A long Tao today started with Alan who is just back on Wisdom after a hiatus and chose #9 Kristen and her husband then joined me for #70. Johnny chose #24, Kelly #43, and Loyce #7 after which Dr. Rao came up to talk about #43 a bit and Julie came up and shared #60.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#43 "Be Silent and Learn"
The flexible will outlast the ridged.
The gentle will outlast the hard.
Tao, which has no substance, 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.
#60 "Combating Evil"
While governing anything, use restraint,
Treat it like cooking a small bit of fish,
Getting it perfect takes less than you think.
Centering all things in Tao,
Evil, with nothing to oppose,
Returns to a state of illusion.
All harm dissipates in the face of those that know their true selves.
#70 "These Teachings"
These teachings are simple and transform lives
Yet mere intellect cannot grasp them.
These teachings are older than life and benefit all things,
Yet people prefer the manifestation.
Very few people will ever truly understand what is written herein
But for those few, these pages will guide them to themselves.
Meanwhile, they will be labeled as course and uncaring
In the manifestation, they are seen as dull and disinterested
Yet, in their heart, shines a light for all things.
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