Life

Tao Te Ching; Chapter 10

In holding the soul and embracing the oneness

Can one be steadfast, without straying?

In concentrating the energy and reaching relaxation

Can one be like an infant?

 

In cleaning away the worldly view

Can one be without imperfections?

 

In loving people and ruling the nation

Can one be without manipulation?

 

In the heavenly gates opening and closing

Can one hold to the feminine principle?

 

In understanding in all directions

Can one be without intellectuality?

Bearing it, rearing it

Bearing without possession

Achieving without arrogance

Raising without domination

This is called the mystic virtue.

We are called to embracing the oneness, to refrain from straying and holding the soul. How does one accomplish this? Unifying the physical with the spiritual is the state of consciousness we know as meditation. Holding the soul is the moving above the singular view of materialism and sensation seeking and expericing life without constant distraction.

When we contemplate the nature of distraction, we can realize that it is a tuning out of life. Distraction is by nature the dropping of attention and our being captivated by the irrelevant. Experiencing life is the singularity of physical experience. We can refine the experience by paying attention to each moment and letting go of those things which block or create resistance.

Being relaxed and concentrating our life energy we become like infants, soft pliable and full of wonder. Allowing our “selves” to become distracted and dominated by ego, we create resistance, stress and the sense of wonder is lost to anxiety and problems.

Serenity and calm abiding is the norm. The Tao cultivator tunes into life, and pays attention to protect the sanctuary of keeping a peaceful heart. The sage does not lose nor waste energy unnecessary clenching against the flow of life, the sage reaches balance and harmony. The harmonizing of the spiritual and soul with the physical experience of life brings forth mystic virtue. This is the authentic path of heaven and true being. Without arrogance, without dominance, without the illusion of possession, and  without ego, the Tao cultivator embrace mystic virtue.