Above us are dragons in the clouds….
When we let self-interest or ego take priority over everything else, we lose our way. It’s easy to fall into the habit of always putting ourselves first, ignoring our true responsibility to see beyond what we might perceive as personal gain. That we are to always treat others as we wish to be treated. That by paying attention to the world around us, we can learn what nature is here to teach us. Life is really that simple. But we lose sight of this when fear takes hold, convincing us that there isn’t enough for everyone, so our own needs must come first. To what could be called to “think thoughtlessly” or by living “inattentively”. As if our actions are to have little or no consequences.
That changes when we can learn to see that everything found in nature is eternal and has a unique role to play of its own. That our first role is learning to see beyond ourselves in the moment, as the way we live as an integral part of our environment. A spontaneous reaction arises only when we are fully attentive to the external situation, without analyzing or discriminating, allowing us to make a unified response. From what we have learned and applied in looking to the I Ching for “complementary opposites,” that when we approach situations with preconceived ideas of the outcome, we often let our own biases interfere with the result that would be best for everyone involved.
The Tao reminds us that fixating only on joy and happiness will inevitably bring sadness. Recognizing that we are on the journey of spiritual growth, expressing things in our own terms as our words become essential. Thoughts and words often come to mind as we us ask ourselves “okay, where did that come from?” As though they are spontaneous and serve to contribute to taking the next step. Taking our thoughts to places we would not otherwise go, or more importantly to what we have always known, but simply forgotten.
Just as with words, there are always people and places from our past, hidden in the corners of our memories, just waiting to resurface with a little reminder. Living in the present, we sometimes confuse the principles that guide us for the Tao, believing they will lead to joy and happiness. But it’s through making distinctions that we uncover the essence beneath joy and sorrow, as we learn to align ourselves with the Way of Virtue, or Tao.
My travels with Lieh Tzu / Interpolations along the Way
Chapter One – Heaven’s Gift
15. A Conversation with the Yellow Emperor or forever knowing the outcome
Knowing no origins. Finding no difference between one thing and another. Death not simply an ending, but the art of transforming from one thing to the next.
Knowing neither birth nor death. Life but a shadow, sounds but an echo. Always coming and going as if nothing was made into something, only to be made into nothing once again.
Somehow taking shape in the end. Simply coming forward to know the Way of Virtue. Being born to be reborn. Having shape to be made shapeless. Endings never escaping their end just as whatever is born again can never escape its beginning.
Living only as the eternal spirit is always merely coming and going. The only possessions that exist belonging to heaven and earth. Each takes care of man’s spirit and remains. Whatever else could there be?
Hall of Great Perfection (Dacheng Hall), the main sanctuary of the Temple of Confucius.
What is man, but what takes shape through infancy, old age, and death. Each simply one’s spirit working out the details along the everlasting Way. Coming in with harmony and virtue intact. Later only to find turmoil, as desires rise and fall. With challenges and lessons to be lived and learned. Each serving only as the knapsack of one’s destiny.
Knowing hunger and where morsels must be found. Keeping to one’s internal compass and staying on the course of events that must be followed. Finding comfort in one’s blanket to be kept warm by never contending with anything.
Coming to know old age and knowing that imperfections found since infancy have been simply built upon. Looking forward to death so that you may eagerly try again. 1/8/95
Number fifteen of one hundred fifty-eight entries.
Note: This commentary and updating are from an unpublished manuscript found here on my website from roughly thirty years ago. The first part is my writing today, then to be followed by the original. Following this thread means that there is a story to tell that encompasses one hundred and fifty-eight entries and we are on number fifteen that is being updated. Look elsewhere on this website for the completed original version as “My travel with Lieh Tzu”.
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