Tao of the Day

MartinJon
  • 5.0 (1)
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The Tao te Ching is an ancient text written originally by Lao-tzu that has brought me a lot of calm in my life and my recovery. As a Top Mentor on the Wisdom app I have taken to offering the Tao of the Day to listeners as well as myself Monday thru Friday mostly in the mornings Central Time. Join me on NoomVibe if you would like to get your Tao of the Day. Simply join me at 6am Central time. If you value this podcast, support me at BuyMeACoffee.com/martinjon to help keep it going. Thank you! Support my efforts here: https://buymeacoffee.com/martinjon

  1. 6d ago

    Tao of the Day S6_052

    What a refreshing show today, don't ask me why though, I wouldn't be able to pinpoint that. Melissa talked wtih me abou t#78, Alicia chose #77 and Jay K selected #28.#28 "Knowing There's Depth in the Shallow"Know the world through the masculineBut access your power through the feminine:In this way, you will be open to receive.If you can receive then your actions will support,They will never be forced, and you will be innocent.Know the world through the lightBut connect to it within the dark:In this way, you will be open to the truth.If you can see truth, manifestation will not fool you,It will fall away, and nothing will elude you.Know the world through the particularBut know there is no particular here:In this way, you will accept all things.If you can accept all things, you will be a beaconThat will guide you, and all beings, back to source.The manifestation was formed from the void.The Master knows the manifestationYet stays focused on the void within it.That is how she uses all things.#77 "The Bending of a Bow"Tao acts on the world as the bending of a bow.The top is forced down when the bottom is moved up.It is impossible for the one to actWithout the other responding.Unlike man, Tao is patient and neutralQuietly adjusting excesses and deficiencies,Taking from what is too much and giving to what isn't enough.Ordinary men go against Tao,Taking resources from the areas that are deficient,Giving resources to the areas that compulsively consume.The Master knows all things are being adjusted.Although she cannot always see it in actionShe has faith it is working through her.In this way, she allows her actions to unfoldNeither dwelling on them nor taking credit.Aligned with Tao they complement all things.#78 "Living in a Damaged State"Air and water are the softest things we know,Causing no damage to those that live within themYet both erode the hard or rigid in their path.The soft and flexible will always overcome.While the hard and rigid eventually collapse.Ordinary men are well aware of thisHowever, they prefer conspicuous outcomes.Thus they align with rigid hardness,It stands firm for a time, but does not last.Therefore, the Master teaches us thatWe can live amongst things that damageWithout being damaged by them.

    1h 13m

  2. 6d ago

    Tao of the Day S6_051

    I was talking about #69 and how the USA dropped out of the World Cup losing all their integrity along the way. Stephanie joined me for #50. Virgina took advantage fo Newbie Tuesday and chose #10.#10 "Authentic Action"Can you control your mind, so it doesn't wonder?Can you control your body, so it doesn't wander?Can you endorse all that you do?Can you love everyone so as to inspire them?Can you do all this without interfering and remain unknown?Can you leave behind knowing and open yourself to understanding?Can you be like Tao and give birthWithout possessing?Can you be like Tao and actWithout expecting?Can you be like Tao and leadwithout dominating?If so, it would be considered great.#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.#69 "An Invitation to Conflict"In conflict the Master will never host aggression.She would much prefer to be the guestAnd relinquish space, rather than claim it.This allows the host space to exhaust themselvesWithout the Master having to weaponize anything.Wanting to control through aggression is foolishThis underestimates conflict and its results.When you choose to conflict with anotherYou look down on them and lose the 3 lessons. (Verse 67)By creating an enemy, you become an enemy.When two forces oppose each otherThe one who relinquishes prevails.

    1h 8m

  3. Jul 6

    Toa of the Day S6_050

    I kicked it all off with an in-depth monologue about #57. Sandy joined me with #9, Julie and I joked around about the World Cup and talked about #13. Jay K then came up and we shared some stories and #70.#9 "The Danger of Extremes"Having to prove yourselfWill allow challenges to best you.Focus your attention on moneyAnd lose sight of what is valuable.Keep in mind outside influenceAnd you will be its prisoner.Do what you do and move on,It isn't yours anyway.#13 "Finding Equality at the Extremes"To succeed and to fail are equally undesirable.Creation and destruction are equally present within us.What do I mean by "To succeed and to fail are equally undesirable?"The more success you have the more you protect it by hiding failure.The more you associate with failure the more you embody it.When neither success nor failure is identified as the destinationBeing becomes the objective.What do I mean by "Creation and destruction are equally present within us?"Having a body and a mind, with which I identify, gets me involved in the manifestation.The manifestation convinces me of my actionsAnd so naming them I both create and destroyNeither of which are unique.To see yourself with indifferenceYou will have faith in all things.To see the world with indifferenceYou will be able to care for it all.#57 "Laws are All in the Heart"Tao governs all things by discarding objectives.Never possessing or interfering,All things only need abide the law in their heart,In this way they are free from desire.When Tao is ignored, objectives rule the day.Rules are created that make people expend energy to get around them.Intelligence is praised and rewarded while products become more demonic and intrusive.Weapons are paraded, fear spreads, and the hearts of all things close off.As litigation becomes a national focus politicians and criminals multiply.The Master needn't engage these trapsShe is quiet, and people follow their lightShe is peaceful, and people are compelled to be honestShe does nothing, and all things flourish together.Have no desire and all things will achieve primal existence.#70 "These Teachings"These teachings are simple and transform livesYet mere intellect cannot grasp them.These teachings are older than life and benefit all things,Yet people prefer the manifestation.Very few people will ever truly understand what is written hereinBut for those few, these pages will guide them to themselves.Meanwhile, they will be labeled as course and uncaringIn the manifestation they are seen as dull and disinterestedYet, in their heart, shines a light for all things.

    1h 26m

  4. Jul 3

    Tao of the Day S6_049

    Today words were perticular and I stated by going over #1. Loyce joined me for #3, Marianne for #63, Jya K chose #51 and I went over a few different numbers with Johnny but focued on #15.#1 "Expressing Tao"Words are particular,They cannot express Tao.To have a name is to be limited to manifestationThat which is nameless is the source of manifestation.Self-referential, those who name, name themselves.Want to experience the depth of the mystery? Stop identifying.Want to experience the shallowness of the manifestation? Differentiate.Either way no one can tell,The difference is in your experience.#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.#15 "Ancient Tao"The Ancient Masters" ability to comprehend the mysteryWas so profound and subtle that they were misunderstood.One could only describe how they must have appeared.Careful as someone hearing the ice crack midway through crossing a lake;Observant as someone surrounded by toxic threats;Courteous as a guest in awe of her host;Unpretentious as a felled branch in a wood;Vacant as someone staring into space;Dull as a man with nothing to boast about.Can you be still, adding nothing until the mud settlesAnd it gives you the opportunity to see clearly?Can you be still until, on its own accord,The next action presents itself to you?The Master has no need for herself.She doesn't seek or expect attention.Not needing to appease herselfShe has no requests.#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.#63 "Problems are no Problem"Be still and you will act without doing,Be still and your work will happen regularly.Be still and your senses will engage the subtle.Similarly engage a stranger as the multitude.See the majesty of mountains in a grain of sand.The Master knows greatness cannot be grasped.Remaining still, she allows greatness to flow through her.With no desire to achieve it, her stillness guides her,Making subtle movements the difficult seems easy.She knows that all of life is not without its problemsSo problems turn out to be no problem at all.

    1h 37m

  5. Jul 1

    Tao of the Day S6_048

    Today I got to talk wiht Cici abdout #32, Stephanie, chose #25, and Marianne selected #43 afterwhich Melissa and I spoke about #11.#11 "Emptiness is Valuable"Spokes, tire, rim, and hub all make a wheel,Yet it is the space where the axel goes that makes it worthwhile.Clay is formed into a vessel,A vessel"s function is to hold things,Thus its form includes emptiness.A house can be builtBut if it were solid, it would be useless.It is easy to see structure,But structure is there to expose the value of emptiness.#25 "I Call it Tao"Before the manifestation of heaven there is voidIt is still and has no form.Inexhaustible it reaches everywhereIt is at the core of everything.Since names became importantIt has been called Tao.It flows among manifestation without resistanceInside, outside, conscience and subconscious.Tao is great.Universes are great.Planets are great.Beings are great.These four are all great and follow the law of their principle;All beings follow their planet,Planets follow their universe,Universes follow Tao,Tao follows only its nature.#32 "It is Not What You Can See"So subtle is Tao it has never been seenAnd yet nothing that can be seen is without it.When beings can remain centered in TaoAll that they perceive is in harmony.As that harmony inspires actions,Those actions will have names,Know that those names are provisional.If those actions inspire institutions to form,Know where their reach should end.Inspired actions, although they may have names,Those names needn't be taken too seriously.Tao is behind it allEven if you cannot see it.#43 "Be Silent and Learn"The flexible will outlast the ridged.The gentle will outlast the hard.Tao, which has no structure, has penetrated allEven that which has no space to enter.Through this I see that unforced action, and silence are the only path to completeness.Action, free of expectation and desire,This is the lesson of the nature of things.Listen to your nature, be silent and learn.

    1h 29m

  6. Jun 25

    Tao of the Day S6_047

    Today got a little emotional at times but I started with talking a bit about #57 when Sandy joined for #11 and Melissa chose #68. Jay K wrapped it al up with #38#11 "Emptiness is Valuable"Spokes, tire, rim, and hub all make a wheel,Yet it is the space where the axel goes that makes it worthwhile.Clay is formed into a vessel,A vessel"s function is to hold things,Thus its form includes emptiness.A house can be builtBut if it were solid, it would be useless.It is easy to see structure,But structure is there to expose the value of emptiness.#38 "Dissolution of Tao"Masters have nothing to proveMaking their power self-evident.Others continue to grasp at powerThus they never have enough.Masters needn't do a thingIn so doing nothing is disregarded.Others are constantly doingLeaving everything else still to be done.The kind man does, and in so doing reveals all that remains undone.The just man does, and in so doing reveals all that still needs to be done.The moral man does and when there is no support will use force to gain consensus.When Tao is lost, we lean on etiquette.When that fails, we turn to morality.When morality dissolves, we teach ritual.Those who have only known ritualAre filled with shadow and ignorance.Therefore, the Master concerns herselfWith the substance not the shadow.She has no destination,Only to reside within herselfNot the manifestation.#57 "Laws are All in the Heart"Tao governs all things by discarding objectives.Never possessing or interfering,All things only need abide the law in their heart,In this way they are free from desire.When Tao is ignored, objectives rule the day.Rules are created that make people expend energy to get around them.Intelligence is praised and rewarded while products become more demonic and intrusive.Weapons are paraded, fear spreads, and the hearts of all things close off.As litigation becomes a national focus politicians and criminals multiply.The Master needn't engage these trapsShe is quiet, and people follow their lightShe is peaceful, and people are compelled to be honestShe does nothing, and all things flourish together.Have no desire and all things will achieve primal existence.#68 "Do What you Love to Do"Great athletes love to play, not winGreat fighters love to fight, not be angryGreat generals love to strategize, not destroyGreat employers love to employ, not be a boss.Great musicians love to play, not perform.They are not attached to identities or outcomes,They simply dance with what they love to do.This is in harmony with Tao.

    1h 2m

  7. Jun 24

    Tao of the Day S6_046

    I started talking about #69 and conflict resolution and was joined by Dayo and the conversation went ver gender sideways with #6.#6 "The Great Feminine"Everything is born from the feminine,Even Heaven and Earth.The Feminine that births is a Mother,She nourishes and supports without possessing.Despite your awareness of itYou are using it right now.#69 "An Invitation to Conflict"In conflict the Master will never host aggression.She would much prefer to be the guestAnd relinquish space, rather than claim it.This allows the host space to exhaust themselvesWithout the Master having to weaponize anything.Wanting to control through aggression is foolishThis underestimates conflict and its results.When you choose to conflict with anotherYou look down on them and lose the 3 lessons. (Verse 67)By creating an enemy, you become an enemy.When two forces oppose each otherThe one who relinquishes prevails.

    1h 24m

  8. Jun 24

    Tao of the Day S6_045

    Today I had a great group of contributers starting with the 3 Js: Julie, Jay K, and Johnny, selecting #53, #43, and #21 respectively. Marianny joined for the randomly selected #16 and Susan for #74. #16 "Stillness and Integration" Being empty of mind is of the utmost importance And 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 complete It naturally returns to stillness. This allows integration of what arose from action Which is the natural cycle of maturation. If stillness and integration cannot be achieved Constant 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 die One can be impartial to that as well. #21 "Tao is not Temporary" The Master is at peace knowing she is of manifestation And that manifestations are always temporary. Knowing this, she always follows Tao. How can she be at peace knowing she is temporary? Because she doesn't cling to her life or ideas And still she is fulfilled. Tao cannot be fathomed or known; how can she follow it? She allows it to lead her from moment to moment. Tao is, and is always, Even before the manifestation of time and space. Tao is beyond both temporary and forever. How do I know this to be true? The evidence is within me as it is within you. #43 "Be Silent and Learn" The flexible will outlast the ridged. The gentle will outlast the hard. Tao, which has no structure, has penetrated all Even that which has no space to enter. Through this I see that unforced action, and silence are the only path to completeness. Action, free of expectation and desire, This is the lesson of the nature of things. Listen to your nature, be silent and learn. #53 "Tao is Easy" There is nothing simpler than to walk the way of Tao The only thing you'd fear is getting sidetracked And yet many people think there is an easier way. They pacify themselves with possessions and entertainment Distracting themselves enough to never see their bankrupt lives. They continue to acquire and convince others to join them in struggle. Everyone eating and drinking yet consumed by starvation and thirst. Excess is a thief, and the victim is the true self. This is not easy, this is not Tao. #74 "Don't Cut Yourself" People are not naturally afraid to die It is what we are born to do. Fear of death is important if you want to rule over the people However, you must artificially instill this fear into their hearts. To accomplish this you kill as an example to control the masses. Since the beginning of time there has been one executioner, Trying to take its place will lead to nothing good. As a novice with a master carpenter's tools You're going to cut yourself.

    1h 30m
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About

The Tao te Ching is an ancient text written originally by Lao-tzu that has brought me a lot of calm in my life and my recovery. As a Top Mentor on the Wisdom app I have taken to offering the Tao of the Day to listeners as well as myself Monday thru Friday mostly in the mornings Central Time. Join me on NoomVibe if you would like to get your Tao of the Day. Simply join me at 6am Central time. If you value this podcast, support me at BuyMeACoffee.com/martinjon to help keep it going. Thank you! Support my efforts here: https://buymeacoffee.com/martinjon

Information

  • Creator
    MartinJon
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    510
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © MartinJon
  • Show Website
    Tao of the Day

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