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Posted by Butch on 3/21/2008, 11:35 pm
71.30.138.X
Most Taoists recognize Lao Tzu's "Tao Te Ching", "The Classic on the Way and its Virtues", as the "Bible" of Taoism. But there are so many translations and versions sometimes I get confused about what the OldBoy was actually talking about. It seems to me that he was talking about bringing oneself into accord with the Way of the Tao to establish Virtue in one's life. The Virtuous Man follows the Way of the Tao. There is no other way to be virtuous.
"The way that becomes a way
is not the Immortal Way
the name that becomes a name
is not the Immortal Name
the maiden of Heaven and Earth has no name
the mother of all things has a name
thus in innocence we see the beginning
in passion we see the end
two different names
for one and the same
the one we call dark
the door to all beginnings".
Verse 1, TTC, Red Pine translation.
What is Verse 1 talking about? The way that becomes a way is not the Immortal Way?... TU ER-WEI says that Tao may have originally meant "Moon". The I Ching stresses the "Bright Moon", the yang moon. The TTC stresses the "Dark Moon", the yin moon. "The one we call dark, the door to all beginnings". The yin Moon is the first door to go through to come into accord with the Tao and the Way of its Virtue. Yin came before yang. The examined life begins as an inward journey. Let there be light. Before there was light and dark, there was the dark beyond dark. The Void. The Emptiness that is so empty it is empty even of emptiness. The OldBoy is pointing at the Emptiness, the dark beyond dark. At that which is beyond naming as this or that. The Eternal Tao.
"Wu" is the state of emptiness that is the beginning of everything. "You" is the state of appearance of initial thinking which is the origin of the manifestation of things. According to Guan Cheng Sun the stable state of Wu is requirred for observing the secret of initial creation and things that continue to be created. And the stable state of You is requirred for observing and recognizing the false and the true. Both Wu and You issue forth from the same source, "Xuan"--the golden secret of all life. The stable state of Xuan is the gate of internal cultivation and realization, as well as external recognition and understanding.
Lao Tzu's way is quiet sitting and internal observation. Lao Tzu wants us to learn from our own body rather than merely from the outside alone. To experience the state of Wu requires a quiet mind. A stable state of Wu. Stability comes with practice. From silence or stillness of mind arise new thoughts. Observing what comes and goes without becoming attached allows one to see many new possibilities and choices. Once a choice is made, it is the beginning of the state of You.
But we aren't there yet, the OldBoy is pointing at a door or a state between Wu and You. The state of Xuan. This state allows the intellectual mind to integrate with the intuitive mind. Once one is able to remain in a stable state of Xuan one enters into a new gestalt--from local to non-local oneness. By using our body to enter into a state of Xuan one can learn from the infinite intelligence of the Tao by using one's own internal energy-information system.
"Between Heaven and Earth
is a space like a bellows,
empty and inexhaustible,
forever producing more.
Too many words is exhausting.
Hold fast to the center."
TTC 5, Sam Hamill.
"Xuanzhong", the internal bellows. The Gap.
Lao Tzu recognizes that orthodox learning systems cannot teach one to learn to be in accord with the Way of the Tao. "Tao defined is not the constant Tao." The tao that can be named is not the eternal Tao. But the Way can be learned, and one can come into accord with the Tao. Just not in the usual way of learning.
"Without going out the door
Know the world". Verse 47.
Without effort, Wu-Wei, without going outside of one's body/mind complex one can realize and understand the Way of the Tao by simply sitting quietly in meditation. Without great effort one can realize great understanding.
Intellectual learning is limited by its linear nature. One piece of information at a time. The Way of Intuitive learning is "Panoramic" and has a non-local nature. Intellectual understanding without intuitive understanding is blind. Balance is fundamental.
Wu-Wei does not mean there is nothing to do. Wu-Wei means that right action is only possible when one is in accord with the Way of the Tao. Skillful action. When one is able to sit still one can see clearly.
"Achieve emptiness.
Attain tranquility."
Verse 16.
It takes practice to reach a deep state of tranquility and remain stable. From the state of Xuan an internal understanding of Wu-Wei arises. "Knowing the cycle is understanding one's own fate... Not knowing leads to eternal disaster".
"In depthless depths it is
whose child--
Born before Antiquity".
Verse 4
The Tao is the Source of existence.
Though subtle the Tao can be observed through the practice of quiet sitting and internal observation. This is how I can know that I know. Wait, watch, and see.
"Those who know don't talk
those who talk don't know."
Verse 56
Those that meditate come to know even without a word being spoken. Without this internal experience one doesn't know, even if one is told repeatedly. The process of quiet sitting is called "Xuantong"--quiet sitting. "From the first totality is a unitive one". Hui-Neng.
"Can you hold fast your crescent soul and not let it wander?"
Verse 10
"The sage's mind is so still, it can mirror Heaven and Earth and reflect the ten thousand things". Chuang Tzu
Integrate your mind/body complex until it becomes a unitive one. Now one is ready to live a virtuous life.
The virtue of oneness, "Xuan De", is the way of the man or woman that has brought themselves into accord with the Way of the Tao. The reason to cultivate is to become virtuous.
"The expression of empty virtue
comes from the Tao alone".
Verse 21
"Sages have it. So does everyone else. But because others are selfish and constrained, their virtue isn't empty". Sung Ch'and-Hsing.
Only the Tao is constant.
"What is planted right is not uprooted".
Verse 54
What we say and don't say, do and don't do, is a reflection of our internal reality.
I think I will sit down and shut up for awhile.
Be Whole,
Butch
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"The Tao is basically utterly open. Utter openeness has no substance. It ends in endlessness, begins in beginninglessnes".
-Li Daoqun
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