The opening line of this 7th verse of the Tao Te Ching is a reminder that the Tao, the Source of Heaven and Earth, is eternal. By extension, the original nature of life is everlasting and enduring. There is a quality that supports this durability, however, and that quality responds when we live from our Tao center, rather than from our worldly ego center.
Identifying
exclusively with the than ourselves or our tribe - that is, order to
change our lives. ineffable nature of the eternal Tao is possessions or
in asking anything of giving machine that never runs out in return.
Because of this natural teaches that it can never die. Giving
physicality of life - and basing our to radically change our thoughts in
Lao-tzu says the secret of the that it isn’t identified with its
endless creations. The Tao is a of gifts to offer, yet it asks nothing
tendency to live for others, the Tao and immortality then go hand in
existence on acquiring and achieving things - disregards our infinite
nature and limits our awareness of Taoness. In such a finite system, it
therefore seems logical to strive for possessions and accomplishments.
Being civilized in most cultures primarily constitutes being consumed with attaining “success” in the acquisition of power and things, which
supposedly will provide happiness and prevent unhappiness. The primary
idea is of a self who’s a separate being in a separate body, with a
name, and with cultural and biological data that are similar in values
and patriotism to others. The Tao, particularly in this 7th verse, is
suggesting that we update those notions and choose to exist for more
than ourselves or our tribe - that is, order to change our lives.
Lao-tzu
says the secret of the ineffable nature of the eternal Tao is that it
isn’t identified with possessions or in asking anything of endless
creations. The Tao is a giving machine that never runs out of gifts to
offer, yet it asks nothing in return. Because of this natural tendency
to live for others, the Tao teaches that it can never die. Giving and
immortality then go hand in hand.
The sage who grasps the everlasting nature of the Tao has gone beyond false identification with the ego, and instead has a living connection to the Tao. This person puts others first, asks nothing in return, and wholeheartedly serves. In this way, the sage lives the ultimate paradox of the Tao - by giving without asking, he attracts everything that he’s capable of handling or needing. By putting himself last, the sage ends up ahead. By putting others before himself, he endures just like the Tao. The sage emulates the natural philanthropy of the Tao, and all of his needs are fulfilled in the process.
The ego is a demanding force your behaviors with the perpetual will flow freely, leading to a fulfilling however, as it tells you to think of someone else beats you to it. The is that you’re always caught in the Thus, you can never feel complete. behaviors, you activate loving that’s never satisfied: It constantly rhythm of the Tao - then its power life. Ego wants the op¬posite, yourself first and “get yours” before main problem with listening to ego trap of striving and never arriving. As you reach out in thoughts and energy, which is synonymous with requires that we seek more money, power, acquisitions, glory, and prestige to provide the fuel it thinks it must have. Living a Tao-centered life rather than an ego-centered one removes us from that rat race, as it offers inner peace and satisfying fulfillment. This is what I believe the wisdom of this verse of the Tao Te Ching is saying for the 21st century:
Make
an attempt to reverse ego’s hold on you by practicing the Tao’s
teaching to “serve the needs of others, and all your own needs will be
fulfilled.”
Generously
thinking of and serving others will lead to matching your behaviors
with the perpetual will flow freely, leading to a fulfilling however, as
it tells you to think of someone else beats you to it. The is that
you’re always caught in the Thus, you can never feel complete.
behaviors, you activate loving rhythm of the Tao - then its power life.
Ego wants the op¬posite, yourself first and “get yours” before main
problem with listening to ego trap of striving and never arriving. As
you reach out in thoughts and energy, which is synonymous with will flow
freely, leading to a fulfilling however, as it tells you to think of
someone else beats you to it. The is that you’re always caught in the
Thus, you can never feel complete. behaviors, you activate loving life.
Ego wants the op¬posite, yourself first and “get yours” before main
problem with listening to ego trap of striving and never arriving.
As you reach out in thoughts and energy, which is synonymous with however, as it tells you to think of someone else beats you to it. The is that you’re always caught in the Thus, you can never feel complete. behaviors, you activate loving yourself first and “get yours” before main problem with listening to ego trap of striving and never arriving. As you reach out in thoughts and energy, which is synonymous with someone else beats you to it. The is that you’re always caught in the Thus, you can never feel complete. behaviors, you activate loving main problem with listening to ego trap of striving and never arriving. As you reach out in thoughts and energy, which is synonymous with is that you’re always caught in the Thus, you can never feel complete. behaviors, you activate loving trap of striving and never arriving. As you reach out in thoughts and energy, which is synonymous with Thus, you can never feel complete.
behaviors, you activate loving As you reach out in thoughts and energy, which is synonymous with behaviors, you activate loving energy, which is synonymous with giving. Put others ahead of you in as many ways as possible by affirming: I see the sacred invisible Source of all in its eternal state of giving and asking nothing in return. I vow to be this, too, in my thoughts and behaviors.