TAO The Naked Truth

ADAM AND EVE PAINTED BY PETER PAUL RUBENS 1597

At the start, Adam and Eve. What is relevant about this picture is that both people are naked, and this introduces a concept or idea, or a way of being in, or 'using', the world. At the same time, another picture shows Fu Hsi (pronounced "foo shee"), the first mythical emperor of China, at around 2852 -2738 B.C.He wears skins and furs to indicate that he has a background in hunting and agriculture, and 'uses' Nature. This is the start of History.

Prior to History, TAO existed, and still exists.

The first great idea that the Ancient Chinese had was that "There is a flow of energy running through the universe, that takes you and everything with it". They called it "TAO". By living close to Nature, and the elements, all the clues were provided. These days almost everything around us is 'man-made' in our modern civilization, but that close connection can be re-established by a walk in the country, or looking at the sky, and being exposed to the weather.

This flow of energy animates everything - all things, places, and beings. The energy flows through everything and everyone, and as it does so, it animates and gives life. Everything is alive when this energy passes through it. Stones, water, trees, animals, and people ! TAO is not exactly 'the life force', since that would preclude inanimate (non-alive) objects. TAO flows through everything. You could see this as 'consciousness', through the act of looking, hearing, moving, and, if you have a mind to, thought. Even the rocks and trees see and hear, and in a 'mindless' way "think", and are aware.

You don't need eyes, ears, or limbs, to travel distances, to be involved, to experience and appreciate, in your dreams (while you actually lie inert in bed). If you look with your heart (sensitivity, intuition, and feelings) and not only with your eyes, you will see and understand more. You can see, feel, and know, this for yourself by simply looking and listening (without mental judgements or comparisons). This period of looking, of quiet reflection, only lasts uninterrupted for up to 2 minutes, before the next wave of TAO energy rushes through you. Without this flow of energy, you are inert. That energy changes everything.

The second great idea that the Ancient Chinese had was that this TAO energy can go in two very different directions. That changes everything. It's a good thing that they left us with a book about all of this, and called it 'The I Ching The Book of Change'.

This version is called "The Book of Chance and Change" and explains everything.

www.taoiching.com

TAO UNPLUGGED

What happens if you unplug TAO ?

Don't touch that plug ! Only kidding ! You are plugged into the great flow of Tao whether you like it or not, and there isn't much you can do about it. Most just ignore it, or refute its existence. Well, it is only 'symbolic'.

The advice of the TAO I CHING can be similarly dismissed, unless you have a practical or spiritual problem to sort out. The reason for the advice is that, unless you were aware of it, there are a few general problems or conflicts that you could avoid at the start, to make your life a little easier.

DON'T REACT. Reaction causes, and fuels, conflict. Look at the facts first, then decide what YOU want to do. This should be part of your own plans, without the aid or discouragement of others.

DON'T FIGHT. The world appears to be full of 'other things' that need combating. If you fight you will stimulate an opponent (and reaction, or retaliation). Most of the time these other 'forces', people, or situations, will have nothing directly to do with you, but do exist to subvert and redirect your energy.

All of this suggests that an agreement or compromise can be reached, or an understanding achieved, either within yourself, or with others. But its not that straight forward, and the energy in the world won't let you get away with it that easily. TAO is the great flow of energy running through the universe, and it has two 'directions', 'forms', or 'aspects'. [Defining TAO is not an activity to be encouraged, for it takes us into explanation and description, rather than 'the thing' itself.]

An understanding of these flows of energy can be found in the book "Tao I Ching The Mystic Gateway". Basically, remember that (so-called) 'negative energy' has a stronger effect when expressed in the world in competition with 'positive' energy. Although, it is not necessarily 'stronger'. A bad word can ruin your day, or week. A good word can change your life. To 'combat' these 'darker forces', don't fight them, and certainly don't react, for this will only get you deeper into the situation.

So, if you shouldn't react or fight, what can you do ?

Simply do what you do, and if you are constrained in some way, do the smallest you can. It is that 'smallest thing' that grows and doubles in strength. If you need help, look to The Five Spiritual Additions (which require you to add them), Optimism, Enthusiasm, Encouragement, Generosity, and Humour. You can apply one or more of them at any time, and even just act them out if you are not 'naturally' drawn to one of them { and it may well be 'the job of the world' to keep you away from these qualities of change}. It is the addition of these that causes change in the world.

All the rest, the wars, the conflict, and the control, will only repeat or prolong the status quo.

The TAO I CHING suggests (read the introductory chapters) another course of action, which can be applied in all circumstances. This is a way, or "The Way", 'the way of actionless action', action without effort, and lots of other mystifying terms, used to express a particular philosophy of action. You could call it "letting go", or "acceptance", but this might lead you to think that you need to be more at ease or spiritually advanced than you are. Elsewhere I've tried to find a suitable translation, but, to cut through all the terms and definitions, you only need one little affirmation or saying, which, as you say it, you can put into practice . . . .

BE HERE NOW

You say this to yourself at any point, and at any time you get caught-up in too much concern and worry, and, most splendid of all, at any moment during your day when you are not doing anything in particular. This is simply looking and listening where you are now. This is an encapsulated version of the 2 minute exercise for seeing the energy of TAO for yourself, on my website http://www.taoiching.com/ . If you get this right you live in the present with inner peace, or you can remain plugged-in to the energy you are already using. That other energy that you are presently using will promise you everything, and a full life, or a life full of continual conflict. The alternative is quiet, still, and magical, and also very much in the world around you everyday, at every moment.

"Look

You won't see it.

Listen

You won't hear it.

Move one inch

And you miss it.

You looking, listening, moving

All the time

Is all it takes"

TAO TOM TOM

How to navigate the present moment

I was in the car the other day using our newly acquired Tomtom navigational aid on the dashboard. With the visits to MBS Fairs in different venues around the country almost every weekend, the Tomtom has taken the stress out of driving to unknown destinations. As I appreciated the amazing concept of a satelite navigational system available to the public, I also thought wouldn't it be wonderful to have a spiritual tomtom. This would be a moral, ethical, spiritual, and practical, device, making the right choices in every situation, and guided 'from above'.

Oh ! Oh ! I Thought. We already have this. The TAO I CHING and set of ELEMENTS do precisely this ! Instead of "After 800 yards take the next left" we have "After a little while take the next option" , or "Go left at the roundabout and take the first exit" is now "Look at your situation, and consider withdrawing as soon as possible". The selection and manipulation of the ELEMENTS provides this aspect of personal direction, rather than simply following a map or book with 'flat information'. The direction and guidance is offered to you, dependant upon where you are at any one moment. Once you have programmed-in your destination to the Tomtom, you really have no idea where you are in relation to the rest of the country around you. You have a close-up picture of where you are now, and a little of what lies immediately ahead. That momentary changing picture is all you need.

The final destination for each journey in the Tomtom is an address, postcode, or Home. In everyday life, once you establish your destination, desire, or ambition, you can let the hexagrams show you the way. The hexagrams are like stepping stones in every direction. Use your ELEMENTS to select the changing hexagram for information, direction, and 'speed'. The amazing thing about the Tomtom is that if you take a wrong turning, after 5 seconds, it recalculates your new position and a new course to get you to your destination. Once again, the parallels are remarkable. If you follow the information in the TAO I CHING your way ahead is calculated and shown to you. If you don't take the advice or ignore the information, your new situation is immediately recalculated with your next selection of ELEMENTS.

Actually, you are not 'going' anywhere. The car will only deliver you, and your stuff, to somewhere else. It's still you here, or somewhere, with stuff, or without stuff. By all means have an end in sight, or a direction, but this is only a material, physical, emotional, or spiritual, framework. Everything else is in the present. You see, unlike the crude sophistication of the Tomtom (which may be the scientific wonder of the decade), the TAO I CHING has a message that you can hear now, everyday, and at every moment.

" YOU HAVE ARRIVED AT YOUR DESTINATION "

We have already arrived ! That's the message, but of course, that conflicts with the notions future happiness, prosperity, ambition, desire, and the unfolding drama of creation (or destruction). Now that we are all here (whatever state, age, sex, each of us might be in), you only have to quietly 'navigate' the present.