Month: November 2024

Tao Te Ching ExplainedLeave a comment

Give Up Sainthood

Steve Rowe

Tao Te Ching Part Nineteen “Give up sainthood, renounce wisdom,And it will be a hundred times better for everyone.  Give up kindness, renounce morality,And men will rediscover filial piety and love.  Give up ingenuity, renounce profit,And bandits and thieves will disappear.  These three are outward forms alone; they are not sufficient in themselves.It is more importantTo see the simplicity,To realize one’s true nature,To cast off selfishnessAnd temper desire.” This is teaching us to have an open heart. Our society is so contrived and judgemental that we cling to its rules and indoctrinations. What we construe as good, wise and moral … Continue reading Give Up Sainthood

ArticlesLeave a comment

The Base Layer Of Learning

Steve Rowe

One of the things that came out on the seminar yesterday was the importance of the structure of learning, putting in the important base layers right from the start. We all advertise and discuss the importance of character training in the martial arts and yet many don’t teach how to educate and alchemise the character and only make vague references to it. We should look to the teacher and their senior students to see how the training system has worked for them. The most important base layer is emotional intelligence, as an angry or frightened martial artist is a danger … Continue reading The Base Layer Of Learning

Tao Te Ching ExplainedLeave a comment

The Great Pretence

Steve Rowe

Tao Te Ching Part Eighteen “When the great Tao is forgotten,Kindness and morality arise.When wisdom and intelligence are born,The great pretence begins.” The ‘pretence’ is when humans think that their cultural and religious values are in accordance with the Tao and that’s not always true as universal values are different. People say “that person will get their karma” assuming that the universe works to their sense of justice – and it doesn’t work that way. “When there is no peace within the family,Filial piety and devotion arise.When the country is confused and in chaos,Loyal ministers appear.” Love and peace in … Continue reading The Great Pretence

Tao Te Ching ExplainedLeave a comment

The Very Highest Is Barely Known

Steve Rowe

Tao Te Ching Part Seventeen “The very highest is barely known.Then comes that which people know and love.Then that which is feared,Then that which is despised.” This is the hierarchy of recognition. The lowest minds will be subject to their base emotions and despise and fear, the higher minds will recognise but still be subject to knowledge and love. The highest will be objective with a much broader view and able to recognise the ‘way’ that cannot be defined.  “Who does not trust enough will not be trusted.  When actions are performedWithout unnecessary speech,People say, “We did it!”  Those that … Continue reading The Very Highest Is Barely Known

Tao Te Ching ExplainedLeave a comment

Empty Yourself Of Everything

Steve Rowe

Tao Te Ching Part Sixteen  “Empty yourself of everything.Let the mind become still.The ten thousand things rise and fall while the Self watches their return.They grow and flourish and then return to the source.Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of nature.” The perfect meditation. Emptying the mind and bringing it to the point of stillness. Sit with good posture and focus on the breath, gradually the body will calm down, followed by the emotions and finally the mind. We are then harmonised with the Tao and able to observe how entropy works. “The way of nature … Continue reading Empty Yourself Of Everything

Tao Te Ching ExplainedLeave a comment

The Ancient Masters Were Profound

Steve Rowe

Tao Te Ching Part Fifteen “The ancient masters were subtle, mysterious, profound, responsive.The depth of their knowledge is unfathomable.” They don’t know everything that they know, because insight and wisdom are not definable and reside in the part of the mind that is open and connected to the infinite, it is profound and able to be responsive by naturally responding and doing the right thing at the right time. “Because it is unfathomable,All we can do is describe their appearance.Watchful, like men crossing a winter stream.Alert, like men aware of danger.Courteous, like visiting guests.Yielding like ice about to melt.Simple, like … Continue reading The Ancient Masters Were Profound