Tao Te Ching 51

 Tao Te Ching 51

The Tao gives birth to all of creation.

The virtue of Tao in nature nurtures them, and their family gives them their form.

Their environment then shapes them into completion.

That is why every creature honours the Tao and its virtue.

No one tells them to honour the Tao and its virtue, it happens all by itself.

So the Tao gives them birth, and its virtue cultivates them, cares for them, nurtures them, gives them a place of refuge and peace, helps them to grow and shelters them.

It gives them life without wanting to possess them, and cares for them expecting nothing in return.

It is their master, but it does not seek to dominate them.

This is called the dark and mysterious virtue.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching 50

 Tao Te Ching 50

Those who leave the womb at birth and those who enter their source at death, of these; three out of ten celebrate life, three out of ten celebrate death, and three out of ten simply go from life to death.

What is the reason for this?

Because they are afraid of dying, therefore they cannot live.

I have heard that those who celebrate life walk safely among the wild animals.

When they go into battle, they remain unharmed.

The animals find no place to attack them and the weapons are unable to harm them.

Why?

Because they can find no place for death in them.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching 49

 Tao Te Ching 49

The  Master has no mind of her own.

She understands the mind of the people.

To those who are good she treats as good.

To those who aren't good she also treats as good.

This is how she attains true goodness.

She trusts people who are trustworthy.

She also trusts people who aren't trustworthy.

This is how she gains true trust.

The Master's mind is shut off from the world.

Only for the sake of the people does she muddle her mind.

They look to her in anticipation.  Yet she treats them all as her children.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching 48

 Tao Te Ching 48

One who seeks knowledge learns something new every day.

One who seeks the Tao unlearns something new every day.

Less and less remains until you arrive at non-action.

When you arrive at non-action, nothing will be left undone.

Mastery of the world is achieved by letting things take their natural course.

You cannot master the world by changing the natural way.

Lao Tzu

Tao Te Ching 47

 Tao Te Ching 47

Without opening your door, you can know the whole world.

Without looking out of your window, you can understand the way of the Tao.

The more knowledge you seek, the less you will understand.

The Master understands without leaving, sees clearly without looking, accomplishes much without doing anything.

Lao Tzu

I feel like this falls in line with my belief that, in general, a farmer knows more about the real world than someone who has spent 20 years going to school.  Natural law is obvious, but it can become hidden by learning too much about, and being too influenced by, outside beliefs and systems.

Mother Tory