Lao Tzu

Quotations 

For Dion Silvio Greg Karen Chris Jennifer Hozan and Josiah - for the 1980 Fresno dharma bums of our Buddhist study group and for the then yet born and now departed Josiah child of Light - we are all bodhisattvas for each other.

 

"All bodhisattvas whether benevolent or harsh are here to help us and all Buddhas continue to reincarnate

even if they do not have to anymore because... none of the souls are free until all the souls are free.” -Dion

​

The relationships between Taoism and Buddhism are complex, as they influenced each other in many ways while often competing for influence. 

Taoism in its early form was a mixture of early mythology, folk religion, and Taoist philosophy...

Ch'an Buddhism in particular holds many beliefs in common with philosophical Taoism

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_and_Eastern_religions#Taoism

 

"As much as healing recovery, being in the gaze of a woman, living in nature, the moving meditation of bicycling, the physical labour of service work and the practice of contemplative ecstatic creative writing - all those things and the words of Lao Tzu bring me to the stillness of the breath of love." -Dion

 

"Beyond the walls we make of dualities of darkness and light there is a great blending and outpouring of the eternal life force of Darkness and Light." -Dionysos

 

***

I know that I know nothing. -Socratic

Not knowing one knows is best. -Lao Tzu

That’s a no no. -Mama Louise

***

 

Thoughts from Lao Tzu

[words attributed to Lao Tzu]

Lao Tzu’s suggestions. 

“Life is both a program of and a flow of suggestions.”

-Dionysos Maskaleris

February 26, 2020

​

The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white.

Neither need you do anything but be yourself.

 

When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.

 

I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion.

These three are your greatest treasures.

 

Kindness in words creates confidence.

Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.

Kindness in giving creates love.

 

If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. 

If you are not afraid of dying, there is nothing you cannot achieve.

 

Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. 

When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

 

The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.

 

If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence.

 

To see things in the seed, that is genius.

 

New beginnings are disguised as painful endings.

 

He who is contented is rich.

 

To avoid disappointment, know what is sufficient.

To avoid trouble, know when to stop.

If you are able to do this, you will last a long time.

 

He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.

 

Wasting energy to obtain rare objects only impedes one’s growth.

 

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow.

Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.

 

If you are depressed you are living in the past.

If you are anxious you are living in the future.

If you are at peace you are living in the present.

 

Love is a decision. Not an emotion.

{"Love is an action not a feeling.”-Scott Peck from 'The Road Less Traveled'}.

 

From caring comes courage.

 

The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long.

 

To attain knowledge, add things every day. 

To attain wisdom, remove things every day.

 

Health is the greatest possession. 

Contentment is the greatest treasure.

Confidence is the greatest friend. 

 

Silence is a source of great strength.

 

Non-being is the greatest joy.

 

A man with outward courage dares to die.

A man with inner courage dares to live.

 

Knowledge is a treasure.

Practice is the key to it.

 

The power of intuitive understanding will protect you from harm until the end of your days.

 

The best fighter is never angry.

 

Man's enemies are not demons, but human beings like himself.

 

A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, 

they will say: we did it ourselves.

 

When the student is ready the teacher will appear. 

When the student is truly ready… The teacher will disappear.

 

The best of all leaders is the one who helps people so that eventually they don’t need him.

 

To lead people walk behind them.

 

Great acts are made up of small deeds.

 

Mastering others is strength. 

Mastering yourself is true power.

 

Knowing others is wisdom.

Knowing yourself is enlightenment.

 

It is better to do one’s own duty, however defective it may be, then to follow the duty of another, however well one may perform it. 

He who does his duty as his own nature reveals it, never sins.

 

At the center of your being you have the answer: you know who you are and you know what you want.

 

I do not concern myself with gods and spirits either good or evil nor do I serve any.

 

All things in the world come from being.

And being comes from non-being.

 

The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be.

 

Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness.

Thus goodness is attained. 

Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. 

Thus honesty is attained.

 

In dwelling, live close to the ground.

In thinking, keep to the simple.

In conflict, be fair and generous.

In governing, don’t try to control. 

In work, do what you enjoy. 

In family life, be completely present.

 

Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small.

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.

 

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.

 

If you try to change it, you will ruin it.

Try to hold it, and you will lose it.

 

The words of truth are always paradoxical.

 

Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.

 

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

 

From wonder into wonder existence opens.

 

For the wise man looks into space and he knows there is no limited dimensions.

 

Be still like a mountain, and flow like a great river.

 

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

 

The heart that gives, gathers.

 

Act without expectation.

 

Use the light that is within you to revert to your natural clearness of sight.

 

Empty yourself of everything - let the mind become still.

 

By letting go, it all gets done.

 

The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world.

 

Water is the softest thing, yet it can penetrate mountains and earth.

This shows clearly the principle of softness overcoming hardness.

 

Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it.

 

To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.

 

Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.

 

 

***

​