Tag: philosophy

Tao Te Ching ExplainedLeave a comment

Victory Is No Cause For Rejoicing

Steve Rowe

Tao Te Ching Part Thirty One  “Good weapons are instruments of fear; all creatures hate them.Therefore followers of Tao never use them.The wise man prefers the left.The man of war prefers the right.  Weapons are instruments of fear; they are not a wise man’s tools.” Any person seeking peace and harmony with the Tao will abhor weapons and war because their only purpose is disharmony, causing pain and death. “He uses them only when he has no choice.Peace and quiet are dear to his heart,And victory is no cause for rejoicing.If you rejoice in victory, then you delight in killing;If … Continue reading Victory Is No Cause For Rejoicing

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Let’s Talk About Lineage

Steve Rowe

Let’s talk a little bit about ‘lineage’. What we’re really talking about is what’s passed down from a teacher or teachers, what the quality of that teaching is and whether the student learned or understood what they’re taught and then what they can add to that. The hours spent arguing about lineage in Tai Chi is crazy and most people arguing about it have the worst Tai Chi I’ve ever seen. The only way you ever know the quality of a person’s Tai Chi is understanding the depth of their character and by crossing hands with them. Everything else is … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Lineage

Tao Te Ching ExplainedLeave a comment

Achieving Results With The Tao

Steve Rowe

Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Thirty  “Whenever you advise a ruler in the way of Tao,Counsel him not to use force to conquer the universe.For this would only cause resistance.Thorn bushes spring up wherever the army has passed.Lean years follow in the wake of a great war.” The universe is always in a state of chaos. War is bad but unfortunately inevitable, it always leaves humanity and our environment worse off. Therefore how we deal with it is important. “Just do what needs to be done.Never take advantage of power.  Achieve results,But never glory in them.Achieve results,But never … Continue reading Achieving Results With The Tao

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Retreat And Repulse Monkey

Steve Rowe

Is a Tai Chi technique of stepping back to remain powerful with structural integrity and ‘politely’ pushing the monkey god of mischief away. We don’t want to invite mischief into our life so we ensure to repulse him politely and gently. This is a strategy of life. We are always encouraged to be active and push forwards, to attack and conquer both others and ourselves. But it’s not always the best action. Sometimes it’s better to step back, it doesn’t mean that we have to be weaker, we can keep our structural integrity, take a wider perspective to see things … Continue reading Retreat And Repulse Monkey

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The Universe Is Sacred

Steve Rowe

Explanation Of Tao Tao Ching Part Twenty Nine  “Do you think you can take over the universe and improve it?I do not believe it can be done.  The universe is sacred.You cannot improve it.If you try to change it, you will ruin it.” Without a doubt the universe is a delicate balance. From the from stillness to movement, this movement creates an ever spiralling world of opposites always seeking balance. This is karma, the quality of nature, every action creates a reaction. It would take far more than any human mind to create better. “If you try to hold it, … Continue reading The Universe Is Sacred

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Know The Strength Of A Man But Keep A Woman’s Care

Steve Rowe

Explanation Of The Tao Te Ching Part Twenty Eight  “Know the strength of man,But keep a woman’s care!” Have a ‘soft front and a strong back’ “Be the stream of the universe!Being the stream of the univere,Ever true and unswerving,Become as a little child once more.” Return to what you were before you were born and the mind you had as a little child before society gave you an identity. “Know the white,But keep the black!” Understand and maintain the balance between yin and yang. “Be an example to the world!Being an example to the world,Ever true and unwavering,Return to … Continue reading Know The Strength Of A Man But Keep A Woman’s Care

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A Good Walker Leaves No Tracks

Steve Rowe

Explanation of Tao Te Ching Part Twenty Seven: A good walker leaves no tracks;A good speaker makes no slips;A good reckoner needs no tally.A good door needs no lock,Yet no one can open it.Good binding requires no knots,Yet no one can loosen it.” To remain at one with the universe is a skill like any other. It takes practice and consistency. Once found it requires skill to maintain it. The Buddha said that once a house is built it’s important to keep the roof in good repair. “Therefore the sage takes care of all menAnd abandons no one.He takes care … Continue reading A Good Walker Leaves No Tracks

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The Still Is The Master Of Unrest

Steve Rowe

Tao Te Ching Part Twenty Six  “The heavy is the root of the light.The still is the master of unrest.  Therefore the sage, traveling all day,Does not lose sight of his baggage.Though there are beautiful things to be seen,He remains unattached and calm.  Why should the lord of ten thousand chariots act lightly in public?To be light is to lose one’s root.To be restless is to lose one’s control.” To be rooted and still means that we remain with the Tao and that we’re not distracted by shiny objects remaining unattached and calm. To be attached to wealth and worldly … Continue reading The Still Is The Master Of Unrest

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Something Mysteriously Formed

Steve Rowe

Explanation of Tao Te Ching Part Twenty Five  “Something mysteriously formed,Born before heaven and Earth.In the silence and the void,Standing alone and unchanging,Ever present and in motion.Perhaps it is the mother of ten thousand things.I do not know its nameCall it Tao.For lack of a better word, I call it great.” Trying to put what is infinite and immortal into words means that we have look it through many different ‘windows’ to give the reader a ‘glimpse’ of what it is or at least plant a flag at the destination so we realise where we are when we get there. … Continue reading Something Mysteriously Formed