Everyday can be like Christmas. The excitement, the thrill, the joy of finding what's under the tree is how life can be lived every day. That thrill of discovery can be found in a new book called: Tao Te Ching: the Old Man's Guide to the Virtuous Path (ISBN 978-1452865300). This book is not just another ho-hum translation/re-interpretation of just any old ancient Chinese book. Yes, this book is truly insightful, it is poetic, and it captures the living spirit intended by Lao-tzu. But this book is funny.
Maybe not the laugh out loud belly -augh, although I laugh like that.
Maybe not more than a snicker or a chortle, but I snicker and I chortle.
Maybe it's more of a groan than a laugh, but I groan out loud and get a kick out of this book.
Put aside the wisdom packed on every page.
Put aside the insights; put aside the teachings.
This thing is witty.
Take this for example, from chapter nine:
When the world is right with Tao
Horses are used to draw dung-carts to the field.
When the world ignores Tao
War-horses are bred on the border lands.
There is nothing worse than unbridled greed,
Except, maybe, for being discontent with one's lot in life and wanting more.
Therefore, be happy to have what you have.
That child-like, silly repetitive, light-heartedness, is what makes this book so different. It is this whimsical approach that makes the profound easy to absorb on that great cosmic sub-conscious level. So how it by-passes the engaged brain and attaches itself straight to the soul.
Every single page has something that can change your life. Every single page has something to say about something, and if you put it into practice every single day, not only will you be getting your life right with the Tao, but you will lighten up, loosen up, and find the thrill of living of life worth living.
Lao-tzu tells us this in chapter 33:
It is easy to understand my words.
It is easy to put them to practice.
Yet, nobody does.
My words come from Tao
And Tao alone is my authority.
Many do not understand any of this, and don't get me at all.
Those who do are few,
That's why they are the ones to respect.
That's why I live a simple life
And keep my thoughts to myself.
Ignore the noise; focus only on the virtuous path. Read the Old Man's Guide, put his simple, easy to follow words into action, improve your life, and find inner peace and the strength to be weak enough to let others be strong.
Maybe not the laugh out loud belly -augh, although I laugh like that.
Maybe not more than a snicker or a chortle, but I snicker and I chortle.
Maybe it's more of a groan than a laugh, but I groan out loud and get a kick out of this book.
Put aside the wisdom packed on every page.
Put aside the insights; put aside the teachings.
This thing is witty.
Take this for example, from chapter nine:
When the world is right with Tao
Horses are used to draw dung-carts to the field.
When the world ignores Tao
War-horses are bred on the border lands.
There is nothing worse than unbridled greed,
Except, maybe, for being discontent with one's lot in life and wanting more.
Therefore, be happy to have what you have.
That child-like, silly repetitive, light-heartedness, is what makes this book so different. It is this whimsical approach that makes the profound easy to absorb on that great cosmic sub-conscious level. So how it by-passes the engaged brain and attaches itself straight to the soul.
Every single page has something that can change your life. Every single page has something to say about something, and if you put it into practice every single day, not only will you be getting your life right with the Tao, but you will lighten up, loosen up, and find the thrill of living of life worth living.
Lao-tzu tells us this in chapter 33:
It is easy to understand my words.
It is easy to put them to practice.
Yet, nobody does.
My words come from Tao
And Tao alone is my authority.
Many do not understand any of this, and don't get me at all.
Those who do are few,
That's why they are the ones to respect.
That's why I live a simple life
And keep my thoughts to myself.
Ignore the noise; focus only on the virtuous path. Read the Old Man's Guide, put his simple, easy to follow words into action, improve your life, and find inner peace and the strength to be weak enough to let others be strong.
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