An introduction
As you may have read in my other new blogs concerning the law of attraction, Dr Wayne Dyer being a highly influential person to me. I have decided to under take a challenge that Wayne set for himself one that led him to write a book on the subject. Over a period of a year he studied, meditated practiced the Principles of the Tao De Ching. Dr Dyer decided to take on one verse of the 81 verse long Tao De Ching and do the latter over a period of 4 days for each verse. I intend to walk in his foot steps and share my experience and my findings. Note that it DOES NOT matter what religion you follow or even if you do not have a religion. We can all apply these life long principles.
A little bit of background
Laozi is traditionally regarded as the author of the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching), though the identity of its author(s) and/or compiler(s) has been debated throughout history.[26][27] It is one of the most significant treatises in Chinese cosmogony. As with most other ancient Chinese philosophers, Laozi often explains his ideas by way of paradox, analogy, appropriation of ancient sayings, repetition, symmetry, rhyme, and rhythm. In fact, the whole book can be read as an analogy - the ruler is the awareness, or self, in meditation and the myriad creatures or empire is the experience of the body, senses and desires. Passages such as "Block the openings, shut the doors" and "the sage who does nothing never ruins anything" refer to sitting in meditation. "Keep the people ignorant" means do not pay attention to the senses and thoughts.
The Tao Te Ching, often called simply Laozi after its reputed author, describes the Dao (or Tao) as the source and ideal of all existence: it is unseen, but not transcendent, immensely powerful yet supremely humble, being the root of all things. According to the Daodejing, humans have no special place within the Dao, being just one of its many ("ten thousand") manifestations. People have desires and free will (and thus are able to alter their own nature). Many act "unnaturally", upsetting the natural balance of the Dao. The Daodejing intends to lead students to a "return" to their natural state, in harmony with Dao.[28] Language and conventional wisdom are critically assessed. Taoism views them as inherently biased and artificial, widely using paradoxes to sharpen the point.
-Reference used from Wikipedia-
Laozi(LaoTze)
Laozi 6th century BCE) was a philosopher of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching (often simply referred to as Laozi).[3] His association with the Tào Té Chīng has led him to be traditionally considered the founder of philosophical Taoism (pronounced as "Daoism"). He is also revered as a deity in most religious forms of Taoist philosophy, which often refers to Laozi as Taishang Laojun, or "One of the Three Pure Ones".
According to Chinese traditions, Laozi lived in the 6th century BCE. Some historians contend that he actually lived in the 5th–4th century BCE, concurrent with the Hundred Schools of Thought and Warring States Period,[4] while some others argue that Laozi is a synthesis of multiple historical figures or that he is a mythical figure.
A central figure in Chinese culture, both nobility and common people claim Laozi in their lineage. He was honored as an ancestor of the Tang imperial family, and was granted the titleTáishāng xuānyuán huángdì, meaning "Supreme Mysterious and Primordial Emperor". Throughout history, Laozi's work has been embraced by various anti-authoritarian movements.
-Referenced from Wikipedia-
Dr Wayne Dyer- A highly recommended video if/when you have the time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yar023enYEA
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Getting started
Over the next four days I will be contemplating, meditating, studying the meaning and learning how to apply these teachings in modern day to day life/world . I shall comment and update with how I am getting on, any difficulties, any light bulb moments and my general experiences on my journey of self discovery and enlightenment. This really is a journey to search for the new me, I want to be open minded in a way that I never have been, I want to be open to new thoughts, ideas and ways of doing things. Please feel free to comment on your interpretations and thoughts of this verse.
The Tao Te Ching
Verse One
1. The Way
The Way that can be experienced is not true;
The world that can be constructed is not true.
The Way manifests all that happens and may happen;
The world represents all that exists and may exist.
The world that can be constructed is not true.
The Way manifests all that happens and may happen;
The world represents all that exists and may exist.
To experience without intention is to sense the world;
To experience with intention is to anticipate the world.
These two experiences are indistinguishable;
Their construction differs but their effect is the same.
To experience with intention is to anticipate the world.
These two experiences are indistinguishable;
Their construction differs but their effect is the same.
Beyond the gate of experience flows the Way,
Which is ever greater and more subtle than the world.
Which is ever greater and more subtle than the world.
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DAY ONE 09/03/13 18:05-
As I begin to read the first verse "The Way" I wonder to myself if this is something I will ever begin to fully understand, I pose this question to myself. I know I first need to just think about the words and the possible meanings and not worry to much about the complexities , so reading the words I end up searching on the internet for the best meditation practices to help find answers to self posed questions, here is what I found and this is what I will need to do:
go ahead and do your meditation techniques, stilling your body and mind, opening your heart, and lifting your consciousness as close to a super conscious state as possible. Do your best, during this time, NOT to think of the question.
At the close of your meditation, when you are as calm and uplifted as possible, wait for the answer to your question to come into your mind. Often it will come at that point. If not, have faith that it will come later, either at your next meditation time, or even during the day when you are least expecting it or in a dream at night.
Day 2 10th March 2013
Today I feel like a sponge. Yesterday I attracted the idea to begin this journey of personal discovery and research of The Tao Te Ching
I began to establish and introduce the intention of my blog and therefore I began to create this page. I told myself that I needed to meditate and I sought out how best to go about this as you may have read in my post yesterday.I down loaded a free app on my IPAD it was entitled "Meditation, The law of attraction" I also have an app that is a meditation for Wisdom which I think is extremely suitable for my purpose. I have not yet been able to do my meditations as I have been spending time with my family and I have been sharing my findings with them, which I think is all part of this process. By talking and writing more aspects of my blogs it has led me to feel a great abundance of gratitude which in turn will help manifest without a doubt the mind-set needed to understand "The Way".
A FEELING- I think what Loazi was trying to say was that we need to focus on the now, experience our world as it comes. Do not desire! for to desire is to admit to not having it already. Live as Dr Wayne Dyer says live in contentment. Stop labeling things and just chill out! Stop questioning things just BE don't worry about what you don't know for you do not need to know everything in order to live a happy life and feel connected to "THE SOURCE OF ALL BEING"
Day 3 11th March 2013
I sat down to write this evening after a busy day at work, feeling tired(a good tired) and vibrant all at the same time. I have had a positive day at work and felt happy throughout the day without ANY negative thoughts or feelings which I am delighted with, all in all a perfect day. As I sat down to begin writing I began to feel at a loss for words, they just would not come or flow in the way I wanted them to. It disheartened me a little bit, I decided to come away from my computer and run a lovely bath with some incense burning(something I have recently got into) and took my new book in with me, another Wayne Dyer book of course:-) with the convenient title of "Spiritual solutions to problems" a book that is inspired by many of the teachings that I am now delving into. I read, enjoyed the lovely warm water that enveloped me and breathed in the unwinding smell of the incense and tried to get to my place of calm and re tune my thoughts and feelings, it took me awhile if I am honest but then it hit me! since feeling good an inspired this was the first opportunity I had to really apply the principles of the Tao Te Ching (the night before I had re read the first verse of THE WAY and then put on my meditation ,I did not think I was really any closer than where I had been before the meditation and I went to sleep. but like my quote from the previous days says "have faith that it will come later, either at your next meditation time, or even during the day when you are least expecting it or in a dream at night."
I believe this moment has come! by feeling disheartened, which will happen from time to time, I was able to suddenly realize that instead of worrying that I have nothing to write on my blog, I must be in the now, I must embrace my life for every day, hour,minute, second etc... I must trust in the source of all being and allow things to unfold on there own as with all things. I know if I vibrate on this higher level of contentment, love and gratitude the things I need will manifest when appropriate- IT IS NOT MY JOB TO HOW HOW THINGS IN MY LIFE WILL UNFOLD BUT TO KNOW THAT THEY WILL CERTAINLY UNFOLD
another translation of the Tao Te Ching that has reached me:
Tao is
beyond words
and beyond understanding.
Words may be used to speak of it,
but they cannot
contain it.
Tao existed
before words and names,
before heaven and earth,before the
ten thousand things. It is unlimited
father and mother of all
limited things.
Therefore,
to see beyond all boundaries
to the subtle heart of things ,dispense
with names, with concepts, with expectations and ambitions
and differences.
Tao and its
many manifestations arise
from the same source:subtle wonder
within mysterious
darkness.
This is
the beginning of all
understanding .
Day 4 12th March 2013
Anita Moorjani
"Dying to be me"
My(HER) Journey from Cancer, to Near Death to true Healing
I must share with you another book recommendation that was also discussed in Dr Wayne Dyer's "Wishes fulfilled" and I feel is worth contemplating in order to continue on the path to discovering and becoming aware of that all powerful source.
Blurg- from Anita's book
In this truly inspirational memoir, Anita Moorjani relates how, after fighting cancer for almost four years, her body - overwhelmed by the malignant cells spreading throughout her system- began shutting down. As her organs failed, she entered into an extraordinary near-death experience where she realized her inherent worth... and the actual cause of her disease. Upon regaining consciousness , Anita found that her condition had improved so rapidly that she could be released from the hospital within weeks... without a trace of cancer in her body!
Within these pages, Anita recounts stories of her childhood in Hong Kong, her challenge to establish her career and find true love, as well as how she eventually ended up in the hospital bed where she defied all medical knowledge.
As part of a traditional Hindu family, Anita had been pushed and pulled by cultural and religious customs since she was a young girl. After years of struggling to forge her own path while trying to meet everyone elses expectations, she had a realization- as a result of her epiphany on the other side that she had the power to heal herself... and that there are miracles in the Universe that she had never even imagined.
In Dying to be me, Anita freely shares all she has learned about illness, healing, fear, 'being love' and the true magnificence of each and every human being.
What Wayne Dyer said about Anita and her book
"For more than four years , an advancing cancer brought Anita to deaths doorstep and beyond inside the house of death itself. Anita has described in great detail in this soul-searching book. I encourage you to read it very carefully and thoughtfully with a mind that's open to having many of your cherished beliefs challenged, especially about what lies beyond this world."
from my own understanding and what I am learning on a deep personal level about the law of attraction and the universal source that we are all part of is very precious to me I am gradually allowing myself to open up and to let it all come to me. I am learning not to worry about what the answer is to my questions, I am letting go of doubts and just living in contentment and I am anticipating a great present and future for myself. I have posted this on two of my blog pages as I feel this information fits in with sharing experiences but also my journey to apply the Tao Te Ching.
13th March-16th March 2013
I have made a (Tao Te Ching principled)decision that instead of writing everyday on the Tao Te Ching verse that I am currently focusing on, I am going to allow four days for myself to meditate, consider and apply these teachings and then at the end of the fourth day write about my discovers and experiences . I am doing this because this is what feels right for me I by following the Tao will let my choices unfold in front of me and be all the more satisfying as a result.
Over the next two days if who ever are reading my words think for yourself on the below verse.
Verse 2
Tao Te Ching
When people see some things as beautiful,
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.
other things become ugly.
When people see some things as good,
other things become bad.
Being and non-being create each other.
Difficult and easy support each other.
Long and short define each other.
High and low depend on each other.
Before and after follow each other.
Difficult and easy support each other.
Long and short define each other.
High and low depend on each other.
Before and after follow each other.
Therefore the Master
acts without doing anything
and teaches without saying anything.
Things arise and she lets them come;
things disappear and she lets them go.
She has but doesn't possess,
acts but doesn't expect.
When her work is done, she forgets it.
That is why it lasts forever.
acts without doing anything
and teaches without saying anything.
Things arise and she lets them come;
things disappear and she lets them go.
She has but doesn't possess,
acts but doesn't expect.
When her work is done, she forgets it.
That is why it lasts forever.
A thought I feel
D.C Lau-" I find that insight comes not from any answers that a translation (or anything else) offers, but rather from the questions it (or experience) evokes. Questions, puzzlement, mystery all turn the light of Consciousness on, while answers just put it to sleep. That’s all right though; sleep feels good too.
Of course, as this verse suggests, answers and questions give birth to each other. In light of this, how shall I proceed? Sit as loose to life as possible is the advice this chapter gives. If both sides of everything are so intimately intertwined (inseparable) holding out for one side or the other feels like an unrelenting struggle. Therefore, considering this, the wise person manages without doing anything… This defies common sense naturally. Yet, it is the only way that actually works. I’d paraphrase it this give birth to each other process as ‘All under heaven realize common sense as common sense, there is folly already’."
It makes me realize that having lows ensures the ability to have highs and this in turn increases the intensity of the high. It is impossible for us to feel in a state of euphoria 24/7, and Certainly important to try to live in contentment, when feeling low or disheartened, instead of feeling beaten ,use it as a sign that your not feeling good to look after yourself, perhaps just accept the fact that your not feeling good, it will be OK and remember that a positive/good feeling is always stronger than a negative/bad feeling, and in all honestly don't feel bad about not feeling your best, when you feel and think positively(when you're ready!) this will trump the bad and allow you to keep on drawing good into your life.
Just live, take life as it comes, try not to worry and give yourself what you need when feeling bad.
Of course, as this verse suggests, answers and questions give birth to each other. In light of this, how shall I proceed? Sit as loose to life as possible is the advice this chapter gives. If both sides of everything are so intimately intertwined (inseparable) holding out for one side or the other feels like an unrelenting struggle. Therefore, considering this, the wise person manages without doing anything… This defies common sense naturally. Yet, it is the only way that actually works. I’d paraphrase it this give birth to each other process as ‘All under heaven realize common sense as common sense, there is folly already’."
It makes me realize that having lows ensures the ability to have highs and this in turn increases the intensity of the high. It is impossible for us to feel in a state of euphoria 24/7, and Certainly important to try to live in contentment, when feeling low or disheartened, instead of feeling beaten ,use it as a sign that your not feeling good to look after yourself, perhaps just accept the fact that your not feeling good, it will be OK and remember that a positive/good feeling is always stronger than a negative/bad feeling, and in all honestly don't feel bad about not feeling your best, when you feel and think positively(when you're ready!) this will trump the bad and allow you to keep on drawing good into your life.
Just live, take life as it comes, try not to worry and give yourself what you need when feeling bad.
Funny enough I have a great example of my own to share with you, which I think applies to what I am talking about. Yesterday at work I took my last phone call of the day it turned into a raging complaint, the person was insulting and very unkind to me even though the issue was not my fault, it led me to feel quite flat and I thought about it all the way home and right into the next morning. It is not a nice experience for anyone to go through. I then began to think about the second verse I had been reading and contemplating and realized that I have no idea what led this man to get so angry and direct his abuse in such a personal way when it clearly was not my fault! I stared to even feel empathy for this man to my great surprise. My first call the next day (today) was a lovely appreciative and genuinely thankful man, he told me how grateful he was at my obvious concern and care, this really cheered me and I completely forgot the earlier negative feelings that made me feel icky. I am back to feeling great again, I feel like patting myself on the back for coming to this realization.
The 16th March 2013
Its a rainy Saturday morning and I cant wait for spring and summer to show itself again. I realize that it is the final day of inhaling this beautiful second verse, it has been a great experience so far and for the first time I feel like in my life I am sticking to something, I know this is no coincidence, I have only stuck at this because I have applied the principles that I am learning about. I have over come feelings of doing things because I feel I have to whether that be from the influence of others and myself. Everything I have done this week is what I have felt like doing, I have felt content, happy and take so much more enjoyment out of the things that I am doing. I haven't suffered anywhere near like I usually do with my depression over the last two weeks, I think and feeling like starting this has been my salvation. Thank you for those who have read this so far, I hope it has inspired you like it has inspired me. Happiness is truly something we gain from within.
“With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.”
― Wayne W. Dyer
― Wayne W. Dyer
I am from this day on for the rest of 2013 going to post, like the original Pollyanna plan, something that has brought me happiness and/or fulfillment each day in order to experience the benefits of gratitude in my life and to share the like with you. "Thank you Pollyanna plan, you're an inspiration"
