Over time, Lieh Tzu’s teachings have emphasized cultivating virtue, maintaining health, finding tranquility, and embracing a simple, harmonious life. Living in harmony with the natural way of things (the Tao) means recognizing that societal changes must come from within individuals who follow its principles. Understanding the natural order is essential, and only by learning the Tao’s principles can one truly live in harmony.
The key, or basic question, is not “what is the Truth?”, but “where is the Way?” Moving beyond the limited ideas of the spiritual connection from the “I AM” as a singular spirit to the collective vision of “WE ARE” as the spirit found in all things. When the universal connection under Heaven is understood, then the journey moves from our being singular to plural. Recognizing this simple truth forms the core of much of Eastern philosophy. The issue with the concept of “I AM” is that it can sometimes serve as a justification for the ego’s self-interest.
I have always wondered how history would have changed if when Christian missionaries went to China in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and attempted to convert all they found to Christianity and found thousands of years of Confucius, Buddhism, and Taoism, that they told them they must forget all that and follow their God. The Chinese liked the teachings of Jesus and said they would add Him to those they followed. Missionaries said no… you must drop all those things and only follow our God. The Chinese refused to drop thousands of years of their history. What I have wondered is what if the missionaries would have said okay, we’ll let you simply add Jesus to your pantheon of spiritual teachers.
Today, in China there is a strong Christian church movement call the “Family Church”. And yes, people are baptized into the church every day. But you must also respect the path of others as well. It was only ego that kept the religious teachings of Christianity to be impeded for hundreds of years. Just as the Indigenous peoples of the Americas have attempted to keep their traditional spiritual teachings as well.
When we gaze at the stars, we witness Earth’s constant motion, orbiting around stars and constellations, especially the North Star. This reveals a system that, while appearing fixed, demonstrates that we are a vital part of something much larger than us. Both the stars and we are always in motion. By understanding the vibrations of constant change and embracing the ability to let go of what no 
longer serves us, we gain the freedom to evolve into who we are yet to become.
While in the West we dismiss what we call horoscopes, in the East our origins can be found and identified in the stars. For myself, it is the Libra constellation, shown to the left. The stars are what connects us to the nature we return to as well.
The Yellow Emperor who was referred to earlier said “If my spirit returns through the gates whence it came, and my bones go back to the source from which they came, where does the ego continue to exist?”
My travels with Lieh Tzu / Interpolations along the Way
Chapter One – Heaven’s Gift
16. Coming home with Virtue
In death, we are simply travelers going home. Our virtue looking for shelter from the elements. Forever seeking final destinations to come. Yet somehow getting lost and finding our way back home.
Lama Buddhist Temple in Beijing
Everyone forgetting his way. With no one knowing a better way. Leading only to universal stories of emptiness and disbelief.
Finally coming forth to cherish the emptiness. Knowing not to value what remains simply to be made full again.
Value never given in the final equation. Only stillness and a vacuum finding comfort only in the details. In the give and take we become distracted and lose our place. Finding innocence, we make our way home once again.
An understanding of death interpreted from Yen Tzu in My Travels with Lieh Tzu, Heavens Gift written by DCD 1/9/95.
Number sixteen of one hundred fifty-eight entries.
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