Seeking Taoism - A Spiritual Level of Being

During the late 1960's and early 1970's most young people tried multiple paths to peace, enlightenment and spirituality. A friend moved to the Far East to study traditional Eastern paths to enlightenment. Upon his return he gave me a gift of a beautiful Book "Lao Tsu - Tao Te Ching".

Lao Tsu was the keeper of the imperial Chinese archives in the sixth century B.C. His philosophy, unlike Confucianism, dealt with a more total spiritual level of being vs. personal day-to-day rules of conduct.

According to ancient legend, Lao Tsu, as he traveled into the desert to die, was persuaded to commit his teachings to the written word for future generations. There are eighty-one chapters of spiritual guidance that have stood the test of time for over 2500 years.

As a major influence in Easter culture, his teachings are contained in proverbs and folklore alike. This gift to Western culture was translated to English by Gia-Fu Feng who was born in Shanghai in 1919 and relocated to the United States in 1947.

ONE:

The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.

The name that can be named is not the eternal name.

The nameless is the beginning of Heaven and Earth.

The named is the mother of ten thousand things.

Ever desireless, one can see the mystery.

Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations.

These two spring from the same source but differ in name;

this appears as darkness.

Darkness within darkness.

The gate to all mystery.

TWO:

Under Heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness.

All can know good as good only because there is evil.

Therefore having and not having arise together.

Difficult and easy complement each other.

Long and short contrast each other.

High and low rest upon each other.

Voice and sound harmonize each other.

Front and back follow one another.

Therefore, the sage goes about doing nothing, teaching no-talking.

The ten-thousand things rise and fall without cause.

Creating, yet not possessing.

Working, yet not taking credit.

Work is done, then forgotten.

Therefore, it lasts forever.

Many years later, I find myself once again searching for enlightenment and understanding. With many more experiences under my belt, the path is clearer and yet more daunting. "Ignorance is Bliss'.

The closer we perceive we are to understanding, the reality is that we are further away. Each door to understanding opens into a darker and more vast room that the one before.

 If you find yourself on a similar path, what gives you your greatest strength and peace?

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