Tag: philosophy

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The Tao Begot One…

Steve Rowe

Explanation Of The Tai Te Ching Part Forty Two  “The Tao begot one.One begot two.Two begot three.And three begot the ten thousand things.  The ten thousand things carry yin and embrace yang.They achieve harmony by combining these forces.” How the universe is formed. One naturally creates its opposite and this process continues in an endless spiral of yin and yang. The secret is to balance them, creating harmony. “Men hate to be “orphaned,” “widowed,” or “worthless,”But this is how kings and lords describe themselves.  For one gains by losingAnd loses by gaining.  What others teach, I also teach; that is:“A … Continue reading The Tao Begot One…

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Returning Is The Motion Of The Tao

Steve Rowe

   Explanation of The Tao Te Ching Part Forty “Returning is the motion of the Tao.Yielding is the way of the Tao.The ten thousand things are born of being.Being is born of not being.” The poetry of the Tao Te Ching to help the thinking grasp the unthinking. It makes sense in the heart even if it doesn’t in the head.  It’s describing the perpetual motion of the rising and falling of existence how the entire universe rises into being, entropies and yields back into and is welcomed back to the Tao like waves into the sea. Theres great comfort … Continue reading Returning Is The Motion Of The Tao

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The Spirit Is Whole And Strong

Steve Rowe

Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Thirty Nine  “These things from ancient times arise from one:The sky is whole and clear.The earth is whole and firm.The spirit is whole and strong.The valley is whole and full.The ten thousand things are whole and alive.Kings and lords are whole, and the country is upright.All these are in virtue of wholeness.  The clarity of the sky prevents its falling.The firmness of the earth prevents its splitting.The strength of the spirit prevents its being used up.The fullness of the valley prevents its running dry.The growth of the ten thousand things prevents their drying … Continue reading The Spirit Is Whole And Strong

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A Good Man Doesn’t Know He’s Good

Steve Rowe

Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Thirty Eight “A truly good man is not aware of his goodness,And is therefore good.A foolish man tries to be good,And is therefore not good.  A truly good man does nothing,Yet leaves nothing undone.A foolish man is always doing,Yet much remains to be done.  When a truly kind man does something, he leaves nothing undone.When a just man does something, he leaves a great deal to be done.When a disciplinarian does something and no one responds,He rolls up his sleeves in an attempt to enforce order.  Therefore when Tao is lost, there is … Continue reading A Good Man Doesn’t Know He’s Good

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Tao Abides In Non Action

Steve Rowe

Explanation Of Tao Te Ching Part Thirty Seven  “Tao abides in non-action,Yet nothing is left undone.If kings and lords observed this,The ten thousand things would develop naturally.If they still desired to act,They would return to the simplicity of formless substance.Without form there is no desire.Without desire there is tranquility.And in this way all things would be at peace.” The idea that if we understand the way of nature we can develop the idea of not contradicting it. If our leaders understood this and governed in a way that harmonised with the ‘way’ and allowed everything to ‘unfold’ with the lightest … Continue reading Tao Abides In Non Action

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You Already Know It!

Steve Rowe

Most of social media is designed to lead you astray, particularly in the martial arts and some of the worst manipulators (whether they know it or not) are those that train and teach our arts. First of all YOU ALREADY KNOW IT so you don’t need ‘teachers’ telling you that you don’t understand and it takes years of training etc. they are laying smoke screens and diverting you from seeing what you should already know naturally. Every mammal is born with this inner knowing, look at cats, dogs, monkeys, tigers and so on, even humans when they’re ’in the zone’ … Continue reading You Already Know It!

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That Which Shrinks Must First Expand

Steve Rowe

Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Thirty Six “That which shrinksMust first expand.That which failsMust first be strong.That which is cast downMust first be raised.Before receivingThere must be giving.  This is called perception of the nature of things.” One cannot exist without its opposite and it’s the nature of the universe to pass from one to the other. When we can see this working we can see its true nature. “Soft and weak overcome hard and strong.  Fish cannot leave deep waters,And a country’s weapons should not be displayed.” The power of softness and apparent weakness can then be … Continue reading That Which Shrinks Must First Expand

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It Cannot Be Exhausted

Steve Rowe

Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Thirty Five  “All men will come to him who keeps to the one,For there lie rest and happiness and peace.  Passersby may stop for music and good food,But a description of the TaoSeems without substance or flavor.It cannot be seen, it cannot be heard,And yet it cannot be exhausted.” Those that stay with the Tao will be able to rest in peace in the eternal, it’s a place of refuge and healing. Those that engage in life’s addictions and pleasures can’t find it. But in the stillness and silence it’s beyond the ‘substance … Continue reading It Cannot Be Exhausted

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The Great Tao Flows Everywhere

Steve Rowe

Explanation Of Tao Te Ching Part Thirty Four  “The great Tao flows everywhere, both to the left and to the right.The ten thousand things depend upon it; it holds nothing back.It fulfills its purpose silently and makes no claim.  It nourishes the ten thousand things,And yet is not their lord.It has no aim; it is very small.  The ten thousand things return to it,Yet it is not their lord.It is very great.  It does not show greatness,And is therefore truly great.” A beautiful, poetic description of the Tao, making the point that it lies below the universe that we recognise … Continue reading The Great Tao Flows Everywhere

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Mastering The Self Needs Strength

Steve Rowe

Explanation Of Tao Te Ching Part Thirty Three “Knowing others is wisdom;Knowing the self is enlightenment.Mastering others requires force;Mastering the self needs strength.  He who knows he has enough is rich.Perseverance is a sign of willpower.He who stays where he is endures.To die but not to perish is to be eternally present.” One of the most quoted chapters and mostly self explanatory. Looking inwards and discovering mindfulness is how we master the illusory self and discover who and what we really are. When we know that we are wise to others and our own demons. Having the willpower to not … Continue reading Mastering The Self Needs Strength