Being in Harmony With God: My Contemplation of Verse 46 of the Tao Te Ching

Dr. Dyer's book is Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Today, I am focusing on verse 46 of the Tao Te Ching:

When the world has the Way,

running horses are retired to till the fields.

When the world lacks the Way,

warhorses are bred in the countryside.

There is no greater loss than losing the Tao,

no greater curse than covetousness,

no greater tragedy than discontentment;

the worst of faults is wanting more--always.

Contentment alone is enough.

Indeed, the bliss of eternity

can be found in your contentment.

What is the Way to peace?

Striving for contentment is difficult.  

Imagine a horse having a carrot dangling in front of it.  If the horse can't reach it, the horse gets frustrated, especially if it's very hungry.  Or consider the fox in one Aesop's fable?  You know the story, in which the fox gives up when he can't reach the grapes.  He walks away and says something like, "Well, the grapes were probably sour anyway."

Should we accept the lack of things and status?

No.  This 46th verse of the Tao Te Ching is not asking us to give up on our endeavors.  Lao-tzu, the writer of the Tao Te Ching, is asking us to be satisfied with what we already have.  We can experience happiness if we let go of the chase-of-things-and-higher-status mentality.  It is when we let go, that those wonderful blessings can truly come our way.

The thing we need to do is plug into the Source of everything (Tao, The Way)--God, the Father.  If we truly believe in God, we will trust in Him to provide for us.  

The greed for power and natural resources of land is the epitome of striving.  Are we little dictators in our community and/or families?  Are we fighting for something that will always escape us?  Is it worth it to strive for that which we should leave alone?  Why bother to see that which we really don't need in our lives?

Let's ask God to guide us.  

If He is the Source of everything, can't we lean on God to understand the priorities in our lives?  Let's stop what we are doing and ask God for wisdom to figure out what He wants for us.  Let's ask Him to remove greed and discontent from our hearts.  Only then, can we experience harmony in our lives.

Thanks for reading today's post about finding harmony with God.  

I appreciate you taking the time to read it.  

I've got some questions for you: Are you striving for possessions and status?  Are you frustrated with life?  Do you want to experience peace?  I pray that we all would seek peace from the Source of everything--Father, God.  I pray that we would ask God for His help to experience a deep, loving, and mutually beneficial relationship with Him.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

This has been an entry for Wisdom Wednesdays.

I am currently drawing inspiration from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's book and the 81 verses of the Chinese wisdom book the Tao Te Ching.

Going With the Flow of the Tao: My Contemplation of Verse 32 of the Tao Te Ching

Dr. Dyer's book is Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Today, I delve into verse 32 of the Tao Te Ching, especially these portions:

If kings and lords could harness them,

the 10,000 things would naturally obey.

Heaven and earth would rejoice

with the dripping of sweet dew.

Everyone would live in harmony,

not by official decree,

but by their own goodness...

Rivers and streams are born of the ocean,

and all creation is born of the Tao.

Just as all water flows back to become the ocean,

all creation flows back to become the Tao.

My hubby recently installed our large, inflatable pool.  We enjoyed it by ourselves.  Our children had already gotten in the day before.  I mounted my inflatable chair and let go.  I allowed myself to float around.

It was sweet bliss.  It was great to spend these few minutes not worrying about anything.  I just flowed with the moving water.  I got lost in the greenery around me.  I watched the birds fly around.

In short, I experienced one of the most pleasant moments in my life because I allowed it to happen.

To understand this verse, you must understand two things.  First, the "10,000 things" refers to all creation.  Second, "Tao" is the Source of everything or the Way.  Now, if we look at the words, you can see that life would be so easy if our leaders could just harness all of creation.  All the inhabitants of heaven and earth would celebrate.

If we just stopped beating against the tide of situations, we would all be happier for it.  Bad things happen.  We can focus on that or we can realize that circumstances, whether positive or negative will occur.  How about going with the flow of things? 

All bodies of water connect at some point.  Who created the bodies of water?  You guessed it, the Tao or the Source of all creation.  

Check this out: Water flows back to the ocean after it has rained.  It's a cycle.  

It's the same with us; we flow back to the Tao or the Source of our lives.  We cycle from life here on earth only to return to our source of being.  Why not let God control our lives?  Let's step out of the way and let God guide us in our decision-making.  I know I've said this before, but sometimes we need to hear a message several times before it sinks into our being.

Thanks for reading today's post.  

I appreciate it.

How about it, my friends?  Are you still trying to control your lives?  Or are you trusting God to control your lives?  Do you fully understand that God is the source of your life and all of creation?  I pray we all trust God to guide us.  Let's not lean on our own understanding.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

This has been an entry for Wisdom Wednesdays.

I am currently drawing inspiration from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's book and the 81 verses of the Chinese wisdom book the Tao Te Ching.

How To Abide in Peace: My Contemplation of Verse 26 of the Tao Te Ching

Dr. Dyer's book is Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Today, I delve into verse 26 of the Tao Te Ching, specifically this portion:

Why should the lord of the country

flit about like a fool?

If you let yourself be blown to and fro,

you lose touch with your root.

To be restless is to lose one's self-mastery.

We encounter all kinds of challenges and trials in our lives.  The question becomes one of whether we will let those situations toss to and fro.  To abide in peace is what we should all seek.  The reality is that many people simply cave to frustration.  Following are some suggestions to attain peace in our lives:

1. Stop blaming other people.

Peace will escape us if we keep insisting on blaming others for our circumstances.  Once we realize that we can control how we react to others, we can move forward.  We must ask God to help us forgive others for their trespasses against us.  Further, no one in this world can make us happy.  That myth only exists in movies and songs. 

2. Stop allowing your tough circumstances to influence your emotions.

Everyone goes through their ups and downs.  Just look around, and you will see that there are others struggling.  Some people are having economic hardships.  Some have suffered loss of loved ones.  That will not change so we must endure as best we can and lift each other up, in the meantime.

3. Start getting in touch with the Source of peace.

One of the most important facts is that the author of peace is to whom we should turn.  Only God can get us through the toughest of circumstances.  Believe me, I know heartache and suffering.  I also know that I am not the only one who's gone through hard times.  The strongest people I know have turned to God, the Source of peace.

 

 

Well, I hope you will turn to God when peace seems to escape you.  Turn to Him now.  You will sense the calmness if you pray to Him.  Root yourself in God's Word, the Bible, and you will abide in His peace.  Then, people will ask you how you are at peace in the midst of your trials.

 

How about it, my friends?  Do you allow circumstances move you to and fro?  Do you blame others for your unhappiness?  Do you turn to God during challenging times?  God is the source of all peace.  I encourage you to turn to God in the midst of your trials.  Peace is available to us all.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace, in Jesus' name.  Amen!

This has been an entry for Wisdom Wednesdays.

I am currently drawing inspiration from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's book and the 81 verses of the Chinese wisdom book the Tao Te Ching.

Humility Vs. Self-Reliance: My Contemplation of Verse 24 of the Tao Te Ching

Dr. Dyer's book is Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Today I want to present you with the whole of verse 24 of the Tao Te Ching:

If you stand on tiptoe, you cannot stand firmly.

If you take long steps, you cannot walk far.

Showing off does not reveal enlightenment.

Boasting will not produce accomplishment.

He who is self-righteous is not respected.

He who brags will not endure.

All these ways of acting are odious, distasteful.

They are superfluous excess.

They are like a pain in the stomach,

a tumor in the body.

When walking the path of the Tao, 

this is the very stuff that must be

uprooted, thrown out, and left behind.

This verse of the Tao Te Ching (The Chinese Book of the Source of the Way) is asking us to stop bragging about our achievements, our belongings, and our status.  We must remember that everything around us is due to God's provision.  We must remain cognizant of that fact.  To be honest, it is distasteful when people brag about themselves.

When I say "we," I am including myself.  I am ready to admit that I have a tendency towards self-reliance.  I have a bad habit of resting on my education and my ability to find information about topics that I don't know.  I must remember that God is responsible for allowing me to get that education and for my ability to research.  I must acknowledge that He has blessed me immensely.   

God is the Source or the Tao of all that we experience with our senses.  It is due to God's lovingkindness that we have what we have.  We should show our gratitude for all that God has provided.  He provides us the necessities and often our wants.  He even blesses us with extras that He sees fit to give us.

I must teach my children about gratitude.  

I often use an interesting scenario.  I tell my kids that we are blessed because we have a refrigerator full of food.  There are people in Africa that don't have any food.  They don't even have a refrigerator.  They don't even have a house to hold a refrigerator!  

My children then realize they should be grateful 

for what they DO have.

To sum up, we need to remain humble.  We need to stay away from boasting or bragging about ourselves.  People around us don't like it.  Bragging turns people off.  We also need to remain grateful to God for everything that we have; we don't have our things just based on our abilities. 

How about you, my friends?  Are you resting on your accomplishments?  Are you relying on your abilities?  I encourage you to be thankful to God for all that He has provided in your life.  Humility can take you farther and show the children in your life about your rightful dependence on the Provider.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace.

This has been an entry for Wisdom Wednesdays.

 

I am currently drawing inspiration from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's book and the 81 verses of the Chinese wisdom book the Tao Te Ching.

Embracing Your Nature: My Contemplation of Verse 23 of the Tao Te Ching

Dr. Dyer's book is Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Today, I am embracing verse 23 of the Tao Te Ching, specifically these portions:

If you conform to the Way,

its power flows through you.

Your actions become those of nature,

your ways those of heaven.

Open yourself to the Tao

and trust your natural responses...

then everything will fall into place.

I think it's important to understand that we are part of nature.  We, who are part of nature, were created by a magnificent creator.  We have our ups and downs.  Nature around us has its ups and downs.  Weather is part of nature.

The wind is part of nature.  It blows, and it subsides.  In our lives, we have happy times.  We also have sad times.  Stuff happens!

I can tell you about all the negative events in my life.  I could sing you a song like the Blues.  My daddy, he died, duh, duh, duh, duh.  I lived in a rat-infested house, duh, duh, duh, duh.  My roof did leak, duh, duh, duh, duh.

The reality is that I have also had positive life points.  I had a loving mother.  She didn't give up my four siblings and me to foster care.  I finished high school and even got a Bachelor's degree.  I'm  married with four wonderful children.

Listen, we all have chaotic times.  We all have peaceful times.  There is an important question we must ask ourselves.  Are we going to let the bad experiences strike us so strongly?  Yes or no.

Will we keep depending on our abilities?  Will we keep pushing and pulling our way to what we think is success?  Will we keep trying to control all of the conditions in our lives?  When are we going to realize that we are limited beings?  Why fight the natural aspects of our lives?

How about depending on God?  He is the Tao--the Way and the Source of everything.  He is our Creator.  He loves us.  He wants what is best for us, and that includes trusting in Him.

God's ways are not our ways.

He is the One we should turn to when we are troubled.

Let's turn to Him.

Let's thank Him when the good things happen.

How about it, my readers?  Are you depending on your abilities to get you through the tough times?  Or are you turning to God?  I recommend going with the flow of your given situation.  For example, if someone is bad-mouthing you, keep quiet and let that person's nature run its course.

May God bless you, my beloveds, with His wisdom and peace.

This has been an entry for Wisdom Wednesdays.

 

I am currently drawing inspiration from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's book and the 81 verses of the Chinese wisdom book the Tao Te Ching.

My Contemplation of Verse 21 of the Tao Te Ching

Dr. Dyer's book is Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Today, I want to focus on verse 21 of the Tao Te Ching, specifically these portions:

The greatest virtue is to follow the Tao and the Tao alone...

How do I know the ways of all things at the beginning?

I look inside myself and see what is within me.

The Tao, or the Source of everything, the Way, God, is the one to follow.  We think in blogging terms of following someone through Google Friends Connect.  We think of following someone through Twitter.  What about following God?  Sometimes, we can get caught up in following each other.

Let's take a breather.  Let's think about what God wants us to do.  Does he want us to spend all day in front of the computer?  Does he want us to pitch the latest, greatest gadget or curriculum?  Does he want us to edify each other?  Does he want us to encourage each other?

What am I supposed to be doing with my children?  Do I know the ways of the beginning?  Do I know what the Bible says about creation?  Do I know how to explain creation to my children?  Do I have time to teach them what God did in the void to create life as we know it?

This verse encourages us to ponder about our bodies.  We should take a moment to wonder why we are able to move a finger, let alone scratch an itch on our body.  Think about how we sense the itch.  Then, think about how we get the urge to put a nail to the itch.  Consider that you actually scratch the itch.

What is it that allows most babies to be born with all limbs and fingers and toes?  

Why does the sun come up?  

Why does the morning glory bloom in the morning?  

Why does a dog bark?  

Why do we get goose bumps when we come out of the shower?

It is God, the Source, that gives us those blessed experiences.  We  have awesome sensations.  We have excellent views of mountains and ocean waves.  We have opportunities to experience those things because God caused them to be.  Only God, the designer, could create the complexities in our human bodies.

Let's take a moment today to thank God for those blessings.

How about you, my readers?  Are you thankful?  Do you have pain?  Can you breath on your own?  Are you missing anything from your body?  If not, then be thankful.  Some people have to be in wheelchairs, can't breath, and/or are in constant pain.

May God bless you all with His peace and wisdom.

This has been an entry for Wisdom Wednesdays.  I pray you were blessed by it.

I am currently drawing inspiration from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer's book and the 81 verses of the Chinese wisdom book the Tao Te Ching.

For past entries, turn to Wisdom Wednesdays.

My Contemplation of Verse 20 of the Tao Te Ching

Dr. Dyer's book is Change your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao.

Today, I want to focus on verse 20 of the Tao Te Ching, specifically this portion:

Most people have too much; 

I alone seem to be missing something.

Mine is indeed the mind of an ignoramus

in its unadulterated simplicity.

I am but a guest in this world.

While others rush about to get things done,

I accept what is offered.

I alone seem foolish,

earning little, spending less.

Living in this world is tough when you consider what you are up against.  We have to meet deadlines.  We have obligations to others and ourselves.  We have goals to meet.  We are under the microscope to those around us, watching our every move.

It is no wonder that I have asked myself several questions:

What are my priorities in this life?

What do I need to do to get through those priorities?

What material things do I need to reach my goals?

Who do I need in my life to help me reach my goals?

What information am I lacking?

After asking myself those questions, I have to learn to accept those things that I cannot change.  I cannot change how tired this body gets.  When I start a project, like blogging, I throw my whole self into it.  Sometimes, I get obsessed.  Sometimes, I suffer for my craft.

Now, am I the only one who does this?  No.  We are all guilty, if we love something, of throwing our all into the said project.  This verse of the Tao Te Ching is asking us to stop striving for material possessions, prestige, and money.  Afterall, what did we come with into this world?  Nothing.

We will someday pass on from this life.  Our spirit will go back to God, the Source of our spirit.  We are not taking anything with us.  It will all stay behind.  That's why in the Bible, we are encouraged to store up treasures in heaven, instead of down here on earth.

Many people are used to reaching for the latest new trends.  We have this mindset that we need to get those new things.  Really, we do not.  I'm not saying that I don't have technology in my house.  How do you think I'm reaching you, my beloved readers?

I love the technology for what it can do for me.  It can also become a burden.  Just think about how Facebook, Twitter, and the many social mediums we have available to us.  We can communicate with people around the world.  I have visitors to my blog from Hungary and India, and I think that is awesome.

I am happy to be a blessing to anyone who passes through this blog.  I would that you leave with new-found wisdom or a new way to think about life.  Again, I will state--I do not want to change your religion.  That is not my intention.  I am intent on getting you to be at peace with your current situation.

If we let go of the control for a bit, we can let God work in our lives.  From the Source of everything can flow abundance.  If we are not of this world, then let us turn to God, our Father.  He is our provider.  Let's turn our tough situations over to Him.

I have health conditions that seemed worse a few weeks ago.  It is by laying it at God's feet, that I am sensing a transformation.  I really do trust that He is working in my life.  He is healing me.  He is directing me to people and information to bring my healing about.

I had to get out of the way.  I'm asking you to get out of the way, too.  Let God handle your problems.  If He puts people in your life, listen to them.  Let them be a blessing to you.  

Let go of the control.

I know that God is working in my life.  I can sense that through this writing, He is wanting to reach someone.  If God can use this post to get through to somebody reading this, I have done my job.  I pray that I don't get in the way of his message to you, my friends.  

What about you, my readers?  Are you striving too much?  Are you burning out?  Slow down and ask yourself what is important in your life.  You might need to take a break.  You might need to re-evaluate your priorities.

May God bless you all with His peace and wisdom.

This has been an entry for Wisdom Wednesdays.  I pray you were blessed by it.

I am currently drawing inspiration from Change Your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer.

For past entries, turn to Wisdom Wednesdays.

 

My Contemplation of Verse 19 of the Tao Te Ching

I contemplate the Tao Te Ching, verse by verse, with Dr. Dyer's help.

It is more important

to see the simplicity,

to realize one's true nature,

to cast off selfishness

and temper desire.

I think it is important for us to find our voice.  Our style of speaking and writing is different from that of others.  We must be true to ourselves.  We've got to do things from the heart.  We must tap into the Source (Tao-God) of our creativity.

Our true natures call out to us.  We can't quiet them down.  They are aching to come out and feel the air.  We must give in to our deepest wants and desires. 

I'm not talking about sinning.  I'm talking about what drives your passion for living.  I'm talking about what drives you to wake up in the morning.  I'm talking about something that would be work but wouldn't feel like it was work.  Can you imagine what that would be?

What is limiting you?  Is it religion?  Is it financial obligations?  Is it the legalities of your situation? 

I'm not asking you to turn on your religious beliefs.  I'm not even asking you to break the law.  I'm just asking you to cast aside the limitations of doubt and fear.    In order to be true to yourself, you have to keep to your integrity--your deep beliefs of fairness and love.  Living the life you want does not mean going against your beliefs.

That's why I'm writing this all out.  I'm living out my dream.  To write has been a burning passion in my life.  It has been a blessing when I had no one to talk to.  It's been a life saver for me.


How about your, my readers?  What is your passion?  Are you living your passion?  I challenge you to think about it seriously. 

May God bless you with His peace, my beloveds.

To read past entries about the Tao Te Ching (verses 1-15), please visit:
http://www.thoughts.com/Rebagv
The entry for verse 16 can be found here:

http://bit.ly/dRB4wH

The entry for verse 17 can be found here: 

http://bit.ly/i1R4Xa

The entry for verse 18 can be found here:

http://bit.ly/ee2qv1

I am currently drawing inspiration for Wisdom Wednesdays from Change Your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao by Dr. Wayne W.

My Contemplation of Verse 18 of the Tao Te Ching

I contemplate the Tao Te Ching, verse by verse, with Dr. Dyer's help.

When the greatness of the Tao is present,

action arises from one's own heart.

When the greatness of the Tao is absent,

action comes from the rules

of “kindness and justice.”

We must continue on the road to treating each other with respect and love. That love and respect should be coming from our heart.  What comes from the heart in turn comes from the Source (God).  Are we expressing that love and respect towards each other?  My wish is that we are loving to each other.

When we are out of sync with God's love, we are forced to act like if we are loving and respectful. Then, we are pretending to be at one with God. True peace that we seek comes from living from the heart.  How can we be at peace if we are not truly loving those around us?  Can we really fake love?  I don't believe we can.

To use the rules of society means that we are dictated on how to act around others. When we live by the rules of our hearts, that true integrity shines through to others. We should treat others as we want to be treated.

To be kind and just with others should be automatic. We shouldn't have to pretend to be kind and just. People can tell when we are acting like we are respectful. Instead, we should strive to be genuinely concerned for others.

Let's seek God and His will for our lives. Let's spread the love of God (the Tao or Source) to those who need it. Let's do it from the heart.

How about you, my readers? Do you act as if you love those around you? Or do you genuinely give acts of love and respect to them? I hope you will consider it next time you interact with those around you.

May God bless you with His peace, my beloveds.

To read past entries about the Tao Te Ching (verses 1-15), please visit:
http://www.thoughts.com/Rebagv
The entry for verse 16 can be found here:

http://bit.ly/dRB4wH

The entry for verse 17 can be found here: 

http://bit.ly/i1R4Xa

I am currently drawing inspiration for Wisdom Wednesdays from Change Your Thoughts--Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer.