Tao of the Day

As I continue to translate the Tao I chose #16 so I can have a better understanding of it as I will face it today. #16 The (state of) vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree, and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigour. All things alike go through their processes of activity, and (then) we see them return (to their original state). When things (in the vegetable world) have displaye...

I announced that I am working on a translation of the Tao and chose #13 because I will be tackling that chapter at some point today. Marci then joined me for #41 and once again it hit the mark. #13 It is said: ”Both good fortune and misfortune cause tension. The creative and the destructive exist equally in the mind.” What is meant by ”Good fortune and misfortune cause tension”? Those with good fo...

Marci asked me to pick a number for her and we worked with #63. Kelly joined me for #31 and Dr. Rao helped us unwrap a few things as well. Loyce then joined me for #13. #13 Success is as dangerous as failure. Hope is as hollow as fear. What does it mean that success is a dangerous as failure? Whether you go up the ladder or down it, you position is shaky. When you stand with your two feet on the g...

A great Tao unfolded today and I kicked it all off with Loyce and we wound up reading #17 from Mears' translation. HeRMajesty Abby then came up and pointed to the number I was looking to cover #2 and finally Mary Kara joined me for #3. #2 When people see some things as beautiful, other things become ugly. When people see some things as good, other things become bad. Being and non-being create each...

Today I picked #1 and then Energy Lady came up and unknowingly picked #1 as well so we get to cover #1 pretty extensively. #1 The tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao The name that can be named is not the eternal Name. The unnamable is the eternally real. Naming is the origin of all particular things. Free from desire, you realize the mystery. Caught in desire, you see only the manifestatio...

D-A-R-Y-L joined me for #54 and Dr. Rao came up to help me cover it. Loyce then joined me for #31 and she asked me to pick one and we covered #14. #14 Look, and it can't be seen. Listen, and it can't be heard. Reach, and it can't be grasped. Above, it isn't bright. Below, it isn't dark. Seamless, unnamable, it returns to the realm of nothing. Form that includes all forms, image without an image, s...

I covered #61 pretty deeply today. #61 When a country obtains great power, it becomes like the sea: all streams run downward into it. The more powerful it grows, the greater the need for humility. Humility means trusting the Tao, thus never needing to be defensive. A great nation is like a great man: When he makes a mistake, he realizes it. Having realized it, he admits it. Having admitted it, he...

I was joined today by a new face to Wisdom Shaman Isis who chose #44. Energy Lady followed her up with #2 and mPress with #77. #2 When people see some things as beautiful, other things become ugly. When people see some things as good, other things become bad. Being and non-being create each other. Difficult and easy support each other. Long and short define each other. High and low depend on each...

Today I have four great guests starting with my buddy Julie and #11 and then my love Andee chose #39. Jose joined me for #36 and then I celebrate with Jenny over #22. #11 Thirty spokes converge at one hub; What is not there makes the wheel useful. Clay is shaped to form a vessel; What is not there makes the vessel useful. Doors and windows are cut to form a room; What is not there makes the room u...

Two great guests wrapped up a very short Tao today. Energy Lady chose #35 and I read from Isabel Mears' translation and then Marci joined me for #51.

Today I had Dr. Robert on talking about dyslexia and #72 then Julie chose #17, followed by the Energy Lady and #71. Mary K wrapped us up with #14 and I pulled up Kelly Swenson to simply read #54. #14 Look, and it can't be seen. Listen, and it can't be heard. Reach, and it can't be grasped. Above, it isn't bright. Below, it isn't dark. Seamless, unnamable, it returns to the realm of nothing. Form t...

Today I had a new guest Dr. Jackie who chose #37 and then Dr. Rao came up to add his insights. Graciela joined and then Loyce picked #9. #9 If you drink too much, you get drunk. The engine won't start if you're always tinkering with it. If you hoard wealth, you fall into its clutches. If you crave success, you succumb to failure. Do what you have to do, then walk away. Anything else will drive you...

I kicked off today with a full couple minutes of silence as I was preparing to get started and no one was in the room. Then Loyce came up to celebrate completing her 61st year and we read #62. Mark K Elisabeth then joined me for #24 after throwing away all the alcohol in her house. #24 He who stands on tiptoe doesn't stand firm. He who rushes ahead doesn't go far. He who tries to shine dims his ow...

I was on early today because I have a few things going on this morning but I was alone and covered #44. #44 Fame or integrity: which is more important? Money or happiness: which is more valuable? Success of failure: which is more destructive? If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be conte...

I started off with #20 which I got to wrap up with Andee at the end after I took #49 with Dr. M and #18 with Graciela. #18 When the great Tao is forgotten, goodness and piety appear. When the body's intelligence declines, cleverness and knowledge step forth. When there is no peace in the family, filial piety begins. When the country falls into chaos, patriotism is born. #20 Stop thinking, and end...

Today I had Loyce com up and we talked about #64 and HeRMajesty Abby and I talked about #4. #4 The Tao is like a well: used but never used up. It is like the eternal void: filled with infinite possibilities. It is hidden but always present. I don't know who gave birth to it. It is older than God. #64 It's easy to maintain balance. Trouble can be nipped in the bud. Fragile things break easily, and...

It's my Birthday!!! I was joined by Julie for number #30 and Marci for #57 after I covered #48. #30 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 o...

Today I was joined by Marci for #74 and Andee for #10. #10 Can you coax your mind from its wandering and keep to the original oneness? Can you let your body become supple as a newborn child's? Can you cleanse your inner vision until you see nothing but the light? Can you love people and lead them without imposing your will? Can you deal with the most vital matters by letting events take their cour...

Today I was a it under the cosh and had to do something shorter but I had my Chicago Sister Mpress up for #70 and Dr. Goodman for #72. #70 My teachings are easy to understand and easy to put into practice. Yet your intellect will never grasp them, and if you try to practice them, you'll fail. My teachings are older than the world. How can you grasp their meaning? If you want to know me, look insid...

Today I started early to keep a low profile, I picked #33 and Loyce joined me for that. After Loyce Helen B came up to speak about what Loyce and I were talking about but did pick a number #7 which I kept us focused on. #7 The Tao is infinite, eternal. Why is it eternal? It was never born; thus it can never die. Why is it infinite? It has no desires for itself; thus it is present for all beings. T...

Today I had 6 wonderful guests starting with Kelly and #44 then Julie popped on for #8 and Mpress followed her with #9. Loyce and Energy lady shared #24 and #21 then my buddy Inma wrapped us up with #15. #8 The supreme good is like water, which nourishes all things without trying to. It is content with the low places that people disdain. Thus it is like the Tao. In dwelling, live close to the grou...

Today I had Briana join me, who I only connected with once but this was her first Tao experience, she picked #24. Kelly then joined me for #6 after which Dr. Rao gave us some things to think about. Then my love Andee Scarantino popped up to select #30. #6 The Tao is called the Great Mother: empty yet inexhaustible, it gives birth to infinite worlds. It is always present within you. You can use it...

I kicked us off with #59 then Graciela joined me for #77 which inspired Dr. Rao to join us and add some insight. Loyce then come up and shared #9 with me. #9 If you drink too much, you get drunk. The engine won't start if you're always tinkering with it. If you hoard wealth, you fall into its clutches. If you crave success, you succumb to failure. Do what you have to do, then walk away. Anything e...

A fairly short Tao today saw me choose #45 and Mina join me for #2. #2 When people see some things as beautiful, other things become ugly. When people see some things as good, other things become bad. Being and non-being create each other. Difficult and easy support each other. Long and short define each other. High and low depend on each other. Before and after follow each other. Therefore the Ma...

I kicked it all off today with HerMajesty Abby and #73 and then Loyce aske me for a number and I chose #71 then Ashley came up for #4 which I read last night with Andee Scarantino on a phone call, so that was cool. I wrapped up with Krisitina and at the end of that I was informed I was incorrect about when I was supposed to pick up my mother from the airport and had to make a quick dash to O'Hare....