TAO

The Young man came to the Old Man seeking counsel.

I broke something, Old Man.

How badly is it broken?

It’s in a million little pieces

I’m afraid I can’t help you.

Why?

There’s nothing you can do.

Why?

It can’t be fixed.

Why?

It’s broken beyond repair. It’s in a million little pieces.

Like I said, I’ve been reading ‘A million little pieces’ by James Frey. There’s a part where his brother brings him this Chinese book called Tao Te Ching which had a simple message that I’d like to share with you guys. I don’t know whether it will be helpful or not. The author liked it a lot, here are snippets:

·         Names are not necessary for that which is real and for that which is eternal

·         If we are free from desire, we can realize mystery, if we are caught in desire, we only realize manifestations

·         Manifestations and mystery arise from the same source, which is darkness.

·         Darkness within darkness is the key to all understanding.

·         If there is beauty there is ugliness. If there is good there is bad.

·         Those who live with the Tao act without doing and teach without saying. They let things come and they let things go and they live without possession and they live without expectation.

·         Just be.

·         Over esteem men and people become powerless. Overvalue possessions and people begin to steal.

·         Empty your mind and fill your core. Lose everything you know and everything you desire and ignore those who say they know.

·         Weaken your ambition and toughen your reserve.

·         Practise not wanting, desiring, judging, doing, fighting, knowing.

·         Practise just being. Everything will fall into its place.

·         There is no good, or evil, no Sinner no Saint. There simply is what is and that is it.

·         The good is like water that nourishes without trying.

·         In thinking keep to simple, in conflict be fair.

·         Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill.

·         Keep sharpening your knife and it will become dull

·         Chase after money and your heart will never unclench.

·         Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.

Like I said, little snippets...