Last Post on the Tao

Learning to live with Taoist philosophies is easy...remembering all the time is difficult.  Teaching with Taoist philosophies is difficult, but can come with time and practice.  In fact, I would say, practice is really the only requirement of the Tao.  Practice, as best you can, its philosophies.  I am certainly going to try. 

This has been a really enjoyable book to read. Even if you have strong religious beliefs, I don't think there is anything in Taoism that you will find to be contrary to what you might already be trying to live.

Thank you for reading my blog,
Thalia

Finishing with the Book, Not ending with the Tao

Be gentle to gain Authority.  Wise teachers give students long reins.  Respect your students and see what they bring you.

There is victory in non-confrontation if everyday is seen as opporunity for grwth there is no losing.  Follow the paths of least resistance.  They can bring great rewards.

Obey your instincts.

Strive in Moderation. Value what exists by not striving for what does not exist.

Those who are flexible are superior.  Rigidity invites resistance.  There is strength in being able to bend.  Think of living things- plants that are hard and brittle are dying, plants that are supple and pliant are alive.


Excellence is its own reward.

Be content and find delight in your home.

True words are not fany' fancy words are not true.  Depth in learning is preferable to widely scattered bits of knowledge.


                                  FULFILLMENT COMES FROM HELPING OTHERS

Repay hatred with Virtue, deal with big while it is still small.  Try to attend to problems buffer they can fester and grow big.  Without making mountains out of molehills-but deal with the molehills. this requires being attentive and that requires practice.  So soes the Tao.  Repaying hatred with virtue is a common belief but is a bit different than the Christian concept of turning the other cheek, but it is adopted into Christianity as well.  It is difficult to remember to be kind to one who has hurt you but the reward is a hundred fold.

Put things in order before dosorder arises.  This aphorism seems really to be the starting point to the one above.  If the small things are taken care of first, the larger almost seem to take care of themselves.  This includes mental thoughts not just tangile items.  Organizing your mind for clarity also takes time and practice--today is a good day to start and tomorrow is a good time to remember to do it again!

Do not try to rule through cleverness.  I am sure we have all met that person who seems to think they are always the cleverest in the room?  Perhaps they were super smart as children and got used to out-smarting the other children and just never grew out of it? and now they don't even realise they aren't really the smartest?  How did you feel about that person? a little anoyed?  Cleverness is like dark chocolate- a little goes a long way.