Dao with Ian Felton

Explore the depths of Chapter 20 from the Daodejing. Delve into the sage's views on wisdom, detachment, and leadership, and see how these ancient teachings resonate in our modern, complex era.

We delve deep into Chapter 19 of the Daodejing, exploring Laozi's call to abandon societal pretenses and return to a life of simplicity. We discuss the implications of embracing plainness, the dangers of idolizing ordinary individuals, and the perils of attaching oneself too closely to ideologies. Join us as we journey back to rediscover the essence of true living.

In this episode, we delve deep into Daodejing Chapter 18, discussing the consequences of a society disconnected from the great Dao. We shed light on the rise of hypocrisy and the unsettling state of cardinal relationships. Together, we explore how to find solace and live in harmony with the Dao amidst prevailing chaos and confusion.

In today's fast-paced, ultra-competitive world, the question of effective leadership has never been more pertinent. How can leaders best serve their teams, their organizations, and ultimately, society? Inspired by the ancient wisdom of Daoist philosophy and Laozi’s four types of leaders, we delve into the paradoxes of leadership in a modern, often patriarchal, context.

In this episode, we explore the ancient concept of 'Tian' from the Daodejing, revealing its deep influence on human affairs and nature. Dive into Chapter 16 to understand the harmony between Nature and Man. Discover the sensations of aligning with the Way of Heaven and its impact on our daily interactions. Join us for a journey towards celestial balance and inner peace.

Dive into a profound exploration of the Daoist philosophy, discover how to "attain the ultimate emptiness" and "hold onto stillness" amidst the rush of modern life, find your roots in the transient world, and unlock the secret of longevity by knowing "the constant" and harmonizing with the heavens, all under the guidance of the ancient wisdom of the Daodejing.

Shengren 圣人 are devoted to cultivating wisdom and virtue. In this episode we focus in on what this means within Daoism as we explore the characteristics Laozi describes in Daodejing so that anyone can walk the path of Shengren.

How do you embody Dao? If you met someone who did, how would you know? Chapter 15 of Daodejing tries to help us understand the answers to these questions.

We ground the abstract descriptions of Dao from chapter fourteen of the Daodejing to help our listeners find practical ways to apply it.

What is spirituality? What is religion? We take a look at both of these as they relate to Daoism.

People chase after illusions and then wonder how they lose their peace of mind. When we give up our virtue for superficial things, we become superficial as well. This is a spiritual death.

Faith is a complicated thing. We explore this thing called "faith," how it applies to Daoism, and what it means to Walk the Timeless Way.

Moderation is one of the Three Treasures of Daoism. Chapter 12 of Daodejing focuses on this virtue. We discuss why moderation is important and how knowing what we find meaningful can help us to achieve it.

ChatGPT and related technologies are quickly changing the world. What does ChatGPT think about Daoism? What do Daoists think about ChatGPT?

It's the space in things that make them useful: the air in tires, the space in rooms. We also need internal space to create satisfactory lives.

Happy Chinese New Year! What is true hope? Where does it come from? How has it been distorted or lost in modern civilization?

Happy Daoist New Year! We reflect on last year and on 2023 so that we can walk our path more gracefully and in the direction we are aiming for.

Chapter 10 of Daodejing is about embracing Dao. However, we live in an economic system that works against Dao. How can we ever live in harmony with Dao when we are so afraid of taking any actions not aligned with the global economic system?

What is the nature of chaos? How does it appear in life? How do the rich make the poor scapegoats to deal with chaos and why? We explore how Laozi and others suggest we relate to chaos so that we aren't overcome by it.

Moderation is the key theme of Chapter Nine of Daodejing. We need moderation more than ever before but our culture and society encourage extremism and over-consumption. What can we do?

Technology continues to become a bigger part of our lives. We can no longer separate our lives from technology, but we can be deliberate in making sure we don't lose our connection with Dao.

Chapter eight of Daodejing builds a metaphor of water to help us to navigate our relationship with our internal and external worlds. When we contend with our environment, we ultimately fight with ourselves. By reflecting on our experiences, we can grow in our capacity to be like water.

Status cannot be separated from society or the human heart. What role does status play in society? How can a sage use status to help society navigate inevitable changes?

Chapter seven of Daodejing talks about how the sage puts herself last. We explore why our system and culture makes this so difficult to do in a genuine way.

Starting with the popular survival series, "Alone," we discuss living in harmony with Dao and the consequences of living in a global society.