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Enlightenment in 3 Easy Steps
Each week we address one chapter of the Tao Te Ching. The Tao Te Ching can be obscure, especially if you think you're supposed to understand what it's saying! We find it easier and more instructive to simply contemplate how the chapter resonates with your personal experience. Becoming more aware at this fundamental level simplifies life. This approach conforms to the view that true knowing lies within ourselves. Thus, when a passage in the scripture resonates, you've found your inner truth. The same applies for when it evokes a question; questions are the grist for self realization.
Chapter 55
One who possesses virtue in abundance is comparable to a new born babe:
Poisonous insects will not sting it;
Ferocious animals will not pounce on it;
Predatory birds will not swoop down on it.
Its bones are weak and its sinews supple yet its hold is firm.
It does not know of the union of male and female yet its male member will stir:
This is because its virility is at its height.
It howls all day yet does not become hoarse:
This is because its harmony is at its height.
To know harmony is called the constant;
To know the constant is called discernment.
To try to add to one's vitality is called ill-omened;
For the mind to egg on the breath is called violent.
A creature in its prime doing harm to the old
Is known as going against the way.
That which goes against the way will come to an early end.
Read commentary previously posted for this chapter.
Chapter 55
One who possesses virtue in abundance is comparable to a new born babe:
Poisonous insects will not sting it;
Ferocious animals will not pounce on it;
Predatory birds will not swoop down on it.
Its bones are weak and its sinews supple yet its hold is firm.
It does not know of the union of male and female yet its male member will stir:
This is because its virility is at its height.
It howls all day yet does not become hoarse:
This is because its harmony is at its height.
To know harmony is called the constant;
To know the constant is called discernment.
To try to add to one's vitality is called ill-omened;
For the mind to egg on the breath is called violent.
A creature in its prime doing harm to the old
Is known as going against the way.
That which goes against the way will come to an early end.
Read commentary previously posted for this chapter.
Comments
Mmmmmm..... Well, I guess there is only that one step! And it [chref=64]starts from beneath [our] feet[/chref]. When we are serious enough to do the first step honestly enough, our nervous system cant help but start unwinding itself into enlightenment. It has nowhere else to go. In contrast to the 'thrill' of an epiphany (Satori), or the Nirvana ideal, this [chref=34]way is broad, reaching left as well as right[/chref]. As easy and simple as step #1 sounds, it is a big leap for our biology which evolved to identify external causes for the discomforts and sorrows we feel, and then to seek external solutions.
Each time we have a problem, we can't help but direct out attention outward to the most obvious cause. 'It' is 'them', 'it' is 'that'. That [chref=53]by-path[/chref] leads us around in circles until death ends that wild goose chase. The 'problem' we feel is actually only a symptom of what we desire. Our expectations are the cause, not an external 'that' or 'them'. Sure, this is easy to see, to understand. So what are we waiting for? Tomorrow? No, seriously, what are we waiting for?
We are always in a hurry to get 'there' and so have no time for 'here'! So, ironically, we are not waiting enough 'here and now', yet we are waiting to resolve things 'there tomorrow'. That's the problem! We are not waiting for '[chref=54]this[/chref]', we are waiting for 'that', never realizing 'that' is '[chref=54]this[/chref]'. We are rushing into 'tomorrow', 'them' and 'that' to avoid 'now', 'me' and '[chref=54]this[/chref]'. Why do we avoid 'now'? 'Now' is [chref=4]empty[/chref] which feels uncomfortable. Why? Empty correlates with death, failure, weakness. And we are instinctively drawn to the opposite: full, life, success, strength. We can thank biology. Life's survival instinct drives all living things to keep looking out there, not in here. After all we won't find any food to eat in here; it is [chref=4]empty[/chref], and yet... Oh, what a grand [chref=65]hoodwink[/chref]