I often find myself defining terms as if the next step involves attaining equanimity and embracing the Way. How the clarity of words’ meanings guides and shape our understanding. Attaining equanimity or an evenness of mind as a mental state that enables us to meet life’s unpleasant experiences, disappointments, and sad moments with even-tempered calm instead of aversion, or something we dislike.
Maintaining an evenness of mind, particularly under stress, reflects a balanced appropriate disposition in our actions. Cultivating aversion to what does not align with our chosen path is crucial for removing obstacles that may hinder our progress. How what was to become known as Taoism became a central core of Eastern philosophy and for some a religion. Elevating ourselves beyond the daily routine, we recognize the Tao as it embodies the essence of things. It does not so much create as it sets in the natural instincts and rhythm inherent in everything. As we learn to use the daily routine as guideposts that monitor and check our progress.
When we begin our day with meditation and silence, I have always found having a word or maybe two, to focus on that can define my composure. Freeing my mind into a flow, or state of calmness and serenity always to be monitored by my breath, or breathing. With deep breathing from the soles of our feet helping to bring clarity to our purpose. Using our imagination to take us to places we have forgotten or might be considered as unknown, perhaps even spending time with old friends who always bring out the best of us. Often serving as the benchmark for others to follow with virtue in hand.
When we combine the thoughts attributed to equanimity with attaining the Way, or Tao, it becomes about becoming impartial, of discarding knowledge not contributing to our path, and abandoning the self. These are attributes we’ll cover later when we discuss Inward Training and Techniques of the Mind.
Meditation transforms each moment from what we believe we know into the unknown, with our actions serving to bring clarity and purpose today. Attuning to our natural rhythm and fostering our connection with nature becomes essential. Our highest aspiration lies in achieving union with the transcendent, guided by clarity of purpose. It’s by acting naturally, by nonaction, just letting things be and following the Way… we become the Way. Finding the flow or current of our highest endeavor and simply building on it as it moves through us.
My travels with Lieh Tzu / Interpolations along the Way
Chapter Two – The Yellow Emperor
30. Finding the common Thread
Knowing the Way is simply coming to know what is native within ourselves. Growing up it becomes what is natural and in maturity it becomes destiny. Set your will on the aim of what is your internal truth. Outwardly knowing the highest speech is to remain quiet, just as the utmost doing is doing nothing.
Looking beyond the surface of what is brought up around you. Finding the substance to know the true way and never matching yourself against the world as you are bound to overreach your true objective.
Remain as Lieh Tzu with his own mentor Hu Tzu and not question what has yet to come forward. Just as Hu Tzu’s integrity is questioned unwittingly by the visiting shaman who flees in panic, know that your own vitality is centered only on the path you have chosen to follow.
Old beings do not question where they go. They simply arrive at the place meant for them to be. Not dreaming when they sleep and with no cares when they awake. Always in the end returning to the place of their ancestors.
Just as Chuang Tzu says that the Perfect Man breathes from his heels, the common man breathes from his throat. Be the one whose breath comes from knowing the true aims of heaven and know that immortality is now within you to come to know and find.
As Lieh Tzu left Hzu Tzu to spend three years on his farm living simply, coming to know detachment and freedom of all things, so must you. Your destiny is in the clouds with dragons. Simply doing by being. 1/23/95
Number thirty of one hundred fifty-eight entries
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