We are the beacon of virtue that lights the world.

So, what is our purpose, our role, and how do we find our niche so to speak. Are we a singular version of the “I am that I am”, bent on tapping into universal consciousness without regard to the nature that surrounds us and relationship with others? Concerned only for this space, this hermitage, in keeping with our own enfoldment. 

Are we what we do… or the person we are here to yet to become and does it matter? The reason the ideas of emptiness, mindfulness, and learning discernment are so essential, is that they serve to precede everything else. I often interchange the word Tao and Dao; they are the same. Tao is the version used in English, and Dao is the more correct version. Old habits die hard they say. But that’s the essence of it all. What we intrinsically follow is in keeping with both what we learn and our innate nature, our instincts, and the true meaning of synchronicity. It’s why we are here.

Or in that found in ancient Taoist scripture “That carrying the ethereal and corporal souls, embracing the One, can you be without separation?” Even further, thoughts of “returning to the Source is called stillness; this means returning to life-destiny. Returning to life-destiny is called constancy; knowing constancy is called illumination.” (An illusion to chapter 16 of the Tao Te Ching by Guigen). This is known as following sagely advise, or the dragons. 

What habits we unconsciously do are often seen as in keeping with our second nature – what we do without thinking. It’s how we act and how others see us.  Is it something we’ve learned recently, or perhaps our virtue we’ve always known but have often forgotten or just ignored, that connects us to our Source showing us the way? That it is our virtue that lights both our way and the world. How is it we are to contribute to our environment that is to enhance both this innate divine nature and the outer world in keeping with what may be called our responsibility to our ancestral alignment or mystery? Something to ponder or think about. Perhaps even going so far as saying “We are that we are” here to build on and show respect for both. It is embracing the One, the Tao, the yin and yang that resides in all of us.

Commentary of Lao Tzu’s Te Tao Ching

Verse 10 – Exposing ever-present but forgotten traits of Virtue 

Remember what you have always known. That it is our virtue that lights the universe.

That it is your memory of who you once were and are yet to become that resides in your mind and intellect.  As you open your mind to see and know what comes forth, you are simply reminded of what you have forgotten.

That your energies are here to be replenished as you are transformed into the sage whose mind remains still. As you become still once again, you reflect and mirror heaven and earth and the ten thousand things.

You scoff as you know the best way to govern is without governing and using the efforts of others.  If you don’t obstruct what the Tao begets at their source and suppress their true nature, things mature by themselves.

Virtue remaining ever-present, its owner unknown until you appear along the way. May 2000

第１０节 展示大德

牢记你已知的东西，这是我们普照宇宙的大德，这是留在你脑海有关你的过去和未来的记忆。当

你打开思维，看看什么将要来临时，你就会回想起你所忘却的东西。

当你变成头脑冷静的圣人时，到这里来补充能量。当你变得平静如水时，你就成为了天地万物的化身。

面对世俗，你冷然嘲笑。你知道无为而治和善于用人是最好的治国之道。如果你不妨碍道的传播，不抑止他们的天性，万物自己会成熟起来。

大德永存。直到你出现之前，不会有人知道谁是有大德的人。

Virtue translates into de, which also can appear as inner power. While de may mean moral or ethical activity, it has a larger sense of being pervaded by the numinous presence of the Dao. Virtuous behavior is an expression or manifestation of that condition. This idea is constant throughout the Tao Te Ching. Hidden in form, the Tao is constantly acting through us as unified qi circulating without ceasing, and is ever-changing. Its support is what sustains us and is immeasurable. It is the essence that burns inside us looking to change who we are and will become in our travels ahead. Like a beacon of light to transform, mold, and fashion our environment. What we do, what we say, and how we act. It is our virtue that makes us immortal.  

Asking us how long will this sleep last. When will you take up your mission? If you are reading this, you may think or say – this doesn’t apply to me, or is not available to me. Therefore, making a judgment on something that I am not sure of is beyond my ability to reason. For myself, I draw inspiration from Taoist notions about living harmoniously with nature and the Tao, the cosmic order that pervades the universe. When do we move beyond philosophical thoughts and aesthetic values to join what is calling us? Perhaps we are here to illuminate the highest reached of the cosmos. To know constancy and move towards proper understanding. Transforming the clarity and stillness we know, into transparency through our own efforts. Maybe the Tao remains hidden in form so that each of us may capture it for ourselves.

Daoism always seems to come back to someone referred to as Master Lao, the author of the Tao Te Ching. In my earlier entries here, I make reference to a second book attributed to Lao Tzu entitled the Nei-yeh – Inward Training. It’s contribution to Taoism has been as great or greater for those who see the Taoist path as essential to living a good life. It was written more than two thousand years ago. It can be found here on my website. The next two chapters, chapters five and six of twenty-six are as follows:

Nei-yeh – Inward Training

Five

The Way has no fixed position;
it abides within the excellent mind.
When the mind is tranquil and the vital breath is regular, the Way can thereby be halted.

That Way is not distant from us;
when people attain it they are sustained
that Way is not separated from us;
When people accord with it they are harmonious.
Therefore: Concentrated! as though you could be roped together with it.
Indiscernible! as though beyond all locations.
The true state of that Way:
How could it be conceived of and pronounced upon?

Cultivate your mind, make your thoughts tranquil, and the Way can thereby be attained.

Six

As for the Way:
it is what the mouth cannot speak of, the eyes cannot see, and the ears cannot hear.

It is that with which we cultivate the mind and align the body.
When people lose it they die;
when people gain it they flourish.
When endeavors lose it they fail;
when they gain it they succeed.
The Way never has a root or trunk,
it never has leaves or flowers.
The myriad things are generated by it;
the myriad things are completed by it.
We designate it “the Way.”

Commentary of Lao Tzu’s Te Tao Ching

Verse 22 – On becoming Whole

When all has passed through you – everything becoming the same with no opposites pulling at your attention, then you are free to follow the Way of Virtue, or Tao.

When you can think and act as if innately following the Tao, you can become whole.

Knowing virtue and honesty are one, you make a list of those things not in keeping with the path you have chosen to follow and begin removing them, as they have become stumbling blocks to completing your endeavors as the sage.  Once encountered and accounted for, they disappear and cannot be traced back to their maker.

Continually redefining the role of the traditional sage. Mirroring the Tao, you become adept at sharing your vision instead of simply trusting the word of others. Instead of relying on the strength of others, you take all to otherwise unattainable heights through reluctantly displaying your own strength.

Your enthusiasm and vision carrying the day. Living in paradox, as in reality you prefer to remain hidden from view. You stand apart, not competing hens no one finding a foothold to compete with you. Remaining steadfast you become whole.

第22节          论合一

当经历了一切之后，世间万物变得如此和谐协调，再也没有什么令你分心的了。你因此可以自由地踏上通向大德之路。当你能够象天生就信仰和追随道那样去想去做，你就合一了。

要明白大德和诚实是一致的。你把可能有违道德之事一一列出，当这些事情变为你成为圣人道路上的绊脚石时，就把它们搬走。一旦遇上，分辨清楚，它们就会永远消失，无影无踪。

继续完善作为一个普通圣人的职责，你代表道与大众分享你的憧憬，而不仅仅是相信别人。不要依赖别人的力量，你不情愿地显示你的力量，但必须把众人带向不可达到的高度。

的生活充满了热忱和希望。生活在一个矛盾百出，似是而非的世界里，你不愿意抛头露面。

你依然支离破碎，因此没有人可以找到与你竞争的立足之地。继续努力，终成合一。

Verse 22 Addendum – Becoming a beacon of light for all to see 

Could it be that your ultimate role is to report back to the dragons the role of the sage in the here and now?

To take the thoughts of Lao, Lieh and Chuang and all the others to places they have not been before and to perhaps try them on for size in a different environment.

That it is not you becoming whole, as much as transitioning this ancient way into current thought and action. As your task remains internally to mirror the Tao, perhaps your role in the here and now is to rediscover for the ages how externally one can remain pure and whole in such a material world.  Keeping to eternity’s promise, but making limited appearances just the same.

Challenging the order of the day, you have become the ultimate agent of change and virtue.

Coming forth to claim your place in the universe, you accept the mantle placed upon you with an ever-present humble demeanor. As you prepare to move on to accept your greater destiny.

第22节 (补遗)     作众人的指路明灯

此时此刻，你可以回到群龙那里充当圣人的角色了吗？把老子，列子，庄子和其他古代圣贤的思

想提升到一个新的高度，并且在不同的环境尺度下运用。

把古代的方式方法变成现代思想和行动不能与成为合一相提并论。因为心中有道，也许此时此刻你的职是重新发现在物欲横流的世界上如何长久地保持纯洁和合一。恪守永恒的诺言，但减少露面。

发起向传统势力的挑战，因为你已经成为变革和大德的全权代表。

前来拥有你在宇宙应有的地位，接受永远代表谦恭的斗篷。继续漫游，接受更大的挑战

Going forth seek only clarity and understanding what can be called turbidity. Clarity is what is seen and understood as coming from the cosmos. What is dictated by nature’s call. The structure in place we are here to build on and is understood as a “given” that manifests in myriad form. Turbidity refers to what is defined as the delusion of the mundane world. Clarity and turbidity are the qi of yin and yang and circulate and flow by ascending and descending within all things. This becomes the synchronicity of our spirit on our way to becoming whole.  

As Lao Tzu teaches – we are to emulate the highest in nature and the cosmos with great compassion, extend clarity and stillness, establish the teachings and guide others. Align ourselves with virtue, embody perfection, and our Source by embracing the One, the Tao.