Table of Contents
This book is dedicated to
all my Tao companions
in the journey of life
INTRODUCTION
Tao cultivation, the practice known as xiu dao in the Chinese tradition, provides tremendous benefits. Those who have mastered it find that they enjoy better results with less effort in every aspect of their lives. You can free up more time for yourself and your loved ones, more time for the worthwhile things in life.
Mastery, however, is not something that you can attain quickly. Tao cultivation, like any other skill, requires practice to perfect. People look at this and cannot help but ask, How can I reap the benefits of having more time for myself, if I cannot free up any time to practice Tao cultivation in the first place? Is this a catch-22?
This is a good point. Living in the modern world, we all lead busy lives. There is always so much we need to do that any kind of long-term commitment to spiritual cultivation seems impossible. You may be aware of a need to really work on yourself within, but you can never seem to get around to it.
This book is the answer. All you have to do is read one page per day. Each page takes only a few minutes to present you with a Tao-centric concept. Keep it in your thoughts as you go through your day, and contemplate the questions and suggestions designed to bring you closer to the Tao mind-set.
It will not seem like much, but the small amount of work on a daily basis will add up to something remarkable over a period of time. Look at your hands holding this book open as you read these words. A year from now, when you finish the last page, the hands that close this book will belong to an entirely new person. One year out of your life will make all the difference in the world.
All Tao Te Ching translations quoted herein are from the authors original work, published in 2006 as Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained.
Day 1
THE BEGINNING
The familiar expression The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step comes from chapter 63 of the Tao Te Ching and is the perfect starting point for us. The original text actually says the journey begins beneath your feet, but the overall meaning is similar: a great undertaking always starts as something small. For your spiritual journey of a thousand miles, this page you are reading now is that something.
Every step you take is as important as your first, because your journey is the sum of all your steps. None of them can be left out. Nevertheless, the beginning of anything has a special significance, because everything that follows depends on it. The first step sets the tone.
This page serves the same purpose. It may be a modest beginning, but it is like unlocking a door or turning over the engine. After this, it will be up to you to keep yourself moving forward. As of right now, you have officially embarked on your journey.
The Tao Today
The Chinese like to say feet stepping on solid ground when describing a sensible and practical approach. Adopt this concept for yourself. Keep your eyes on the horizon and your feet on the trail. You will go the distance.
Day 2
YIN AND YANG
The yin and yang symbol is all about the power of two, expressed in a simple yet profound design where complementary energies balance each other.
People often think of yin and yang as male and female, or perhaps light and dark, but it can mean much more. For instance, yang, the external principle, can represent your work or career, while yin, the internal principle, can represent your home life. You want the two to be balanced.
Being balanced, in this case, means each half takes up an appropriate portion of the day. When either one is too much or too little, you have an imbalance that creates stress and strife. When the proportion of the two is just right, the resulting balance creates harmony, happiness and health.
The Tao Today
Many people have a lack of balance in their lives; the same may be true for you. Use the power of the yin and yang symbol to motivate yourself to act on it. The action does not have to be anything drastic. When it comes to the restoration of equilibrium, even a little nudge can go a long way.
Day 3
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
The Chinese have a saying: When three people walk together, my teacher must be among them.
This concept is in complete congruence with the Tao, because it is all about humility. Tao cultivators never place themselves above others and assume they know it all. They are always ready to listen. Their default assumption is that one can learn something new every day, and it can be from anyone.
This attitude of openness is crucial, because we all come into this world with different talents and abilities. No one is the best at everything; the jack-of-all-trades is the master of none. We are all here to help and learn from one another. It does not matter how knowledgeable and intelligent you may be. Whenever you are with three or more people, you can be certain that you will find valuable learning opportunities in your interactions with them.
The Tao Today
It is fun to look for and discover learning opportunities everywhere in life. Keep your perceptions in tune with the openness to new ideas, and keep asking yourself throughout the day: What are some interesting things I can learn here?
Always dig a little deeper by asking questions. Chances are excellent that youll be delighted with wisdom from unexpected sources.
Day 4
THE GIFT OF COURTESY
The world seems to be moving faster all the time. We consume fast food, we use rapidly advancing technology, and we watch movies that are often a blurry jumble of quick cuts.
This manic addiction to speed is affecting our interactions with one another. It has become more common to see people cutting each other off mid-sentence in order to rattle off what they want to say. Perhaps they wish to impress others with their quickness, not realizing that the faster they cut others off, the more desperate they seem.
Tao cultivators keep up with the fast-moving world without losing sight of basic courtesies. They give others the gift of space to express themselves completely without being rushed. This is one of the simplest things that demonstrates the difference that the Tao makes in life.
The Tao Today
Resist the temptation to cut people off. Notice how people expose their impatience and rudeness when they do so. Distinguish yourself by being the exact opposite. Give people the chance to say what they want to say. Over time, this will have far-reaching effects on your communication and connections.
Day 5
THE FIVE ELEMENTS
The five elements of the ancient Chinese are metal, wood, water, fire and earth. These elements interact with one another in specific and fascinating ways. For instance, when we burn logs, we can see that wood produces fire. When the fire burns out and only ash remains, we say that fire produces earth. When we think about a mining operation, we say that earth produces metal. When water condenses on a metallic surface, we say that metal gives rise to water. Finally, when we observe trees requiring water to grow, we say that water gives rise to wood. This completes the cycle.
