CHANGE Your THOUGHTS - Change Your Life
Living the Wisdom of the Tao
By Wayne Dyer
Pages 68-75
15th Verse
(Witter Bynner translation)
Long ago the land was ruled with a wisdom
Too fine, too deep, to be fully understood
and, since it was beyond men’s understanding,
only some of it has come down to us, as in these sayings:
‘Alert as a winter-farer on an icy stream,’
‘Wary as a man in ambush,’
‘Considerate as a welcome guest,’
"Selfless as melting ice,’
‘Green as an uncut tree,’
"Open as a valley,’
And this one also, ‘Roiled as a torrent.’
Why roiled as a torrent?
Because when a man is in turmoil how shall he find peace
Save by staying patient till the stream clears?
How can a man’s life keep its course
If he will not let it flow?
Those who flow as life flows know
They need no other force;
They feel no wear, they feel no tear,
They need no mending, no repair.
Living an Unhurried Life
This verse speaks of masters who lived in co-operation with their world in a state of awareness.
The similes describe their flexible, peaceful lives.
Meld into your world & be so relaxed that things around you can settle into clarity.
Be alert & aware, but no rushing or demanding
This passage is similar to these words in the Bible Ps. 46:10
“Be still and know that I am God”
See yourself as all the things mentioned in this 15th verse:
Having a mind with the unlimited potential of un-carved wood
Watchful, yet relaxed & peaceful
Alert, unhurried and confident
Yielding, yet willing to be still and wait for the waters to clear.
Your purpose is to stay in harmony with nature, through which all things become clear.
Dyer believes today LaoTzu would say to us:
Stop chasing your dreams.
Allow them to come to you in in perfect order without rushing or forcing.
Get in the flow of life and allow yourself to
Proceed gently down its stream.
What is yours will come when you stop trying to force things.
Do the Tao Now
Contemplate all that you have that is flowing into your life, & let go of all hurried thoughts.
16th Verse
Be utterly humble
And you shall hold to the foundation of peace.
Be at one with all these living things which having
arisen and flourished,
Return to the quiet from whence they came.
Like a healthy growth of vegetation
Falling back upon the root.
Acceptance of this return to the root has been called
‘quietism,’
Acceptance of quietism has been condemned as
‘fatalism.’
But fatalism is acceptance of destiny
And to accept destiny is to face life with open eyes,
Whereas to not accept destiny is to face death blindfolded.
He who is open-eyed is open-minded,
He who is open-minded is open-hearted,
He who is open hearted is kingly,
He who is kingly is Godly,
He who is Godly is useful,
He who is useful is infinite,
He who is infinite is immune,
He who is immune is immortal.
Living with Constancy
This verse describes the value of being conscious and accepting of the cycle of life.
Rather than fighting change, view it as a valuable influence in the cycle.
Realize that change is the only constant in life.
Recognize change as an expression of life that’s a clue to your purpose and meaning.
Be in harmony with the cyclical nature of all living things.
Embrace the constancy of the cyclical nature of life and death.
Inner peace comes with returning to your Source, where all cycles begin and end.
Know yourself as a physical creation and as a piece of the everlasting Tao.
The Tao animates all existences, is totally impartial & plays no favorites.
All of life must return to it, no exceptions or apologies.
If you are unaware of the steadying influence of the Tao, you attach to one element of one cycle in life, leading to “eternal disaster.”
The reality is that beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.
When you know there’s a constant beyond the present moment’s disappointment, you can sense, “this too shall pass.”
When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
Lao Tzu seems to be saying:
Take time to be an impartial observer of life,
Particularly when an ending is causing despair.
Do the Tao Now
Dedicate a day to consciously seeking situations to practice impartially observing endings as beginnings.
Note that endings make space for beginnings.
Start to consciously live with constancy by opening your mind to the fact that change is the only certain thing.