A good traveler has no fixed plans
and is not intent upon arriving.
A good artist lets his intuition
lead him wherever it wants.
A good scientist has freed himself of concepts
and keeps his mind open to what is.

Thus the Master is available to all people
and doesn't reject anyone.
He is ready to use all situations
and doesn't waste anything.
This is called embodying the light.

What is a good man but a bad man's teacher?
What is a bad man but a good man's job?
If you don't understand this, you will get lost,
however intelligent you are.
It is the great secret.

Know the male,
yet keep to the female:
receive the world in your arms.
If you receive the world,
the Tao will never leave you
and you will be like a little child.

Know the white,
yet keep to the black:
be a pattern for the world.
If you are a pattern for the world,
the Tao will be strong inside you
and there will be nothing you can't do.

Know the personal,
yet keep to the impersonal:
accept the world as it is.
If you accept the world,
the Tao will be luminous inside you
and you will return to your primal self.

The world is formed from the void,
like utensils from a block of wood.
The Master knows the utensils,
yet keeps to the the block:
thus she can use all things.

Do you want to improve the world?
I don't think it can be done.

The world is sacred.
It can't be improved.
If you tamper with it, you'll ruin it.
If you treat it like an object, you'll lose it.

There is a time for being ahead,
a time for being behind;
a time for being in motion,
a time for being at rest;
a time for being vigorous,
a time for being exhausted;
a time for being safe,
a time for being in danger.

The Master sees things as they are,
without trying to control them.
She lets them go their own way,
and resides at the center of the circle.

Whoever relies on the Tao in governing men
doesn't try to force issues
or defeat enemies by force of arms.
For every force there is a counterforce.
Violence, even well intentioned,
always rebounds upon oneself.

The Master does his job
and then stops.
He understands that the universe
is forever out of control,
and that trying to dominate events
goes against the current of the Tao.
Because he believes in himself,
he doesn't try to convince others.
Because he is content with himself,
he doesn't need others' approval.
Because he accepts himself,
the whole world accepts him.

Mercurygriffin wrote: Because he believes in himself,
he doesn't try to convince others.
Because he is content with himself,
he doesn't need others' approval.
Because he accepts himself,
the whole world accepts him.

I like that...

Ok, question Merc...
Do you believe and/or practice Taoism or just like the Tao of the day?
If that sounds smart-ass, it's not suppose to...I'm just interested.

vicious_blood wrote:Ok, question Merc...
Do you believe and/or practice Taoism or just like the Tao of the day?
If that sounds smart-ass, it's not suppose to...I'm just interested.

Yes, I do follow the tao and try to understand the laws of the human psyche, but I also have issues with myself over things that I don't like about myself that I have to except about myself. I hope that made sense. Sorry for the wait, here is your tao of today:

What happened?
Out of Tao?
Is it possible?

Codeine Coma wrote:What happened?
Out of Tao?
Is it possible?

Good questions, I will answer for all. Due to the moving process and not having access for a while I lost my will to enlighten on this board. This does not mean that I will leave the board or even stop believing in the tao. It just means that I don't want to set aside a time of day to post something that most people can read for themselves. I have posted half of the tao, I have met it half way. The link to the entire tao is in this thread some where on the 1st or 2nd page. Go forth and enlighten ye selves.

Mercurygriffin wrote:

Codeine Coma wrote:What happened?
Out of Tao?
Is it possible?

Good questions, I will answer for all. Due to the moving process and not having access for a while I lost my will to enlighten on this board. This does not mean that I will leave the board or even stop believing in the tao. It just means that I don't want to set aside a time of day to post something that most people can read for themselves. I have posted half of the tao, I have met it half way. The link to the entire tao is in this thread some where on the 1st or 2nd page. Go forth and enlighten ye selves.

I sort of have to agree here - if it's snagged the interest of someone, then by the very (D|T)ao's teachings, one should have to reach for enlightenment (or knowledge - there's a difference there, albeit difficult at times to differentiate) themselves.

I'm not (D|T)aoist, but like any good philosophy and/or religion, it has its own unique merits.