Today I kicked it all off talking abou t#22 and Lo joined me for the continuing saga of sober house and chose #67 because it is the only place the word troule is mentioned. JK talked with me about #37 and Melissa joined me, once again, for #10.
#10 "Authentic Action"
Can you control your mind, so it doesn't wonder?
Can you control your body, so it doesn't wander?
Can you endorse all that you do?
Can you love everyone so as to inspire them?
Can you do all this without interfering and remain unknown?
Can you leave behind knowing and open yourself to understanding?
Can you be like Tao and give birth
Without possessing?
Can you be like Tao and act
Without expecting?
Can you be like Tao and lead
without dominating?
If so, it would be considered great.
#22 "Looking Away from What You Want"
To become complete
Know that you're partial.
To become straight
Know that you're crooked.
To become full
Know that you're empty.
To be new
Know that you're worn out.
He who wants it all
Must know what all includes.
Thus, the Master stays centered in Tao
And becomes an example for the world.
Because she knows her light is forfeit
People can see it.
Because she has no point to prove
People can trust her words.
Because she has no identity
She becomes a mirror for others.
Because she has nothing to attain
Nothing can be kept from her.
Thus, when it is said
"To become complete know that you're partial."
It is wise to heed and surrender to it.
Only by living in collaboration with Tao
Can one find completion.
#37 "Inspired Action"
Tao never does anything
Yet inspires everything to do.
When beings maintain the action of Tao
They spontaneously transform from within.
When that transformation acquires a name (an identity)
External forces inspire actions from desire.
Actions without identity
Are free from external goals.
Without desire, honoring stillness,
All things are at peace.
#67 "The Three Lessons"
Caught in manifestation some people say Tao is stupid.
Others say it is a beautiful idea, but it cannot be achieved.
They cannot see it is neither an idea nor something to be achieved,
Lost in a world of endless solutions they cannot recognize truth.
Tao asks us to live with only 3 things
Compassion, moderation, and humility
With compassion you will be able to care for all things
Without having to ask if they deserve it.
With moderation you will be able to be generous,
Without them needing to prove they are worthy of it.
With humility you know you are going to die like all things,
Thus you treat all things with dignity and respect.
Abandoning these will only lead to trouble.