Tao Quotes - Page 10

• All the fish needs is to get lost in the water. All man needs is to get lost in Tao.

  Zhuangzi

  Men, Water, Taoism

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• Though (the Tao) is uncreated itself, it creates all things. Because it has no substance, it can enter into where there is no space. Exercising by returning to itself, winning victories by remaining gentle and yielding, it is softer than anything, and therefore overcomes everything hard.

  Laozi

  Exercise, Winning, Space

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• For a few moments, attune your mind to the idea of harmony and peaceful coexistence flowing among all peoples and nations. The source of this idea is deep within your heart. As you calmly breathe in and out, picture it radiating from you like a fine, colored vapor gradually covering the face of the earth. See it enter the hearts of everyone, especially those stuck in the mad zones. Feel it circulate everywhere until it comes all the way round and back to you. This is love in action. The source of this love is the Tao. Savor this.

  Stephen Russell

  Heart, Love Is, Ideas

  Stephen Russell (1998). “Barefoot Doctor's Handbook for the Urban Warrior: A Spiritual Survival Guide”, Piatkus Books

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• To exercise no-thought and rest in nothing is the first step toward resting in Tao. To start from nowhere and follow no road is the first step toward attaining Tao.

  Zhuangzi

  Exercise, Taoism, Firsts

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• True zazen is surrendering every moment. But surrendering to what? It really does not matter what we call it: God or the Tao or the Dharma or the Buddha or our true nature. . . . It is the act of letting go, of surrendering, that matters. The very act of letting go opens us up completely.

  Dennis Merzel

  Letting Go, Nature, Taoism

  Dennis Genpo Merzel (1991). “The Eye Never Sleeps”, p.49, Shambhala Publications

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• If you persist in trying to attain what is never attained (It is Tao's gift), if you persist in making effort to obtain what effort cannot get, if you persist in reasoning about what cannot be understood, you will be destroyed by the very thing you seek. To know when to stop, to know when you can get no further by your own action, this is the right beginning!

  Zhuangzi

  Effort, Understanding, Taoism

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• Do It With Style It's not enough that we want to change the world. It's not enough that our product is incredibly complex and our vision is vast and shifting. We're not just going to win, we're going to do it with style. That means a lot of different things, and a lot of what it means can't be captured in a handbook.

  Philip Rosedale

  Mean, Winning, Style

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• Who can enjoy enlightenment and remain indifferent to suffering in the world? This is not in keeping with the Way. Only those who increase their service along with their understanding can be called men and women of Tao.

  Laozi

  Men, Understanding, Suffering

  Laozi, Brian Browne Walker (1992). “Hua Hu Ching: Teachings of Lao Tzu”

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• Every day, mindful practice. When the mind is disciplined then the Way can work for us. Otherwise, all we do is talk of Tao; everything is just words; and the world will know us as its one great fool.

  Li Ching-Yuen

  Practice, Mind, World

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• Having reached a high level of realization (or having accomplished anything in life), don't get excited or puffed up with pride but remain calm, humble, and in "perfect equanimity" if you want to continue in this deep state of consciousness.

  Laozi

  Humble, Pride, Perfect

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• The Tao which you know is not the eternal Tao

  Laozi

  Eternal, Knows

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• Attending fully and becoming supple, Can you be as a newborn babe?

  Laozi

  Becoming, Newborn, Babe

  Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

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• Giving birth and nourishing, Bearing yet not possessing, Working yet not taking credit, Leading yet not dominating, This is the Primal Virtue.

  Laozi

  Giving, Credit, Birth

  Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

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• There is danger for the eye in seeing too clearly, danger for the ear in hearing too sharply and danger to the heart from caring too greatly.

  Zhuangzi

  Heart, Eye, Caring

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• Although things seem to be sometimes going up and sometimes descending, sometimes slipping away, nevertheless there is a reality, the same today as in the past. It does not change, for nothing can affect it. Could we not say it is one great harmony? So why shouldn't we ask about it.

  Zhuangzi

  Past, Reality, Doe

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• What is a good man? A teacher of a bad man. What is a bad man? A good man's charge?

  Laozi

  Teacher, Men, Good Man

  Laozi (1997). “道德经”, Vintage

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• The essence of the Way is detachment. And the goal of those who practice is freedom from appearances.

  Bodhidharma

  Attachment, Essence, Practice

  Bodhidharma (2009). “The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma”, p.47, Macmillan

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• Many roads lead to the Path, but basically there are only two: reason and practice.

  Bodhidharma

  Wisdom, Practice, Two

  Bodhidharma (2009). “The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma”, p.3, Macmillan

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• The true Way is sublime. It can't be expressed in language. Of what use are scriptures? But someone who sees his own nature finds the Way, even if he can't read a word.

  Bodhidharma

  Sublime, Use, Way

  Bodhidharma (2009). “The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma”, p.29, Macmillan

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• The ancient Masters didn't try to educate the people, but kindly taught them to not-know. When they think that they know the answers, people are difficult to guide. When they know that they don't know, people can find their own way. If you want to learn how to govern, avoid being clever or rich. The simplest pattern is the clearest. Content with an ordinary life, you can show all people the way back to their own true nature.

  Laozi

  Clever, Thinking, People

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• The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect can be won with good deeds; but the Tao is beyond all value, and no one can achieve it. Thus, when a new leader is chosen, don't offer to help him with your wealth or your expertise. Offer instead to teach him about the Tao. Why did the ancient Masters esteem the Tao? Because, being one with the Tao, when you seek, you find; and when you make a mistake, you are forgiven. That is why everybody loves it.

  Laozi

  Mistake, Men, Leader

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• Act without doing; work without effort. Think of the small as large and the few as many. Confront the difficult while it is still easy; accomplish the great task by a series of small acts. The Master never reaches for the great; thus she achieves greatness. When she runs into a difficulty, she stops and gives herself to it. She doesn't cling to her own comfort; thus problems are no problem for her.

  Laozi

  Running, Greatness, Thinking

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• The great Way is easy, yet people prefer the side paths. Be aware when things are out of balance. Stay centered within the Tao. When rich speculators prosper While farmers lose their land; when government officials spend money on weapons instead of cures; when the upper class is extravagant and irresponsible while the poor have nowhere to turn- all this is robbery and chaos. It is not in keeping with the Tao.

  Laozi

  Government, Land, Class

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• Without opening your door, you can open your heart to the world. Without looking out your window, you can see the essence of the Tao. The more you know, the less you understand. The Master arrives without leaving, sees the light without looking, achieves without doing a thing.

  Laozi

  Heart, Light, Doors

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• In harmony with the Tao, the sky is clear and spacious, the earth is solid and full, all creature flourish together, content with the way they are, endlessly repeating themselves, endlessly renewed. When man interferes with the Tao, the sky becomes filthy, the earth becomes depleted, the equilibrium crumbles, creatures become extinct. The Master views the parts with compassion, because he understands the whole. His constant practice is humility. He doesn't glitter like a jewel but lets himself be shaped by the Tao, as rugged and common as stone.

  Laozi

  Humility, Compassion, Men

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