2/17/2011

The Tao Te Ching

AnnakaRae | May 31, 2008 |

Spiritual philosophy of Taoism, by Lao Tzu "The Old Sage". Legend has it that Lao Tzu lived approximately 2500 years ago. He was the keeper of the archives of the imperial court of China at that time. Saddened and disillusioned at life and humanity, and that people were unable to follow the path of goodness, he left his position in the court. It was in that renunciation that he wrote down his spiritual teachings and thus the Tao Te Ching - "The Way and It's Power" was created.


"At the center of your being you have the answer,
You know who you are and you know what you want!" Lao Tzu

Is the way to become “full” to first become “empty”? Through my various and mismatched readings of eastern philosophies, it would seem that many schools of thought advocate for a principles non-detachment – in one form or another. Is this how one becomes fulfilled: by having nothing? Or is “nothing” merely a concept in the mind which one needs to attain in order to appreciate the fullness of the present moment? Is realizing the present moment the key to seeing the fullness of an otherwise empty and non-material existence?
What do you think?
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“Names can name no lasting name.
Nameless: the origin of heaven and earth.
Naming: the mother of ten thousand things.
Empty of desire, perceive mystery.
Filled with desire, perceive manifestations.
These have the same source, but different names.
Call them both deep-
Deep and again deep:
The gateway to all mystery.”
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~Tao Te Ching, Lao-Tzu

 

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