When the highest type of men hear Tao,
They diligently practice it.
When the average type of men hear Tao,
They half believe in it.
When the lowest type of men hear Tao,
They laugh heartily at it.
Lao Tzu
Get Back on the Horse
Thinking and talking about the Integral way are
not the same as practicing it.
Who ever became a good rider by talking about
horses?
If you wish to embody the Tao, stop chattering and
start practicing.
Relax your body and quiet your senses.
Return your mind to it’s original clarity.
Forget about being separated from others and
from the Divine source.
As you return to the oneness, do not think about it or
be in awe of it. This is just another way of
separating from it.
Simply merge into truth, and allow it to surround
you.
Comments: Saint Paul said you will be known by
your faith. What he and Hua Hu Ching mean by
faith is the deeds you perform. Faith is not
measured by your beliefs, it is measured by
your actions.
Verse 51
Those who want to know the truth of the
universe should practice the four cardinal virtues.
The first is reverence for all life; this
manifests as unconditional love and respect for
oneself and all other beings.
The second is natural sincerity; this manifests
as honesty, simplicity and faithfulness.
The third is gentleness; this manifests as
kindness, consideration for others, and sensitivity
to spiritual truth.
The fourth is supportiveness; this manifests as
service to others without expectation of reward.
The four virtues are not an external dogma
but a part of your original nature.
When practiced, they give birth to wisdom
and evoke the five blessings: health, wealth,
happiness, longevity and peace.
Comments: Every religion has ethics or virtue
as a basis. Certainly one could never venture
into the inner circle without being firmly
grounded in virtue.
First: St. Francis of Assisi showed great
respect for life, to the point that he feared
treading on worms while walking on a path.
Second: We need to be sincere with ourselves
This starts with self-observation.
Third: Gentleness and kindness are looked on as weaknesses in this day and age.
Fourth: This humanity is more concerned with
taking than giving. Consumerism and materialism
are primary drivers in our daily lives.
Mother Nature is viewed as a natural resource
and we take and we take without any regard for
the consequences. Supportiveness, then, would
be acting as a steward for the Earth, protecting
the environment and conserving our natural
resources.
Easy Does It
In order to experience the truth, one does not need to exert oneself whatsoever. People are accustomed to exerting themselves in everything they do and erroneously suppose that it is impossible to experience the truth without any exertion.