Going from doing...to being...
The master does nothing, yet he leaves nothing undone...
This week on Twitter was fantastic.
It was amazing to see so many of you (relative to my small account) in the comments.
I posted this, and asked what everyone took it to mean..
There were a variety of responses, and here’s the interesting thing..
They were pretty much ALL completely different.
Now, as you may know..
This quote is from the Tao Te ching
(The Wayne Dyer translation, which you can find online)
You can also listen to it in YT video below.
I listen to this EVERY day on the way to work, on the Japanese subway station. Almost every time I listen to it..
It unveils new depths.
Depending on where you’re currently at with your internal work, the words will take on a different meaning.
It’s slightly embarrassing, but I often feel so MOVED by the words that it brings me to tears.
So, what is the ACTUAL meaning of this?
Well, for me personally, I believe it’s revealed in the very next line…
“The highest virtue is to act without a sense of self”
Also;
“The sage can act without effort and teach without words”
“Practice not doing…
When action is pure and selfless, everything settles into its own perfect place”
Doing away with planning & scheming.
Grasping & aversion. Wanting this, and rejecting that.
Trying to control the chaos.
Having the confidence to completely let go. To completely surrender the illusion of control.
Simply allowing yourself to rest in pure, untarnished awareness.
Acting from that place - Pure, loving, open & incredibly simple.
I believe this is 90% of the path.
Getting to, and operating from, this space.
The resulting peace, harmony, joy, connectedness, mental clarity & confidence one finds when doing this is incredible.
It’s simple, but it’s not easy….
Next week, we learn HOW.
*P.S*
(If you see a bald guy riding the Midosuji line in Osaka meditating while standing on the train, potentially wiping tears from his eyes, then that’s probably me…and I’m probably listening to this)