Category: Daodejing

The wisdom and insight we can learn from ancient texts is never ending. More than 5000 years ago the ancient Chinese masters of  esoteric healing came to the understanding that everything is composed of the same energetic substance  called Qi.  They observed the oneness and wholeness in all existence and  everything is energetically interconnected as one body.    The ancient Chinese believed all transformations happened under the influence of Qi.  Birth, aging and death of all things with Heaven and Earth, including wind, water, mountains,  forest, humans,  animals  and insects are caused by and formed out of Qi. Qi is the constant energy motion within all things.

One ancient Chinese text of mystery and beauty is the The Daodejing, believed to be written by the sage Lao Tzu.  It is the most translated text into English next to the Bible.  Daoism is the second of the three major philosophies of China. The Daodejing responds to the political, family centered morality of Confucius;  rejecting man-made hierarchies and arguing the value of simplicity and humility over power and ambition. It can be compared today with Capitalism and Spirituality.  The dao is the way of nature in a universe that consists of opposites in harmony, and de (virtue, integrity) is an innate human strength. Following the dao brings humans freedom, serenity, and longevity.    The original conception of Dao was simply the observation that reality has a certain way about it. The “Way’ encompasses all of existence. Some may call it the way to God,  an atheist may call it the laws of nature, all pointing to the same thing, something I call Infinite Intelligence.  

The Dao can be considered  as two-fold, one represented by the law of physics describing the universe and it’s manifestations such as energy and light; and at the personal level describing the human sphere and its manifestation such as our thoughts, emotions and actions. The  Daodejing  or Tao Te Ching was trying to tell us these principles. If we can understand these forces are inseparable, the physical and metaphysical, it will make our spiritual journey richer and more fruitful. 

If one looks for Dao, there is nothing solid to see; If one listens for it, there is nothing loud enough to hear. Yet if one uses it, it is inexhaustible.

Consider the Dao as Infinite Intelligence, pure Universal Energy of divine mystery and the sage Lao Tzu a divine messenger of the 5th century BCE.  Lao Tzu, Buddha, Krishna and Jesus were divine messengers providing the way for all to see.  Lao Tzu tells us the “Act in harmony with the Way and you will become the Way.  Nurture the way within yourself and you will live a virtuous life.”   Buddha said ” Those that follow the way are like dry grass. They need to be protected from the flames of desire.”  While Krishna tells us ” Let those who are wise seek the Way. Those who find it will not return. ” The apocalypse Jesus tells us to “Open the door to the Way that is within you, so that you may be a guide to those who wish to follow you. Encourage all those who are ready to follow the Way and receive its blessings.” 

 The Daoists understood Dao as the appropriate way for humans to live their lives. But for the Daoists, following the way was participating in the Dao of nature, the changes and rhythms of the universe and the natural world.  To neglect the way of nature was the root of society’s misery. They believe if a person follows the “Way” or “path” and lives a life of virtue, then the way of nature, heaven, Earth, and humanity will be balanced.

There is a strong element of mysticism by losing one’s sense as a separate, individual self while perceiving a much greater reality. This mystical sense is both encouraged by and expressed through particular practices and ways of being in the Daodejing.  One of the most important practices involves diminishing the ego;  such as the cravings for attention, recognition, and control. True sages were not interested in the material world  but for the welfare of others. “Sages blend into the world,” says the Daodejing. To blend into the world, one lives a simple existence. 

A simple existence is the understanding  Qi is the Catalyst for everything.    The ancient Chinese believed that the Qi of Yin and Yang fulfils the “Great Void” (Wuji) enveloping all things and leaving nothing outside its boundary.  

“Dao is forever and he that possess it, Though his body ceases, is not destroyed.”

The goal is balance yin, our feminine side, and yang, our masculine side and make into one. According to the Chinese, energetic fields are divided into Yin and Yang. The theory of yin and yang energy represents the duality of balance and harmony within the body as well as the universe. Earth energy is Yin while Heaven energy is Yang. Those who master and balance the bodies Yin-Yang energy were considered “Tian Shen” or Xian meaning “immortals”.

The different sacred texts from different cultures of the world have essentially the same message. For example balancing yin and yang, the feminine and masculine, and the  114th saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas. Simon Peter said to him, “Let Mary leave us, for women are not worthy of life.”  Jesus said, “I myself shall lead her in order to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every woman who will make herself male will enter the kingdom of heaven.”

 

The Valley Spirit never dies.
It is named the Mysterious Female.
And the doorway of the Mysterious Female
Is the base from which Heaven and Earth sprang.
It is there within us all the while;
Draw upon it as you will, it never runs dry.

In my humble opinion,  woman and man are equal and the more we work together in the name of love, compassion and service to others, we can create the world where every human can learn and discover their true selves.  The sage Laozi said about the self, “ Some people recognize the self and are amazed. Other people who hear of the Self just wonder. Still others do not understand at all.” He also speaks of love when he said “ The world is transformed by those who love all people, just as you love yourself”.

It starts with us!!!!!

 

 In 1972, excavation in the Mawangdui Han Dynasty tombs in Hunan Province uncovered a silk relic that portrayed drawing of Do yin postures dating prior to the third century BCE. This silk scroll is consider the first complete set of Qigong movement with over half of these illustrates posture are of animal movements used to purge the body’s channels to regulate the Yin and Yang and treat illnesses.