Tao 4 Life

Living Without Difficulty by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2013-11-16T10:49:00.001-08:00

It has been more than three years since my last post, but I have thought greatly about my need to continue embracing the philosophies within the Tao and wanted to complete what I had started. This brings me to the 63rd verse of the Tao, where it speaks of the sage taking on challenges while they are still small. The wisdom here appears to be based on the notion that the sage actually becomes great by winning a series of small challenges that are confronted almost immediately. It brings to mind the notion that instead of trying to endure long and arduous undertakings, one should attempt to address what undertakings can be dealt with in the here and now. Subsequently, the mind should focus on the present, deal with what can be dealt with in the present, and avoid the temptation of unnecessarily "thinking big."

The lesson of the 63rd verse becomes do what you can today by breaking down the arduous task into smaller ones. Do not get trapped into the vicious cycle of "analysis of paralysis." Get started on the project that you always wanted to begin by completing today at least what can be done in a day.

"Moved but not Absent" by Rev. Marla C. Hawkins

2010-10-15T13:51:00.000-07:00

"They" separated the unlimited, sagacious, academic resources,
That sought only to educate waiting students,
Who eagerly yearned for the blessing of learning.
"They" sought to destroy what the Master had put together,
A connection unlike any other, that proved to allow the disenfranchised to succeed.
Could it be that "They" thought moved meant absent, obliterated?
Let the truth be told.
The connection continues to live on,
In the hearts to whom it was given and
Those who are allowed to taste its victory.
Discipleship though moved is NEVER ABSENT.

Marla C. Hawkins/10-15-10

Dedicated to my friend and colleague, Dr. Andre Muhammad, a treasured gift from God.

The Treasure-house of the Tao by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-11-01T07:33:00.000-07:00

The 62nd verse of the Tao Te Ching causes the reader to focus on the fact that the best-kept treasure is within the Tao. It instructs us to look beyond the so-called "wickedness" of others and, instead, offer kindness to those individuals by elevating them with our words and deeds. It further instructs us to teach about the principles of Tao, as the Tao has and continues to be the refuge for all.

Modest Way of Living by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-08-18T13:24:00.000-07:00

There have been several weeks since my last posting, but I must admit that life has continued to teach me more about the importantance of the Tao and how ignoring the wisdom of such can be life-changing and even possibly lead one to a life of despair. To be less cryptic, I was personally given the chance to realize the awesomeness of the Tao, as each and every day its wisdom became even more apparent to me, even as I veered off of its course temporarily. While veering off of its course, it caused me to experience the opposite of what I was experiencing while previously immersing myself within the confines of its principles.

Therefore, I find myself picking up where I left off---that being verse 61 of the Tao Te Ching, a verse which maybe we all can glean some inspiration and wisdom.

Verse 61 of the Tao Te Ching focuses the individual on living a life dedicated to modesty. It takes the opposing view of today's world which encourages all to be at the top, the pinnacle, the champion, the one who must, by all means, stand out in the crowd.

The verse employs us to refrain from a focus of fixed plans and rather allowing the universe to bring into our lives what it so chooses. The verse, particularly at first glance, reminds me of that old Christian adage which says, "Let go, and Let God."

Regardless of whether we realize it or not, the universe is in control. All of our plans amount to a hill of beans, particularly if in fact the universe is not in agreement. Therefore, we should learn to let the universe guide our paths, and we should attempt to live the lives of modest individuals who realize the importance of longevity and inconspicuousness.

Immunized to Evil by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-05-19T18:10:00.000-07:00

According to the 60th verse of the Tao Te Ching, it is important for people to change the way in which they view evil. In fact, the verse suggests that people acquire an inner awareness so that evil can have no effect. The verse goes on to say that if one is centered in the Way (Tao), which involves refusing to have injurious thoughts directed to one's self and others, then the strength of evil and wickedness will have no power over that individual.

Peace and blessings!

Perfect Harmony by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-04-06T05:20:00.000-07:00

For the individual who selects the Tao for direction, no harm comes. In life, there are a few people who seemingly can do no wrong. These are the individuals who seem to avoid sickness, poverty, and any other calamities. Perhaps these are the people who are firmly rooted in the Tao.

According to the 55th verse of the Tao Te Ching, this is referred to as "perfect harmony."
To know harmony is know that which is changeless. To know that which is changeless is to have insight. Things rooted in the Tao remain, as those things which are not grow and eventually wither away. Whatever opposes the Tao eventually soon ceases to be.

Peace and blessings!

The Tao and Virtue by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-04-01T16:04:00.000-07:00

The person who is firmly rooted in the Tao cannot be uprooted. Whoever embraces the Tao will not fall away. As an individual, I must remember to cultivate the self so that virtue can be realized. I must remember to cultivate the family so that virtue overflows. I must remember to cultivate the community so that virtue increases exponentially. I must cultivate the state so that virtue abounds.

Peace and blessings!

Living Honorably with the Tao by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-03-30T05:43:00.000-07:00

As humans, we know the that the Way (Tao) is best. It is a way of life which is smooth and straight. Unfortunately, some of us elect to contradict this manner of life and, as a result, these few choose devious paths. These devious paths manifest in a myriad of ways, including deceit and greed. Perhaps deceit is why our courts are so corrupt. Perhaps greed is why we have people attempting to acquire so much wealth that they do not know what to do with it. These are just a few examples of how the Way is not followed.

Peace and blessings!

52nd Verse of the Tao by Lao Tzu

2008-03-15T06:02:00.000-07:00

In the beginning was the Tao.
All things issue from it;
all things return to it.

To find the origin,
trace back the manifestations.
When you recognize the children
and find the mother,
you will be free of sorrow.

If you close your mind in judgments
and traffic with desires,
your heart will be troubled.
If you keep your mind from judging
and aren't led by the senses,
your heart will find peace.

Seeing into darkness is clarity.
Knowing how to yield is strength.
Use your own light
and return to the source of light.
This is called practicing eternity.

Peace and blessings!

Verse 51 of the Tao by Lao Tzu

2008-03-12T18:21:00.000-07:00

All things arise from Tao.
They are nourished by Virtue.
They are formed by matter.
They are shaped by environment.
Thus the ten thousand things all respect Tao and honor Virtue.
Respect of Tao and honor of Virtue are not demanded,
But they are in the nature of things.

Therefore all things arise from Tao.
By Virtue they are nourished,
Developed, cared for,
Sheltered, comforted,
Grown, and protected.
Creating without claiming,
Doing without taking credit,
Guiding without interfering,
This is Primal Virtue.

Peace and blessings!

Verse 50 of the Tao by Lao Tzu

2008-03-12T18:15:00.000-07:00

Between birth and death,
Three in time are following life,
Three in ten are following death,
And men just passing from birth to death also number three in ten.
Why is this so?
Because they live their lives on the gross level.

He who knows how to live can walk abroad
Without fear of rhinocerous or tiger.
He will not be wounded in battle.
For in him rhinoceroses can find no place to thrust their horn,
Tigers can find no place to use their claws,
And weapons no place to pierce.
Why is this so? Because he has no place for death to enter.

The Nonjudgemental Type by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-03-10T16:50:00.000-07:00

The sage has no predetermined mindset, and he/she is aware of the needs of others. The sage treats those who are kind with kindness, and he/she treats those who are unkind with kindness. The sage understands that kindness is the nature of humans.

The sage is faithful to both the faithful and unfaithful. The sage is one who sees and understands the connections of the things in the heavens and the earth. This individual is often well-liked, as people are often to drawn to him/her.

Peace and blessings!

Living by Decreasing by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-03-08T22:13:00.001-08:00

According to verse 48, people demonstrate learning by a daily accumulation of information and/or things. The practice of the Tao involves just the opposite, as it concerns itself to a daily diminishing of this so-called information and/or things. More specifically, an individual should come to understand that he/she must reverse the idea of increasing as a means of showing mastery in this world. In fact, when an individual sees the importance of decreasing, he or she will experience a broader realization of completeness.

Peace and blessings!

Mind Travel by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-03-07T21:17:00.000-08:00

For people who have developed insight, they have the potential to travel the globe without leaving their places of abode. They have the ability to glimpse into the heavens without even looking out the windows. Therefore, the sage knows without travelling, sees without looking, and does work without working.

Peace and blessings!

Living in Peace by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-03-06T15:06:00.000-08:00

When the Way is lost, war becomes the order of the day for the countries across the globe. For people, a sense of discontentment overwhelms. Unless an individual discovers the more peaceful lifestyle of the Tao Te Ching, he/she will attempt to gauge achievement based on that which has been accumulated. For those who adhere to the Tao Te Ching, true achievement is measured by a healthy degree of inner-peace and happiness.

Peace and blessings!

Beyond the Superficial by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-03-04T15:42:00.000-08:00

As a person who is attempting to live my life in accordance with the Tao, I must begin to view life in a paradoxical manner. First, I must come to understand that the greatest perfections seem imperfect. I must come to understand that the greatest fullness seems empty. I must eventually grow to understand that the great straightness seems twisted. Further, I must come to understand that the great intelligence seems stupid, the great eloquence seems awkward, and the great truth seems false.

The real truth lies in the understanding of paradox. The paradox represents the oneness of all things.

Peace and blessings!

Knowing When to Stop by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-03-03T18:12:00.000-08:00

The following entry will not be long because of the mere title of it. In verse 44 of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu directs readers to take a close look at the lives they are living. In fact, the questions posed are, which means more to you, you or your fame? Which brings more to you, you or what you own? Later, in the verse, Lao Tzu states that what one gains is more trouble than what one loses. Further, it states that a contented person is never disappointed, for he/she who knows when to stop is preserved from peril, as this individual is poised to endure long.

The Universe Teaches by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-03-02T09:11:00.000-08:00

In life, most of us attempt to excel at what we do. We create benchmarks, goals, and then we set out to achieve them. In doing so, we often become so firm in our desire to achieve that our actions and personality are hardened to a large degree. We often elicit a very strong persona, one which symbolizes that no matter what, we intend to get what we are after in life.

The 43rd verse of the Tao speaks to this school of thought. It suggests that that the softest things overrides the hardest of all things. Further, it states that things without substance are in a better position to enter where there is no space. Perhaps, Lao Tzu, was making a reference to water, as water has the means to override all things that are hard. If one examines water closely, though it is soft and without substance, it still has the ability to destroy that which is hard. For example, the flow of water can create a pattern on any of the hardest substances that you can think of. When I think about water, I think about the Tao. I say this because water has the ability to flow in many places, and it seeps where it pleases.

On the other hand, water symbolizes calmness. Calmness is symbolic to water in that it remains constant as a life-giving substance to all living things. We can learn a great deal from observing water, and we can learn even more from observing the many elements of our universe. The universe is the great teacher. As human, we must come to understand the lessons of the universe, for it teaches without words and it performs without actions. The masters understand this, and this is why few of us matriculate to the level of the masters.

Peace and blessings!

Cultivating the Infinite Self by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-03-01T06:14:00.000-08:00

People have a tendency to become attached and almost dependent to various things within life. We become attached to family, friends, and material possessions. What if we were to lose some of these things? Perhaps we would feel that we have lost a great deal. Perhaps we would feel that the worst thing in our lives has occurred if we were to ever lose any of our family members, friends, or material possessions; yet, many of those who have often risen to power of some sort have in fact described having lost or been without these very things at earlier stages in their lives. According to the 42nd verse of the Tao Te Ching, when one feels that he/she has lost, he/she has actually gained. The individual gains in the sense that his/her once-thought feeling of dependency is ameliorated and the person, subsequently, finds him/herself having to cope with the loss. It is during this process of coping in which the individual comes to realize the inner-strength and infinite self is not dependent on anything. It is only the mortal aspect of the individual that feels dependent on such worldly things.

The mortal aspect of ourselves is what unfortunately rules most of our existence. Because we become so fixated on the needs and desires of the mortal self, we are often unable to cultivate and come to know the infinite self. Just as the Tao advises that one gains when losing, it is also perceived that one loses by gaining.

For whom much is given, much is expected. The question becomes, then, how are we utilizing that which has been granted?

As humans, no matter what we possess, the mission appears to be very clear. We should not become attached to worldly things, as each of these things are temporal. Our mission, as humans, is to connect to the things which are eternal, so that we come to be in harmony with our infinite selves. To achieve harmony with our infinite selves, we must be willing to transcend the needs of our mortal selves.

Peace and blessings!

Tao is for the Wise by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-02-29T16:50:00.000-08:00

A wise person hears of the Tao and practices it diligently. An average person hears of the Tao and thinks of it occasionally. The foolish person hears of the Tao and laughs aloud. If there were no laughter, the Tao would not be what it is.

Peace and blessings!

Transcending the Ego by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-02-28T16:00:00.000-08:00

When the human transcends the ego and becomes one with the spirit of the universe, he/she has experienced enlightenment. Most people feel that one must physically die first to achieve such, but the masters know that the real achievement is made when an individual experiences this while living.

The 40th verse, the shortest of all of the 81 verses of the Tao Te Ching, suggests that people must return and yield to the Tao. Further, people should realize that they are just one minuscule particle of countless particles that make up the universe. For one to truly realize his/her destiny, he/she must jettison the ego and return to the spirit. More specifically, the individual must realize that the ego is responsible for nothing and that it is the Tao that creates. The Supreme Being is responsible for everything in the world of being, and it manifested from a world of triple-stage darkness, a place of nonbeing and/or spirit alone. If one is to achieve this degree of transcendence, he/she must be willing to yield to the Tao.

Peace and blessings!

Loftiness is not the Way by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-02-27T13:06:00.000-08:00

The 39th Verse of the Tao Te Ching suggests that when humans interfere with the intelligence of the universe (Tao), the sky becomes filthy, the earth becomes depleted, the equilibrium crumbles, and creatures become extinct. All of these factors are indicative that the human family has found a way to go contrary to the innate nature and manner of living that has been intended. Moreover, instead of living and being rooted in humility, loftiness becomes the order of the day. When one seeks loftiness, he/she discards that which appears to have no particular or immediate use and, as a result, the individual is able to render certain things as unimportant.

When nobility and humility is lost, there is no regard for that which is truly life-giving; rather, individuals become concerned with the needs of the ego and this, in turns, leads to eventual destruction of the self. Though the ego is a part of the self, it rarely elects to be satisfied by that which is truly eternal---love, joy, happiness. The ego becomes that force that causes humans to seek gratification, usually on a material level, and subjugate other people and things beneath the individual. This lack of regard is what eventually leads to the filthy skies, depleted resources, and extinct creatures. This lifestyle of loftiness is that which causes the individual to lose touch with his/her intricate purpose and, eventually, this causes the individual to lose sight of his/her role as a noble and humble element of the universe.

To be Good or Not by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-02-26T19:43:00.001-08:00

After watching a debate between two presidential candidates tonight, the meaning of the 38th verse of the Tao Te Ching became very apparent. In this verse, it states that a good man is not aware of his goodness and, thus, this is what makes him good. It goes on to state that a foolish man tries to be good and, thus, this is what makes him not good.

After giving this presidential debate and others like it some serious consideration, I find that all political candidates attempt to appear good in the eyes of the public. Each one does his/her best to prove that he/she is in fact better than the other candidate. To me, one who is trying to understand what enlightenment is all about, I see that the political process is an antithesis to the teachings of the Tao Te Ching. According to the Tao, the great master is one who follows his own nature and avoids the trappings of life. He/she gravitates toward the fruit and avoids the fluff. He/she stays with what is firm and avoids the flimsy. He/she stays with what is true and avoids what is false.

Now, with this said, is there any wonder why so many registered voters tend not to vote on election day?

Peace and blessings!

The Anchor of the Universe by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-02-25T13:06:00.000-08:00

According to the 37th verse of the Tao Te Ching, the intelligence behind the universe does nothing, but it leaves nothing undone. Further, the verse implies that if powerful men of the world were centered or firmly grounded in such intelligence, the entire globe would be transformed into one which operates in its own natural rhythm.

The premise behind this notion rests in the fact that when false pretenses are removed, and when life is simplistic, the quintessential nature of people is made manifest. The nature of humanity is calmness, and when such calmness exist, the world will straighten itself. When humans of the world come to understand the importance of silence, that will be the time in which individuals come to find themselves as the anchors of the universe.

Peace and blessings!

Is Number 1 the Highest Rank? by Dr. Andre Muhammad

2008-02-24T10:43:00.000-08:00

From an early age, most of us are taught to become the best that we can be. Whether it is to achieve that champsionship title in a sport or achieve the valedictorian status of a graduating class, most of us have been taught to become "numero uno." As a result of our qwest to become such, we often stress ourselves to achieve what is highly limited and coveted. The downside of such a notion is that there is only one number one spot. What happens to all of those who fall short of number one? In general, those who fall short are those who eventually lick their wounds and continue to reach for that ever elusive number one spot. From last place to first place, and all positions in between, this continual process of achieving the most coveted position is, for the most part, our motif operandi, and we apparently are willing to pay a significant price for achieving or failing to achieve such. The price we pay many times impacts us mentally, spiritually, and physically and we, as a result, rarely come to understand the systemic cause for our disease and discontentment.

When an individual rexamines his/her position in the grand scheme of things, the enlightened one will arrive at a position, for lack of a better phrase, that is even more loftier than number one. That position is the mindset in which all competition is in fact removed for all intents and purposes, so that the individual finds him/herself in a mental state in which there is a new criteria for ranking, one in which the human soul encounters a quiet strenght that enables him/her to demonstrate a degree of longevity that far exceeds those who base their existence on strength and the security of rankings and status.

For one to celebrate what it means to be number one, he/she must have experienced what it was like to have been to be other than that. For one to understand what it means to be strong, he/she must have experienced what is was to be weak. The wise one understands this subtle discernment and, subsequently, subscribes to a notion of oneness of all ranks.

Peace and blessings!