Taoism and Lao Tzu
Before we go on with Verse number 3, it’s worth noting that the title of the book we’re adding commentary to—Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching—is my own version, titled “Thoughts on Becoming a Sage: The Guidebook to Leading a Virtuous Life.” It’s important to note that Lao Tzu wrote the Tao Te Ching in the sixth century BC.
What does it mean when we think we have had the “mountaintop experience” after years of reflection and study when we feel when have arrived? 
Climbing over the paradoxes of our lives to reach the plateau of knowing. I think of the book “Lost Horizons” when the character just knows that there is something more to the journey after years of living a life with things that for others have meaning that for him, he cannot see himself staying in another person’s limited vision of who they are but cannot seem to go there. People stuck in who they think they are that are only lessons to be learned. It saddens us because we’ve all known people like that.
When I wrote my version of Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, much had happened to move me further along the path I was meant to follow. It was May 2000, I had been writing and studying Taoism for about seven or eight years and was still in Boynton Beach and had been given my own department in the city as the Neighborhood Specialist.
I had been to China twice to adopt my two Chinese daughters. Katie from Maoming in May 1997 and Emily in October 1999 in Urumqi. It was the October trip that we stopped in Qufu for the first time that was the epiphany that was to change the trajectory of my life going forward. Everything about going to Qufu served as a reminder that this was home. It was as though my writing was giving me direction and telling me, even giving me permission to go there.
In May 2000, when I wrote the book titled “Thoughts on Becoming a Sage – The Guidebook for Leading a Virtuous Life”, it took less than a month to complete. 
It felt as though I was merely the editor, with the words flowing through me like I was simply the messenger of ancient wisdom. My role was only to live a life that gave meaning to the words I was writing.
Over the next 25 years until now it has become clear after over 40 trips and teaching in Qufu at the university and living and teaching next to the Confucius Temple and Mansion, that all that has occurred since 1993 when I pulled that book off the shelf at Providence College that the roadmap I have been meant to follow was and continues to become clear.
Since that time, I have scaled many mountains in China and paradoxes here in USA that have had a singleness of purpose. To convey a love of nature and to not question the journey my friends the dragons, Lao, Chuang, and Lieh Tzu would have me follow. To travel fearlessly to places I have been before that serve my memories and to tell their stories and that this will be enough this time before returning home to visit with old friends once again.
Verse 3 – Preparing the Way
The sage must begin again by daily ritual and purification. You must prepare an area for optimum meditation and reflection.
You must set aside all other activities and thoughts so as to be quiet, still, able to listen and be prepared to learn.
You must instill determination, release all desires, and come to find discipline. When you are ready all will flow unimpeded through you.
You are to become the vessel when and if you remain worthy of the mantle placed upon you. All is within you – everything you need is already here. We have been waiting for you to be fully prepared for the journey.
Clear your mind, cleanse your heart and open your mind and be prepared for the great and auspicious journey to come.
Use every moment to seek clarity. Paying attention to detail brings focus necessary for true learning. Come forward to know thyself and all will become clear.
Now go. But remain vigilant and dedicated to who you are to become. Your endeavors will bring forth your ultimate destiny…
第３节 备道
圣人必须每天举行祭奠仪式，进行自我净化。你必须腾出一个地方，在那里认真沉思反省。你必须放弃繁事，摈除杂念，心平气和，这样才能够听和学。
你必须下定决心，清心寡欲，严于律己。当你能够做到这几点，一切就会迎刃而解。
你是否是一件精美的容器，就看你是否配得起放在你上面的盖子。一切都在你的掌握之中－万事俱备。我们一直在等待着你做好行前准备。
要头脑清醒，排除杂念，开放思想，准备参加这个伟大光明的旅行。
必须抓紧时间，清心明目。关心细节可以帮助集中注意力，有利学习。来吧，了解你自己，一切都将会明朗。
现在出发吧。但是，你仍然要头脑清醒，努力奋斗，成为你想做的那种人。你的努力终将会有回报…
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