entertained.
Losing themselves in that process, they turn to more knowledgeable authorities.
Do not make light of what is important to people, and they will respect you.
Therefore, The Master, although she knows herself, she is not arrogant.
She loves herself as she is, but she also loves others as they are.
She has nothing to teach, and the knowledgeable have nothing to learn.

I went to the Opera yesterday to see Omar staged by the Lyric and I had a few issues with it and looked at #3 and Sandy chose #33. Mariane joined me for #80, Melissa and Jay K chose #51 and #34 respectively.
#3 "Inspiring Strong People"
Praising the status one can achieve
Will chastise those who don't achieve it.
Praising a possession that can be owned
Will condemn those who don't own it.
When nothing arouses competition
People will be at peace.
The Master leads by not defining status or possession.
She weakens the ambition of those around her
Which toughens their resolve to be as they are.
By individuals releasing their ambition,
Everything falls into place.
#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.
#34 "Tao is in Everything"
Tao flows in every direction
And is received by all things
Regardless of their awareness.
Beings are born from it
Yet it doesn't create them.
It's work is every action taken
Providing for everything
Yet it makes no claim.
Being at the root of all things
It is hidden within action.
It has no motive, no desire
It promotes the greatness of beings
Thus its greatness is humble and pure.
#51 "The Cycle"
Life is a gift received from Tao,
It sustains all things as part of that gift.
Everything emerges perfect, unconscious, and free
Harmonizing with all things,
Completely maturing in its own time.
All things exist, and are nurtured through Tao,
It fosters and provides for them completely.
Tao does not possess or interfere
Each expressing and maturing in their own nature.
When their experience is complete
Tao receives them again.
#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.