The Origin of Beginning

In the beginning was the Tao.
All things issue from it;
all things return to it.

To find the origin,
trace back the manifestations.
When you recognize the children
and find the mother,
you will be free of sorrow.

If you close your mind in judgements
and traffic with desires,
your heart will be troubled.
If you keep your mind from judging
and aren't led by the senses,
your heart will find peace.

Seeing into darkness is clarity.
Knowing how to yield is strength.
Use your own light
and return to the source of light.
This is called practicing eternity. 

Lao-Tzu, Tao Te Ching: 52

***

  

Comment:  The Tao Te Ching is one of my most favorite religious/philosophical texts.  The emphasis on "being and non-being" presses the ideal of existing through non-existence - the balance that must be weighed to know how both parts fit together.

In my pickup I have a Ying and Yang button pinned to the roof liner and it has been there since just before the passing of my dad in early 2009.  My intention was to have it follow me and remind me to see more than just my side - but the other side too.

I have not always remained faithful to this quest.  It is not easy as you must know.

The emphasis of Taoism is on balance hence the appearance of the popularized symbol of opposites, the Ying and Yang.

Any wise person cannot know without not knowing too.  And so both knowing and not knowing are important opposites that must be balanced to produce meaning.

The balance of opposites. Starting at the end to find the beginning.

A few weeks ago I announced to my research team that we would work on our book projects by starting with the conclusion and writing it backwards.

The puzzled faces staring at me looked like many a student over the years who has struggled to see how such a manner of writing and thinking is even possible.

It is and it works.

It is for the same reason that I tell students that if you want to answer a question at hand first start by asking the question that comes before it and do so again and then reverse the order by going forward.

My thinking has always been that no question is unbalanced by being the only question.  Questions are balanced by other questions and it never ends.

This is Taoism.  Find the flow of a river and you will know the land that it runs through is what Lao-Tzu wanted us to see.

To appreciate the complexity and simplicity implied Lao-Tzu said:  "Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river."

The logic extends to tell us not to worry about dying and we will live forever.

What a wonderful way to strive toward balance and meaning in life.   

Onward!

Image Credit