Tao of the Day

MartinJon
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Tao of the Day is the world's only live daily talk show dedicated to the Tao Te Ching — running every weekday for over five years. Each morning at 6am Central, wellness coach and author MartinJon guides listeners through a verse from his own New English Version of the Tao Te Ching — applying Lao Tzu's 2,500-year-old wisdom to burnout, recovery, caregiving, and the art of returning to yourself. Join live on NoomVibe weekdays at 6am Central, or catch the podcast wherever you listen. Support my efforts here: https://buymeacoffee.com/martinjon

  1. Oct 26

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    I went to the Opera yesterday to see Omar staged by the Lyric and I had a few issues with it and looked at #3 and Sandy chose #33. Mariane joined me for #80, Melissa and Jay K chose #51 and #34 respectively.#3 "Inspiring Strong People"Praising the status one can achieveWill chastise those who don't achieve it.Praising a possession that can be ownedWill condemn those who don't own it.When nothing arouses competitionPeople will be at peace.The Master leads by not defining status or possession.She weakens the ambition of those around herWhich toughens their resolve to be as they are.By individuals releasing their ambition,Everything falls into place.#33 "You are Not Manifestation"Study others and gain some knowledge.Study yourself and gain deep wisdom.Controlling others takes strength.But controlling your ego and desiresTakes power and perseverance.Knowing that you have enough gives you wealth,Grasping for money and love forces you to conform.Embrace who you are and stay centered in thatAnd although you will die you will not perish.#34 "Tao is in Everything"Tao flows in every directionAnd is received by all thingsRegardless of their awareness.Beings are born from itYet it doesn't create them.It's work is every action takenProviding for everythingYet it makes no claim.Being at the root of all thingsIt is hidden within action.It has no motive, no desireIt promotes the greatness of beingsThus its greatness is humble and pure.#51 "The Cycle"Life is a gift received from Tao,It sustains all things as part of that gift.Everything emerges perfect, unconscious, and freeHarmonizing with all things,Completely maturing in its own time.All things exist, and are nurtured through Tao,It fosters and provides for them completely.Tao does not possess or interfereEach expressing and maturing in their own nature.When their experience is completeTao receives them again.#80 "What's Important"Any state wishing to align with Tao remains small.Too many people bring about too many options and opinions.In a small State its inhabitants are skilled and wiseHowever there is never a need to put their skills on displayThey will be happy to humbly use their skills and work together.They never dwell on anything too longThe next thing to do is always making itself known.They love their surroundings so have no desire to travel.Although they have a few trucks and boatsNone are inspired to use them.They love their lives and their simple food,They make their own clothes,Spend time in their gardens while speaking to neighborsThey take the greatest pleasure being with family.Even though there is a bus to the city that travels through every weekEveryone here will be content without ever having made the trip.

  2. Oct 20

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    What a great day with my regulars, one of these days I will actaully get a newbie on Newbie Tuesday. Jay K came up and we spoke on #60 then Sandy chose #50, Melissa talked about more principle problems and #42 and Marianne had me pic a random #62.#42 "Holding both Male and Female"Tao gives birth to Universes.Universes give birth to Planets.Planets give birth to beings.Beings give birth to everything else.Tao is the great MotherAll else holds both Male and Female.By all things embracing bothHarmony is achieved.To feel alone is avoided by menYet that is where no identity resides.The Master holds no identityShe embraces her aloneness,Realizing when she is at one with herselfShe is at one with all things.#50 "Awareness of Death"Every being is entrusted with life for a timeHowever, it is only a prelude to death.Some live as optimists, embracing life,Others live as pessimists, embracing death,Some even live in preservation,Passively living, advancing toward death.The Master lives aware of her appointment with death,This brings her to knowing Real Life.She cannot be harmed by rhinoceros or manHer movements flow from her being.She cannot be fooled by illusion or hallucinationHer actions flow from her being.She has freed herself of all separatenessEven the distinction between life and death.#60 "Combating Evil"While governing anything, use restraint,Treat it like cooking a small bit of fish,Getting it perfect takes less than you think.Centering all things in Tao,Evil, with nothing to oppose,Returns to a state of illusion.All harm dissipates in the face of those that know their true selves.#62 "Everybody's Treasure"Tao benefits all thingsA treasure for those who knowAn opportunity for those who don't.To witness one act or speak to gain positionKnow they are under the influence of manifestation,Be like Tao and do not abandon them,For knowing Tao is learned by example.Therefore, when a new leader takes officeDon't offer words, gifts, or actionsOffer instead to teach them Tao.Why is Tao so universally loved?Because if you acknowledge it or notTao is your treasure,Always in harmonyEvery mistake forgiven.

  3. Oct 19

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    I started out talking about status and possessions and it inspired Sandy to join me for #77. Marianne had a tree removed and we soke about #61, Melissa joined for #37 and Jay K for #44.#3 "Inspiring Strong People"Praising the status one can achieveWill chastise those who don't achieve it.Praising a possession that can be ownedWill condemn those who don't own it.When nothing arouses competitionPeople will be at peace.The Master leads by not defining status or possession.She weakens the ambition of those around herWhich toughens their resolve to be as they are.By individuals releasing their ambition,Everything falls into place.#37 "Inspired Action"Tao never does anythingYet inspires everything to do.When beings maintain the action of TaoThey spontaneously transform from within.When that transformation acquires a name (an identity)External forces inspire actions from desire.Actions without identityAre free from external goals.Without desire, honoring stillness,All things are at peace.#44 "The Influence of Excess"Fame or integrity; which of these do you focus on seeing and obtaining?Possessions or fulfillment; in which do you spend your time investing?Success or failure; of which has offered you the most growth?Under the influence you spend yourselfAccumulating only loss and regret.Fulfill your needs and be content,When you know excess is excessiveYou'll be open to receiving harmony.#61 "Being Great"Being great requires the ability to be humbleSo as to receive that which is attracted with tranquility.Attraction is the most primal of expressionsTo receive that which is attracted is to know oneself.All great beings realize when they error, having realized itThey admit it and correct it to the best of their ability.The greatest beings seek out those who can help identify their faults,They consider their enemy a part of themselves that requires attention.To be centered in Tao is to nourish all related things,To not interfere or meddle in the errors of others.

  4. Oct 15

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    Numerically, my best show ever. I delved into addiction and things I do that I don't like that I do with #27. Melissa joined me for #16, and Marianne came up to share #27 with me as well.#16 "Stillness and Integration"Being empty of mind is of the utmost importanceAnd it is to be guarded with fervor.We have all seen states of action arise,And always beyond it returns stillness.When any state of action is completeIt naturally returns to stillness.This allows integration of what arose from actionWhich is the natural cycle of maturation.If stillness and integration cannot be achievedConstant action will lead to anxiety and wild movements.Yielding to stillness makes one impartial,And all particular things fall away,Then when it is time to dieOne can be impartial to that as well.#27 "The Mystery of the Process"Although a good traveler may have plansThey are not rigid, nor is the outcome.Although a good artist creates,The creations are arrived at through intuition.Although a good scientist observesIt is done for the first time every time.By embodying these strategiesThe Master accepts everyoneAnd makes use of every situation,Nothing is wasted andEvery moment is imbued with light.What is the good if not a vision for the bad?What is the bad if not a lesson for the good?Accept this completely,Or you will suffer in all you do.It is the great secret.

  5. Oct 14

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    3 great regular guests and wonderfully intuitively poignant conversations around the Tao today with my starting to talk about #65, Marianne asking about the pause before the next thing in a day and #24 Sandy #5 and her father's rosery and Melissa and her 2nd graders with #20.#5 "Impartial"Nature doesn't care,It knows everything is more than it seems.The Master doesn't care,She knows that as well.It is good to be emptyThus the Master embraces the void.Like a bellows, she produces from emptiness.Stay centered.#20 "Stop Learning"Stop your learning, it has not been helpful.There is no difference between yes and no,Nor between good and evil.Most people would never know that,They define the manifestation as others haveAnd foolishly give up themself in favor of that.Everyone else wants to be excitedI prefer the darkness,I prefer to not care,Like a fool I have no direction.Everyone else has abundance,While I seem to have lost it all.Within me there is still no striving,It appears I am in chaos.Ordinary men look bright and intelligentWhile I alone seem dull and confused.Aimless as if on the sea, drifting with nowhere to rest.I don't aspire to be like othersI am nourished by Tao.#24 "Do What is to be Done"Standing on tiptoes robs you of firm footing.Rushing ahead robs you of knowing where you are.Looking at yourself robs you of seeing.Boasting of yourself robs you of your brilliance.Overpowering others robs you of your power.Clinging to your work robs you of longevity.If you want to align with TaoJust do what is to be done and then stop.#65 "Simple Awareness"Masters aren't interested in educating peopleThey would rather them be yielding and kind.When people put their faith in knowledgeThey lack faith in their own awareness.When they are happy to not knowThey have no choice but to put faith in themselves.When Governing a Country, Family, or Self,Avoid being clever and using knowledge to guide you.People are not naturally stupid or submissive.When not leaning on knowledgeAll things are guided by awareness.

  6. Oct 13

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    Another Newbie Tuesday had me talking about #71, Jay K came up to address #47, Melissa, and I broke down #39 and Marianne got #26.#26 "Wasted Movement"Without knowing darknessLight is mysterious and distracting.Without knowing stillnessAll movement is wasted.This is why the Master travelsAnd never leaves home.No matter how amazing the manifestationShe knows there is nothing that she is not.Why should anyone seek to be influenced or entertained?If you let yourself be entertainedYou lose touch with your root.If you let yourself be influencedYou lose touch with who you are.#39 "Unity"Unity is the standardWhen achieved, all things are harmonious.Heaven achieved it through purity.Planets achieved it through solidity.Beings achieve it through purpose (life),Generation after generation,Every individual being findsTheir own unity, their own harmony.If Heaven were to lose its puritySo too its union with the Planets.If Planets were to lose their soliditySo too their union with Beings.If beings were to lose their purpose (lives)Without unity, all would perish and decay.The Master honors everything in every form,She knows that there is nothing between the highest and lowest,Differentiating we lose touch with Unity.Always adjusting to find UnityThe Master lets herself be lived,Constantly being renewed and shaped by Tao,Rugged and full of resolve.#47 "Engaging with Manifestation"You can understand all things touched by TaoWithout leaving your room.You can see all things touched by TaoWithout opening your eyes.The more you trust the manifestationThe less you trust yourself.Thus, the Master never engages manifestationWithout first having engaged herself.In so doing she achieves everythingWithout ever having considered it.#71 To Know We Don't Know"To be aware that one does not know is healthy for all things.Avoiding awareness of this is a current plague.By acknowledging you have been infectedYou can become aware and move toward healing.The Master has cured herselfShe is aware that she does not know.She is healthy in all aspects.

  7. Oct 12

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    A great episode with a lot of random numbers but all aligned and unf conversations too. #7 is what I started out talking about. Marianne joined me for #58 and Melissa for #35. Sandy wrapped things up wiht #66.#7 "The Wisdom of Not Having Preference"Tao is infiniteIt doesn't grow old or tired.Because it has no preference for itselfIt can always persist.The Master puts herself lastAnd always finds herself first.By being detached from preferenceShe can give herself to what isAnd find fulfillment there.#35 "The Senses Distract"Those who know Tao cannot be harmed.They removed resistance and peace remains,Even amid great pain and danger.Exciting the senses will distract people,While they see Tao as a silly waste of time.If you look for it you will see nothingIf you listen for it, you will hear nothingIf you use it, it will support you forever.#58 "To Oversee, Don't Interfere"In overseeing anything, don't interfere,Let everything flourish in its own time.Interfering, you get met with resistanceOr worse, apathetic adherence.Misery and misfortune are tied to expectation.To expect success is to focus on failure,To expect happiness is to invite misery,To expect moral adherence is to flirt with tragedy.There is no escaping it, expecting good yields bad,This is interfering, it has always been true.The Master therefore is content to simply be an exampleShe has no desire to impose, and trusts all she oversees,She is firm but yielding, she is sharp, yet none are cut by herShe is radiant, but easy on the eyes.#66 "Leading from Behind"There are great benefits to humilityAll rivers flow to the seaBecause its position is lower.The Master emulates this by always being a servant,Inspiring from below, leading from behind,No one is oppressed, they find their own way.Like rivers so too will the people flow to the Master,Never feeling oppressed or as if they are in danger,The whole world supports her and keeps her in their hearts.Without a reason or a desire to competeShe is never met with competition.

  8. Oct 6

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    A good conversation I had with myself about #47 lead to Jay K selecting the random #41 and Melissa #50.#41 "Laughing at Tao is Perfectly Reasonable"Those who live with sincerity, when they hear of Tao, immediately begin to embody it.Those who live casually, may trust it at times, but aren't quite sure what do with it.Those who embrace the manifestation completely laugh and scoff at the very idea.If they didn't laugh and scoff, it wouldn't be Tao.Therefore, you may have noticed:Progress doesn't always seem to advance.Beauty oft times can come off as obscene.The powerful can tend to seem weak.True love can appear tough or indifferent.Wisdom can be mistaken as childish.Great art can appear unsophisticated.Tao is hidden in all of these,Imparting what is needed,Completing everything.#47 "Engaging with Manifestation"You can understand all things touched by TaoWithout leaving your room.You can see all things touched by TaoWithout opening your eyes.The more you trust the manifestationThe less you trust yourself.Thus, the Master never engages manifestationWithout first having engaged herself.In so doing she achieves everythingWithout ever having considered it.#50 "Awareness of Death"Every being is entrusted with life for a timeHowever, it is only a prelude to death.Some live as optimists, embracing life,Others live as pessimists, embracing death,Some even live in preservation,Passively living, advancing toward death.The Master lives aware of her appointment with death,This brings her to knowing Real Life.She cannot be harmed by rhinoceros or manHer movements flow from her being.She cannot be fooled by illusion or hallucinationHer actions flow from her being.She has freed herself of all separatenessEven the distinction between life and death.

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About

Tao of the Day is the world's only live daily talk show dedicated to the Tao Te Ching — running every weekday for over five years. Each morning at 6am Central, wellness coach and author MartinJon guides listeners through a verse from his own New English Version of the Tao Te Ching — applying Lao Tzu's 2,500-year-old wisdom to burnout, recovery, caregiving, and the art of returning to yourself. Join live on NoomVibe weekdays at 6am Central, or catch the podcast wherever you listen. Support my efforts here: https://buymeacoffee.com/martinjon

Information

  • Creator
    MartinJon
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    539
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © MartinJon
  • Show Website
    Tao of the Day

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