Tao Te Ching Chapter 73-1 Act without living

Today's Tao

If you are brave enough to do, you don't live. (Ch.73)


Some say: "If you are not happy, you are not truly living."

Lao Tzu would say: "If you are brave enough to act, I'm sorry, you are not truly living."

Your so-called life is a hologram.

A hologram is not a true life.

Your true life is sending Love to Tao.

Remember? Tao, Love, and true You are synonyms.

Sending Love is the famous "doing nothing".

Some say: "Do something!".

Lao Tzu would say: "If you do something, act directly on your hologram, or refuse to accept the world as it is, I'm sorry, you are neither "doing nothing" nor truly living".


«Related Articles»
-Act without living 73-1
-Live without acting 73-2
-Merit 73-3
-Hatred 73-4
-Heaven's Tao wins 73-5
-Response 73-6
-I shin den shin / No call 73-7
-Plan 73-8
-Tao = Net 73-9
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 73


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao of ****» The first line comparison (5) / "Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget rule No. 1." On the left, «The Tao of Warren Buffett: Warren Buffett's Words of Wisdom: Quotations and Interpretations to Help Guide You to Billionaire Wealth and Enlightened Business Management» written by Mary Bufett and David Clark. / "When emptiness is all there is, silence becomes deafening." On the right, «The Tao of Music: Sound Psychology» written by John M. Ortiz. / Wherever you go, you will find Tao.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 72-6 Take it

Today's Tao

Therefore, he leaves that and takes this. (Ch.72)


First in Chapter 12, then in Chapter 38, and now this is the third time Lao Tzu asks us to leave "that" and take "this". (☞See Not that one, but this one 12-7 and Leave it 38-15)

Then, what are "this" and "that"?

"This" is Tao, which is true You.

And "that" is your hologram, which is the world in front of you, including your own self.

"Leave your hologram and take Tao."

That's what Lao Tzu is saying here.

Watch out. This could be your pitfall.

"Uh, h… The world is my hologram, and Lao Tzu is asking me to leave the hologram. I know how to do it. I meditate. While meditating I can leave this reality and go into an altered state. This is Satori, right?"

Wrong!

Satori is not an act of looking for a refuge.

Take this reality as a catalyst and cherish "right now right here".

Emit Love and turn the wheel of manifestation (=転法輪 [tenborin]).

Learn: "this = that"!

This is Satori.


«Related Articles»
-Big's fear 72-1
-Not satisfied? 72-2
-Unsatisfactory 72-3
-Know yourself 72-4
-Love yourself 72-5
-Take it 72-6
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 72


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao of ****» The first line comparison (4) / "Hello. I'm Willie Nelson. A way can be a guide, but not a fixed path. —The Tao Te Ching" On the left, «The Tao of Willie: A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart» written by Willie Nelson and Turk Pipkin. / "Increase your effectiveness as a leader by helping others to develop and grow." On the right, «The Tao of Coaching: Boost Your Effectiveness at Work by Inspiring and Developing Those Around You» written by Max Landsberg. / Unusual combinations are always welcome.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 72-5 Love yourself

Today's Tao

He loves himself and doesn't value himself. (Ch.72)


Is it difficult to abandon the concept of Self?

Yes? All right.

But please be aware that your own self doesn't belong to you.

It is part of your hologram, or the collective information that stimulates Tao.

Lao Tzu is asking you to take two seemingly contradictory attitudes.

Love your own self as part of an important stimulus package to Tao.

Nevertheless, do not value your own self as an independent being because, if you do, you will be stuck in your hologram, in other words, you will forget that true You are Tao.

So, cherish everything, including your own self, while knowing that it is there only to stimulate you to circulate more Love.


«Related Articles»
-Big's fear 72-1
-Not satisfied? 72-2
-Unsatisfactory 72-3
-Know yourself 72-4
-Love yourself 72-5
-Take it 72-6
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 72


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao of ****» The first line comparison (3) / "This is a story of a woman and her horse." On the left, «The Tao of Equus: A Woman's Journey of Healing and Transformation through the Way of the Horse» written by Linda Kahanov. / "You can speak to your children of life, but your words are not life itself." On the right, «The Parent's Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for Modern Parents» written by William Martin. / Old Sai's horses teach us a lot. Children teach us a lot, too.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 72-4 Know yourself

Today's Tao

That's why the sage knows himself and doesn't show himself. (Ch.72)


"Learn what the Self is!"

This message of Lao Tzu is often repeated in Tao Te Ching.

Not only in Taoism, but also in Zen Buddhism among others, it seems to be a crucial question.

You may have heard all the bla, bla, bla about it and be tired of hearing more.

So let's get straight to the point.

The so-called Self does not exist.

That's why in Zen they say: "無我 [mu ga], No Self".

There is no such a thing as Self.

What we believe to be Self is part of the collective information (=hologram) that stimulates Tao, which is true You.


«Related Articles»
-Big's fear 72-1
-Not satisfied? 72-2
-Unsatisfactory 72-3
-Know yourself 72-4
-Love yourself 72-5
-Take it 72-6
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 72
-Learn people 33-1
-Learn Self 33-2
-Defeat Self 33-4
-Self 7-6


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao of ****» The first line comparison (2) / "Comes over an absolute necessity to move - D. H. Lawrence, Sea and Sardinia (1921)" On the left, «The Tao of Travel: Enlightenments from Lives on the Road» written by Paul Theroux. / "From the heart of Medina to the head of Fort Greene Now-Y-C: Now I See Everything" On the right, «The Tao of Wu (Riverhead Books)» by the RZA. / Literature meets hip-hop.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 72-3 Unsatisfactory

Today's Tao

It's simply unsatisfactory. That's why they are not satisfied. (Ch.72)


A: "Master Bonbon, I am not content. I am not satisfied. What's wrong with me?"

B: "The world is full of injustice. You must do something to change this stupid world. Donate all of your family fortune and meditate for thirty years!"


C'mon, Master Bonbon. You are the stupid one.

Stop your idiocies and listen to what Lao Tzu is telling us here.

Your hologram, which you call this world, is perfect although it seems to you "unsatisfactory" sometimes.

Your judgement causes this.

But don't worry.

Although you are not supposed to judge, there is nothing wrong with your judging things if you cannot help it.

It is part of your hologram.

You just have to know that it is perfectly all right if you are not satisfied.

It's "Tao's fear", the unsatisfactoriness of perfection.


«Related Articles»
-Big's fear 72-1
-Not satisfied? 72-2
-Unsatisfactory 72-3
-Know yourself 72-4
-Love yourself 72-5
-Take it 72-6
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 72


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao of ****» The first line comparison (1) / "You see, Pooh," I said, "a lot of people don't seem to know what Taoism is…" On the left, «The Tao of Pooh» written by Benjamin Hoff. / "Modern physics has had a profound influence on almost all aspects of human society." On the right, «Tao of physics» written by Fritjof Capra. / We are happy to introduce some old soldiers to young officers.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 72-2 Not satisfied?

Today's Tao

If they are not tired of where they stay, they are not satisfied with where they live. (Ch.72)


"I am sick and tired of this world!"

Would you like to cry it out once in a while?

Congratulations!

Lao Tzu might be happy for you.

Here he is giving you a precious piece of advice:

When you are satisfied with something, you feel "you are sick and tired of it".

This sensation of "being tired" is a good sign that you are detached from the world and not engaged.

How can you be engaged to the world while accepting it as a catalyst!

In other words, no matter how you feel about this catalytic world, you are in fact satisfied.

Don't judge the level of your satisfaction.


«Related Articles»
-Big's fear 72-1
-Not satisfied? 72-2
-Unsatisfactory 72-3
-Know yourself 72-4
-Love yourself 72-5
-Take it 72-6
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 72


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» The first line comparison (13) / "The Principle that can be enunciated is not the one that always was." On the left, «Tao Te Ching (Samuel Weiser, INC)» translated by Derek Bryce and Leon Wieger. / "The person of superior integrity does not insist upon his integrity;" On the right, «Tao Te Ching (Bantam Book)». A new translation by Victor H. Mair based on the recently discovered Ma-Wang-Tui manuscripts.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 72-1 Big's fear

Today's Tao

If people are not afraid of fear, Big's fear arrives. (Ch.72)


Don't be afraid of anything.

Even fear itself.

Fear is part of the world, which is your hologram.

All your feelings belong to the hologram as the clouds in the sky belong to the world.

Isn't it a bit strange to be afraid of the world?

Because you are the one who projects this hologram.

When you accept this world as a hologram, "Big's fear arrives".

Do you remember that "Big" is a nickname to Tao? (☞See Chapter 25 Manifestation)

"Big's fear" suggests the uneasy sensation you feel when you remember that you are always one with Tao.

This uncomfortable feeling of something being missing is very important.


Zen Master Dogen explains it:

"When the manifestation fills up the body and mind mechanism, it feels that something is missing somehow".

法もし身心に充足すれば、ひとかたはたらずとおぼゆるなり。

(Genjokoan 現成公案, «Shobogenzo»)


Since you are perfect, cherish your uneasy "fear" of imperfection.


«Related Articles»
-Big's fear 72-1
-Not satisfied? 72-2
-Unsatisfactory 72-3
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-Take it 72-6
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 72


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» The first line comparison (12) / "Talking about a path is not walking that path." On the left, «A Path and a Practice: Using Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching as a Guide to an Awakened Spiritual Life» written by William Martin. / "Tao can be talked about, but not the Eternal Tao." On the right, «Tao Te Ching (Shambhala Library)» translated by John C. H. Wu.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 71-4 Difficult = Not difficult

Today's Tao

Because he knows this difficulty is difficult, he has no difficulty. (Ch.71)


It is difficult to have difficulty.

That's what Lao Tzu is saying here.

The world is the hologram you project.

A seemingly difficult situation is a catalyst.

Every time you face so-called adversities, you should say "thank you, my hologram" because they are stimulating you.

"Thank you, my hologram."

These are magic words.

There is no difficulty in the world you project.

There are only opportunities to emit more Love (=the fundamental energy Tao).


«Related Articles»
-Learn knowing nothing 71-1
-Radio and Knowing 71-2
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-Difficult = Not difficult 71-4
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 71


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» The first line comparison (11) / "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao." On the left, «A New Way of Thinking, A New Way of Being: Experiencing the Tao Te Ching» written by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer. / "A Way become Way isn't the perennial Way." On the right, «Tao Te Ching(Counterpoint)» translated by David Hinton.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 71-3 No difficulty

Today's Tao

The sage has no difficulty. (Ch.71)


A: "Master Bonbon, it is too difficult to attain Satori. I don't care how much it costs. Can I buy Satori?"

B: "Idiot! Of course, you have to go through plenty of difficulties and adversities before you buy Satori. But, you know, there is a shortcut. The price is negotiable."


No one has to go through difficulties before he gets what he wants.

As you know all you have to know, you have got all you have to have.

We discussed it yesterday. (☞See Radio and Knowing 71-2)

Trust the world you project (=your hologram).

"The sage" means you.

You have no difficulty unless you think it is difficult.

That's why Lao Tzu tells us:

"Do not judge".


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 71


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» The first line comparison (10) / "Ways can be guided; they are not fixed ways." On the left, «Tao Te Ching on The Art of Harmony: The New Illustrated Edition of the Chinese Philosophical Masterpiece (The Art of Wisdom)» translated by Chad Hansen. / "The Tâo that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tâo.» On the right, «Tao Te Ching (Dover Thrift Editions)» translated by James Legge.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 71-2 Radio & Knowing

Today's Tao

Not to know "knowing" is difficult. (Ch.71)


Lao Tzu is saying that it is not difficult at all to learn what "knowing" is.

"Knowing" is part of a hologram, which Zen Buddhists call Inmo. (☞See Inmo and No mind 49-10)

Knowledge is a sort of information that you receive from "outside".

It is in the same way that a radio receiver receives a signal.

As no radio program belongs to its listener, we don't own knowledge.

"Knowing" is receiving.

We receive Love through knowledge.

Knowledge is like money in your bank account.

You draw it when you need it.

In other words, you know all you have to know.

If you don't know about something, it is because you don't have to know it.


«Related Articles»
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-Radio and Knowing 71-2
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-Difficult = Not difficult 71-4
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 71


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» The first line comparison (9) / "The Way that can be told of is not an Unvarying Way:" On the left, «Tao Te Ching (Wordsworth Classics of World Literature)» translated by Arthur Waley. / "The Way that ca be articulately described is not the Unchanging Way." On the right, «Tao Te Ching: An All-New Translation» translated by William Scott Wilson.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 71-1 Learn knowing nothing

Today's Tao

To know "not knowing" is the best. (Ch.71)


You must be a smart person.

Admit it!

You are intelligent, or at least intellectual because you are interested in Taoism and other Oriental philosophies.

You know you are much smarter than others, don't you?

If you are truly smart, of course you know you don't know anything.

Lao Tzu says here that the most knowledgeable person doesn't know anything.

Does it sound contradictory?

Oh, no. Not at all.

It is totally logical because the smartest person knows that knowledge is part of his hologram, which does not belong to him as the clouds in the sky don't.

He is aware that he knows nothing.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 71


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» The first line comparison (8) / "One cannot cognize Tao only by speaking about It." On the left, «Lao Tse. Tao Te Ching». The edition by Dr. Vladimir Antonov. / "Tao is beyond words and beyond understanding." On the right, «The Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu» translated by Brian Browne Walker.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 70-6 Shabby clothes

Today's Tao

That's why the sage wears shabby clothes and hides a jewel beneath them. (Ch.70)


Do you know a Kesa 袈裟, or a Kasaya?

Some call it a Zen robe as well.

Then, do you know it is also called excrement dust cloth, or Funzo-e 糞掃衣?

Can excrement dust cloth be silk?

Or, does it have to be "shabby clothes" authentically made by a certified monk as Master Bonbon insists in the No form 40-17 video?


Zen Master Dogen quotes the stories of the third patriarch Shonawashu 商那和修 (=Sanavasa) and Senbyaku bikuni 鮮白比丘尼 (=Rengeshiki bikuni, Uppalavannā 蓮華色比丘尼).

Their everyday clothes became their Kesa.

(Kesakudoku 袈裟功徳 , «Shobogenzo»)


It doesn't matter what material your "shabby clothes" or excrement dust cloth is.


Dogen also says:

"Once your superficial clothes are torn apart, Buddha's clothes appear".

なんぢが布見やぶれてのち、仏衣見成すべきなり。

(Den'e 伝衣 , «Shobogenzo»)


It means that "shabby clothes" are your hologram and you find Tao "beneath them".


«Related Articles»
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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 70


Tao answers your question!



☞Kesa, O-kesa, or Kasaya. Whatever you call it, it has to be excrement dust cloth. But watch out. If you intentionally choose shabby materials, you are still stuck in the "material" world. One just has to accept any cloth as his hologram.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 70-5 Precious one

Today's Tao

The fewer people know me, the more precious I am. (Ch.70)


Why can't you see your face?

Because you don't have a face.

What?

But you can see it on the mirror!

No, it is not your true face.

It is just an image in the mirror.

Do you know who you are?

You are the most precious one, or "the only respectable being" as the baby Buddha said. (☞See No boasting 22-11 and Ordinary? 67-3)

True You are the light that projects the holographic world.

As the actors in a film aren't interested in what kind of a projector they use at the movie theatre, people in your hologram don't care who is lighting them up.

Others don't know you are the Buddha of Infinite Light.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 70


Tao answers your question!



☞Buddha of Infinite Light is also called Amida or Amitābha. "Na mu Amida Butsu". Just call his name, and he will be always there for you. In fact, he is always there for all of us. He is the amazing power source of Tariki. This Other-power lights up all. A life is a process to learn Jiriki / Self-power is the same as Tariki. It is not surprising at all that Zen specialist Daisetz Suzuki was not only a Zen specialist. He was interested in Tariki of Shin Buddhism.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 70-4 They know nothing

Today's Tao

They simply know nothing. That's why they don't know me. (Ch.70)


People in your hologram don't think.

That's why we cannot hear what they are thinking.

They don't know anything.

They don't need to.

They are just a catalyst to stimulate Tao (=true You) to circulate itself.

They don't know you are Tao.

They don't even know that they are part of your hologram.

But you must not laugh at them.

Because probably your own self does not know that it is a hologram, either.

Do you know who you are?

All right. Let's make it clear.

True You are Tao.

Your own self is a hologram.


«Related Articles»
-Easy Tao 70-1
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-Precious one 70-5
-Shabby clothes 70-6
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 70


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» The first line comparison (7) / "The man of superior virtue is not virtuous and that is why he has virtue." On the left, «Tao Te Ching (Everyman's Library)» translated by D. C. Lau / "The way you can go isn't the real way." On the right, «Lao Tzu : Tao Te Ching : A Book About the Way and the Power of the Way» A new English version by Ursula K. Le Guin with J. P. Seaton.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 70-3 Center & Actor

Today's Tao

The words have got the centre. The acts have got an actor. (Ch.70)


Does it bother you if I say your thoughts don't belong to you?

Or, is it a big relief?

Your thoughts and the words, which are supposed to be generated by "your thoughts", are part of your hologram.

They are sort of "sound effects" for your holographic movie.

"Thirty spokes share one hub", says Lao Tzu in Chapter 11. (☞See 30 spokes 11-1)

"Thirty spokes" are beams of light, sort of.

The hub, or the center, is the projector of the 360-degree movie.

In other words, the center is Tao.

All the acts you see are played by holographic actors in order to stimulate true You.

True You are the projector in the center, but you are not responsible for the content of the movie.


«Related Articles»
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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 70


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» The first line comparison (6) / "Tao can be talked about, but not the Eternal Tao." On the left, «Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching (Asian Institute Translations)» translated by John C. H. Wu. / "Growing older either reveals or hides the mystery of existence." On the right, «The Sage's Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for the Second Half of Life» written by William Martin.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 70-2 Comprehension & Practice

Today's Tao

There is no one in the world under the sky who can comprehend it. No one can practice it. (Ch.70)


Have you ever tried to explain to others how Tao works?

Did they comprehend it?

Even if they didn't, don't get disappointed.

No one in your hologram (="the world under the sky") comprehends it.

Why don't you think that they are actors projected in your mind?

What they say is an echo of your mind, so to speak.

So, if you doubt Tao, they doubt it, too.

But remember?

Your mind itself is part of the hologram.

It doesn't matter if you have doubts or not.

The important thing is that you practice Tao, in other words, you receive and send Love.

This is Satori.

The actors in the hologram cannot do it.

Only you can do it.


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-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 70


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» The first line comparison (5) / "The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao" On the left, «Tao Te Ching (Skylight Illuminations)» translated by Derek Lin. / "Tao called Tao is not Tao." On the right, «Tao Te Ching Lao-Tzu (Shambhala)» translated by Stephen Addiss and Stanley Lombardo.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 70-1 Easy Tao

Today's Tao

It is very easy to understand what I am saying. It is very easy to practice. (Ch.70)


Who said it is difficult to understand Tao Te Ching?

Is it truly difficult to practice Taoism?

Please listen to what Lao Tzu is saying here.

Tao is easy to understand and practice.

Then, why do people say contrarily?

It seems that the biggest obstacle is the self.

To understand the mechanism of Tao and its hologram, you have to accept your own self as a part of the hologram as if "you" are an actor in a film projected on the screen.

But don't worry about it too much.

Whether you are aware of it or not, you are emitting Tao's energy (=Love).

That's why we say:

"Do nothing".

It is easy, isn't it?


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-Easy Tao 70-1
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-Center and Actor 70-3
-They know nothing 70-4
-Precious one 70-5
-Shabby clothes 70-6
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 70


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» The first line comparison (4) / On the left, «Tao Te Ching: The Definitive Edition (Tarcher / Penguin Edition)» translated by Jonathan Star. The text is the same as the one shown yesterday. "A way that can be walked is not The Way" / "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao." On the right, «Living the Wisdom of the Tao: The Complete Tao Te Ching and Affirmations» written by Dr Wayne W. Dyer.