Tag Archive for 'what is tao'

Desire and Contentment

Jun 26, 2010 in Observations. 8 Comments

'Fleet footed horses'

A recent chapter of the week opened up a curious dilemma. According to that chapter, when the way prevails in the empire, fleet-footed horses are relegated to ploughing the fields; when the way does not prevail in the empire, war-horses breed on the border. But, on the other side we have: The way is broad, reaching left as well as right, and of course, The way that can be spoken of is not the constant way. Here is one way to reconcile these seemingly conflicting views. Continue reading ‘Desire and Contentment’

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What is ‘the Tao’ actually?

Apr 28, 2009 in Observations. 5 Comments

Tao: road, way, path, principle, speak, think, suppose.

I know, I know, the Tao that can be spoken of is not the constant Tao.  The Chinese literally translates to ‘way can speak, not constant way’ (道可道, 非常道).  Thus, anything I say beyond that is not the constant, but rather tentative. Even saying that is not the constant. Our mind is capable of perceptions more profound than our thoughts or speech can articulate. So our thoughts and speech always end up beating around the bush.  (Although, beating around the bush does flush revelation out of the bush at times.) Continue reading ‘What is ‘the Tao’ actually?’

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