Tao of the Day

Today I selected #74, didn't talk too much about it before Lo joined me and we discussed # 32. Melissa came up and we honed in on #26 and Marianne had me select the random #10 for her. Dayo rounded us all out with #27.#10 "Authentic Action"Can you control your mind, so it doesn't wonder?Can you control your body, so it doesn't wander?Can you endorse all that you do?Can you love everyone so as to inspire them?Can you do all this without interfering and remain unknown?Can you leave behind knowing and open yourself to understanding?Can you be like Tao and give birthWithout possessing?Can you be like Tao and actWithout expecting?Can you be like Tao and leadwithout dominating?If so, it would be considered great.#26 "Wasted Movement"Without knowing darknessLight is mysterious and distracting.Without knowing stillnessAll movement is wasted.This is why the Master travelsAnd never leaves home.No matter how amazing the manifestationShe knows there is nothing that she is not.Why should anyone seek to be influenced or entertained?If you let yourself be entertainedYou lose touch with your root.If you let yourself be influencedYou lose touch with who you are.#27 "The Mystery of the Process"Although a good traveler may have plansThey are not rigid, nor is the outcome.Although a good artist creates,The creations are arrived at through intuition.Although a good scientist observesIt is done for the first time every time.By embodying these strategiesThe Master accepts everyoneAnd makes use of every situation,Nothing is wasted andEvery moment is imbued with light.What is the good if not a vision for the bad?What is the bad if not a lesson for the good?Accept this completely,Or you will suffer in all you do.It is the great secret.#32 "It is Not What You Can See"So subtle is Tao it has never been seenAnd yet nothing that can be seen is without it.When beings can remain centered in TaoAll that they perceive is in harmony.As that harmony inspires actions,Those actions will have names,Know that those names are provisional.If those actions inspire institutions to form,Know where their reach should end.Inspired actions, although they may have names,Those names needn't be taken too seriously.Tao is behind it allEven if you cannot see it.#74 "Don't Cut Yourself"People are not naturally afraid to dieIt is what we are born to do.Fear of death is important if you want to rule over the peopleHowever, you must artificially instill this fear into their hearts.To accomplish this you kill as an example to control the masses.Since the beginning of time there has been one executioner,Trying to take its place will lead to nothing good.As a novice with a master carpenter's toolsYou're going to cut yourself.

Today I had a great time talking wiht Sandy about #66, Melissa and her #21, Linda joined me to work with #29, and Jay K and I walked through #43.#21 "Tao is not Temporary"The Master is at peace knowing she is of manifestationAnd that manifestations are always temporary.Knowing this, she always follows Tao.How can she be at peace knowing she is temporary?Because she doesn't cling to her life or ideasAnd still she is fulfilled.Tao cannot be fathomed or known; how can she follow it?She allows it to lead her from moment to moment.Tao is, and is always,Even before the manifestation of time and space.Tao is beyond both temporary and forever.How do I know this to be true?The evidence is within me as it is within you.#29 "Make the World a Better You"Do you want to make the world a better place?How arrogant you must be!The world, like you, is sacredAnd cannot be improved.A force of will, would ruin it.If it had a guide, it would be misled.There are times for all things,Even this, whatever it happens to be.The Master allows all things to be as they areShe doesn't want to control them.She simply lets them do what they doShe also does what she does, staying connected to Tao.#43 "Be Silent and Learn"The flexible will outlast the ridged.The gentle will outlast the hard.Tao, which has no structure, has penetrated allEven that which has no space to enter.Through this I see that unforced action, and silence are the only path to completeness.Action, free of expectation and desire,This is the lesson of the nature of things.Listen to your nature, be silent and learn.#66 "Leading from Behind"There are great benefits to humilityAll rivers flow to the seaBecause its position is lower.The Master emulates this by always being a servant,Inspiring from below, leading from behind,No one is oppressed, they find their own way.Like rivers so too will the people flow to the Master,Never feeling oppressed or as if they are in danger,The whole world supports her and keeps her in their hearts.Without a reason or a desire to competeShe is never met with competition.