"Where there is injury, let me give pardon." St. Francis of Assisi
The need to be right, that champion of the ego, creates dissension and disruption to the soul that wants above all else to follow the way of the Tao.
Why is the need to be right so tied in to one's self worth? Is it
not enough to be loved and sustained by the Supreme Power, to be
acknowledged as the offspring of our Creator?
Forgiving is the way of the Tao. Letting be and giving kindness, compassion and love where there was resentment before; that is the way to peace. Finding strength in proffering those qualities, not in a surface way, but in the spirit of our oneness, is allowing the flow of the Tao to bless us all.
Like water, yield to those hard and rigid places that present themselves as obstacles. In yielding there is strength not weakness.
" A soft answer turns away wrath." The Tao teaches a gentler, more powerful way of being, so paradoxical to what we have been taught in Western culture.
The Way of Tao is a kinder path in life: effective and compassionate. It is doing without doing; it is overcoming without force; it is the power of peace.
Nature's way is to restore balance: where there is excess, Nature reduces and where there is scarcity, Nature increases. When forests grow too thick, wildfires thin In land saturated with rain and flood, eventually drought occurs. Mountains are worn down, valleys built up.
One of the ways to allow new prosperity into our lives is to take stock of what we own, clear out the excess by whatever means: gifts to those who are in need, garage sales, recycling and finally, the trash.
Clearing out the clutter does more than beautify a space; it clears the mind allowing new thoughts, ideas and inspiration to flow in.
The talents you possess, the knowledge you've gained, the joy you feel, the loving kindness you show in caring for yourself are all meant to be shared. As the song says, "and the world will be a better place".
The nature of the Tao can be seen as a paradox. The hardest things manifest weakness while those things that are flexible and yielding are strong and full of life. Rigidity, brittleness and hard resolve are weaknesses and stagnations. In nature that which does not grow, dies.
So often the higher ways of the Tao run counter to our Western values. Have our hard lines and opinionated views brought us peace or most importantly, harmony with the nature of the Tao?
We live on a planet with astounding diversity. Being willing to listen and respect those whose ways are different from ours, is strength and ultimately will bring us closer to our life-giving Source.
The Tao that infills us provided us with all that we need to live, thrive and prosper. That is true of each wondrous creation on the planet.
And it is enough. There is no need to grasp, intrude or confiscate that which is another's. What is best for others is up to them to decide. Each has been given the gift of discernment whether or not we agree in the manner others chose to live their lives.
Each finds their own way in their own way The spirit flags when overburdened with rules and restrictions. The spirit blossoms when free of restraint.
All things have their life span. The seeds of the 10,000 things have their growth, fruition and demise. The Tao is all pervasive and infills all. It lets us complete ourselves in our own way. Yet we are ever connected to It.
It is the eternal part of us that does not change, though our bodies do. Our spirit is infinite and immortal.
This is true of all of us, no matter how we have chosen to complete ourselves. When we discard our bodies, our spirits rise to join in the vast oneness of the Tao. Therefore, all life is sacred.
To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under Heaven.
The way of Heaven never hurries or delays. Like seeds that germinate in darkness, the changes and growth in our souls are hidden. When our soul blossoms, its manifestations appear as kindness, purity of heart and joy. Each thought along the journey to fruition carries us along without seeking, striving or trying to make things happen.
Heaven's way is a way of ease. Obstacles melt away before we reach them. The ogre at a distance is a friendly, helpful face when seen up close.
Lean on Heaven's way. It is the way of fulfillment.
