My Taoist Foolish Heart
I have had lots of good feedback about the first chapter of My Tao Te Ching - A Fool's Gide to Effing the Ineffable which I posted a little while ago so I thought I'd share some more. So... Here's one of my other favourite chapters of the 30 I've written so far. For those of you who didn't see the last post and want to read the intro follow this link. The short version is that I'm re-writing a thousands of years old chinese text for modern times, in my own admittedly slightly eccentric language! I'm hoping to get the book published in the coming year. You can read an excerpt of the book I have just published which is also Taoism inspired and is called 'A little book on finding your Way: Zen and the Art of Doing stuff.' It's not on full release yet but will be early next year. To get an advance copy click on this link. Anyway, here's the Chapter!
Chapter 13
You are going to lose and look a Fool time and time again - get used to it.
Life is painful and often hard work - deal with it.
It's the way of the world:as soon as you gain something you're at risk of losing it.
If you didn't have a body you couldn't feel pain or do work, but being human entails having a body.
Trying to deny these things is like trying to arm-wrestle the moon:
It's way bigger than you....
....and....
....It has no arms.
Accept the world on it's terms and compassion will come naturally.
Love the world - and yourself as part of it - just the way it is, and you are truly ready to be trusted.
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I'm feeling like spoiling you so here's one more chapter as a treat!
Chapter 22
Heart broken... open
Confusion and mystery lead to clarity.
To fill up, empty out.
Embrace dying to foster living.
Give to receive.
The wise fool lives from the Tao, listening to the still, small voice in her heart.
Quietly blossoming, people see her beauty.
Like the sun behind a cloud: Her brilliance is hidden but people feel her warmth.
When she makes a point, there's no arguing: she's got nothing to prove.
She offers an open heart and people see themselves in her eyes.
With no ideas of good or bad she's wonderful at everything!
When the ancients said "Embrace dying to foster living," was that crazy?
Surrender to the Way and find yourself where you are
Here and now
Here and now
Here and now.
Stop trying to be something and be something.
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I hope you've enjoyed this 'borrowed poetry.' The Tao Te Ching is such a rich and beautiful tome. If you'd like to know more about my books, be on the mailing list for our courses, or be told when a new book or the online Spiritual Exploration course is available then please get in touch and we can put you on the mailing list.
Thanks for reading y'all.