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Lessons from the Book of Chuang Tzu - Part 10

Although there are ten thousand forms of life, they are one in their order.

Look at anything in the light of the Tao and you will see that the response of all life is fulfilling. Stirring all life is the Tao.

They practice non-action and the whole of life is transformed. They were immensely deep in their stillness and the families of the world were calm.

Remain true to the One and all manner of tasks will be completed. Be without emotions and the ghosts and spirits will submit.

Love all humanity and bring success to them

Unite that which is not united

Go beyond barriers and boundaries

To be aligned with the Tao is completion

[Skillfully and without causing harm do what you can to improve and sustain life, but accept the fortunes and flow of the Universe]

To refuse to allow anything external which distracts you is called perfection

Leave the gold in the mountain and the pearls in the deep.

He has no wish to rule the world as his private domain

His honour is clarity of understanding that all life are part of one treasury, and that death and birth are united.

The Tao, how deep and quiet it lies, how pure is its clarity.

All the multitudinous creatures have dimensions beyond calculation!

The man of regal virtue moves without complexity and would be ashamed to be found concerned with the affairs of state.

His heart goes out to what is beyond him.

In the midst of darkest darkness, ne alone sees clearly

He can discern the core of all

The unwise - politicians, leaders - try to prevent flaws, but they do not understand where they spring from. Their rules bring disaster.

The sage finds his place as a bird settles

When the whole world has lost the Tao he avoids involvement

The chaos of the age to come has its origins here and now.

Life stops and starts, is born and dies, grows and declines, and there is nothing that can be done about all this. People think the ruler of all this is humanity.

If a great sage ruled the world he would free the hearts and minds of the people, make his teachings accessible, and change people's behaviour. He would erase all falsehood from their hearts.

Where you have machines you get certain types of problem. Where you get certain kinds of problems then you find a heart-mind warped by these problems. Where you get a warped mind, its purity and simplicity are distrubed, then the spirit is alarmed and an alarmed spirit is unable to live in the way of the Tao.

[Criticism of false sages which we see so often online and in commercial coaching etc] You are one of those types who expand their knowledge so as to try to appear as a sage, seeking to impress everyone with your superiority, in the hope of becoming famous in the world.

Use little energy but have great results

Their simplicity is mind-boggling. They consider accomplishments, gain, machines, talents, to be inappropriate in the affections of the people.They do not go where trhey do not want to go nor do they do what their heart tells them not to do. Even if the whole world sings their praises and acclaims them, they will pay no attention at all; if the whole world blames them and accuses them, they are calm and unperturbed.

The virtuous one is still and witrhout thoughts; when he moves he is without purpose; he keeps no tally of right and wrong, good or bad.  They share their gains with all and from this they derive pleasure.

They live out their fate, and pursue to its end what is truly him, and dwells in the delight of Heaven and Earth while his multitudinous cares fall away. All things return to their true nature.

Everyone wants the world to be well governed.

They just follow the fashion, liking this and disliking that as others do and yet they do not see themselves as just one of the crowd.This is how far their stupidity has reached.

The greatly deluded will never be rid of delusion. Wise words do not rest in the hearts of the people.

Since I understand this, if I were to try and force people to go my way, that would be just to fall into a delusion of my own. It is better just to let things be and not force them. If I don't get into such struggles I will not have anything to worry about.

Likes and dislikes, music and colours just confuse your inner self.

Stuffed full of nonsense on the inside and bound by cords externally, people still look around, even when tied up like this, and claim they have grasped something.



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