Saturday

dao predilection


predilection
Chinese for "predilection"





Those who follow Tao do so
From their own predilection.
There are no promises,
Yet the rewards are immeasurable.


Of all the spiritual traditions, following Tao is among the least popular. Its adherents are poor and veiled with humility. In comparison, many traditions offer heaven, forgiveness, comfort, ecstasy, belonging, power, and wealth. Tao offers only three things: sound health, a way through the bewilderment of life, and liberation from the fear of death.

That is why there are so few followers of Tao. There is no glamor, there is no congregation, there is no ranking. You are either in the state of Tao, or you are temporarily out of it. When you die, you die.

You have to be tough to follow Tao. If you can avoid being discouraged by poverty, isolation, and obscurity, you will find an unshakable devotion that will last your entire life, and rewards will come in slow and subtle ways. You my not be suddenly rich and influential, but you will discover, to your great delight, that there is a secret source of sustenance. Once you taste that, all your doubts will fade, and both poverty and loneliness will be easier to bear.




predilection

365 Tao
daily meditations
Deng Ming-Dao (author)
ISBN 0-06-250223-9


Tibet, Treasures from the Roof of the World

TIBET: TREASURES FROM

THE ROOF OF THE WORLD

Maitreya:
The Buddha of the Future

Tashilhunpo Monastery, Tibet
Photo Credit: Getty Images


Located in the Palace of Penchen Lama in the city of Zhigatse, the Buddha of the Future is tallest Buddha in Tibet, a dominating, awesome presence that brings visitors to their knees.


shows scale of the full size

T A O t e C H I N G

hand drawn calligraphy of the word dao
t w e n t y - s i x
tao 26

The heavy is the root of the light.
The unmoved is the source of all movement.

Thus the Master travels all day
without leaving home.
However splendid the views,
she stays serenely in herself.

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.
If you let restlessness move you,
you lose touch with who you are.


— today's translation is by Steven Mitchell


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