Author: Steve Rowe

Martial artist, philosopher, author, writer,
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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Tao Te Ching Explained3 Comments

It Cannot Be Seen, Heard Or Held

Steve Rowe

Tao Te Ching Part Fourteen “Look, it cannot be seen – it is beyond form.Listen, it cannot be heard – it is beyond sound.Grasp, it cannot be held – it is intangible.These three are indefinable;Therefore they are joined in one.” This is the essence of the Tao, it can’t be seen, heard or touched, it’s beyond the normal senses, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be directly experienced and grasped with a different part of the mind. “From above it is not bright;From below it is not dark:An unbroken thread beyond description.It returns to nothingness.The form of the formless,The … Continue reading It Cannot Be Seen, Heard Or Held

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Accept Disgrace & Misfortune

Steve Rowe

Tao Te Ching Part Thirteen  “Accept disgrace willingly.Accept misfortune as the human condition.  What do you mean by “Accept disgrace willingly”?Accept being unimportant.Do not be concerned with loss or gain.This is called “accepting disgrace willingly.”  Our ego and pride get in the way of our contentment and often our relationships with family and friends. By ceasing our self obsession we are able to listen, understand, help and be more empathic and compassionate toward others. “What do you mean by “Accept misfortune as the human condition”?Misfortune comes from having a body.Without a body, how could there be misfortune?” Misfortune is a … Continue reading Accept Disgrace & Misfortune

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Power Of The Senses

Steve Rowe

Tao Te Ching Part Twelve  “The five colors blind the eye.The five tones deafen the ear.The five flavors dull the taste.” The excitement and distraction of the senses outward creates the desires that solidifies the identity that society gives us. It’s important to be able to ‘seal the senses’ and turn them inward to understand who and what we really are. This is an important part of our mindfulness training. “Racing and hunting madden the mind.Precious things lead one astray.” ‘Racing and hunting” stimulate our survival instincts and base energies. The ‘fight or flight’ instinct is powered by adrenaline short … Continue reading Power Of The Senses

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Tai Chi Is Simple And Easy

Steve Rowe

Tai Chi is ‘simple and easy’, it’s only one thing that we view through many different windows to increase our understanding. The first aware breath you take in neigong makes you better than you were before you took it. Your first lesson where you’re taught to ‘stand tall, breathe deep and focus your mind’ makes you better than before you attended. It makes you feel better, healthier, more happy and positive. From that point on you can only improve these skills. Always practice with an inner smile knowing that you can only get better. It takes years to ‘master’ musical … Continue reading Tai Chi Is Simple And Easy

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Space – The Final Frontier

Steve Rowe

Tao Te Ching Part Eleven “Thirty spokes share the wheel’s hub;It is the center hole that makes it useful.Shape clay into a vessel;It is the space within that makes it useful.Cut doors and windows for a room;It is the holes which make it useful.Therefore benefit comes from what is there;Usefulness from what is not there.” ‘Some thing’ can only exist by the grace of ‘no thing’. Space, apart from filling the void is 99.9999999% of an atom. If the space was removed from a human body the remaining matter would be as big as a speck of dust. It pervades … Continue reading Space – The Final Frontier