Dao with Ian Felton

Society is stuck and needs to be reinvented. The future of this podcast is to explore how we can move away from bosses and politicians and move toward individuals with character.

The way of the sage is to cultivate personal virtue, not by trying to control things.

We're addicted to a way of life that stresses us out and lacks meaning. Why is this so and what are our options?

Western culture is ego-driven and individualistic. How can we align with Dao and live with more grace?

Western culture is transactional and exploitative. How can we be like water in this type of world?

The Way of Heaven gives to those without and takes from those with too much. Those in power do the opposite. What will happen?

Modern psychology built on "evidence-based" research tells us the value of being psychologically flexible. This is what Laozi explained to us in chapter 76 of Daodejing thousands of years ago.

Our spirits are crying out to return to a way of living that is aligned with our nature. We only need to wait for the current system to die.

People go to great lengths to control death but they backfire in the long run. We can listen to Laozi to better live with nature and death.

People can create a depth of knowledge in a niche, or around an identity, but not see how the lack of wholeness creates a type of poverty.

When government leaders don't follow the wisdom of the sages, the people stop respecting authority. We compare the approaches of China and the United States and the effects on the common people.

Knowledge is necessary, but without moderation, it can also become a spiritual sickness. How can we use knowledge appropriately and stay spiritually healthy?

If we are listening for what our egos want, not what the universe is actually saying, it will be impossible to hear Laozi. To understand Laozi, we need a type of humility that requires a huge change in worldview.

War is part of the human condition, but how can we minimize it? What does it mean to win at war?

Daoist approaches aren't what we typically think of when talking about military strategy, but Laozi wrote about it. Today's episode wonders about what it would look like in comparison to today's national powers.

What are the occasions when Daoists might act when violence is a possible outcome?

What should a Daoist do when conflicts arise?

How do we apply the three treasures of kindness, moderation, and humility in our daily lives?

Laozi has three treasures: compassion, moderation, and humility. Today we explore walking the timeless way with compassion.

Practicing psychological flexibility can help us better understand and embody humility.

What is humility and where did it come from? Why do we need it and what forces work against us?

Laozi says leaders who are sages put themselves last. How do people lead in our modern world and is it very Daoist?

What knowledge does society need to move forward? We discuss knowledge as awareness and empathy and entertain an idea called civic empathy.

Staying close to the concept of zhi（智）we examine what knowledge is useful to us. What did Laozi mean by this type of knowledge?

A reading and translation of chapter 65 followed by a discussion about mysterious virtue. Why is a certain type of knowledge destructive to society?