How do I let go and enjoy life more? While you may dismiss an additional pound of baggage as insignificant, airlines view it differently. It can exert undue pressure on a plane, endangering the lives of its passengers, increasing fuel consumption, and potentially delaying the flight. In extreme cases, it can even lead to a…
The Book of Yin and Yang Although many people regard the Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu as “The book of yin and yang”, there is only one chapter in the ancient book that explicitly mentions the terms “Yin” and “Yang.” This reference can be found in chapter 42, where Lao Tzu states: “All things…
What happens when yin and yang are out of balance When you’re in a yin-yang balance, things are in harmony. What you want is what you get. There is an equilibrium between the yin and yang forces, and you enjoy peace of mind. Unfortunately, the state of balance is difficult to sustain. There are too…
If you want to get more done, think not about doing. “Do nothing and get everything undone,” says Lao Tzu. This concept is known as non-doing, or wu wei. How is it possible? Many people find it perplexing, especially in the world where we are so used to constantly doing things. The idea of achieving…
Story of Singing Bowls – Tao Stories A man is on a quest to find a bowl of exquisite quality. It leads him to his venture into one of the most renowned porcelain shops in town. Equipped with a trick he has learned, he intends to employ it in his search. His method involves picking…
Deep in the remote mountains lives a renowned wise old man, whose insights into the meaning of life draw visitors from far and wide. Among them is a young man eager to transform his life. After traversing rugged terrain for days, he finally arrives at the modest dwelling of the wise old man. “I’m tired…
Wu Wei Examples To Help You Achieve Effortless Action Wu wei examples in real life are easy to find. But before we look at them, we must know what wu wei means. The term is a Chinese philosophical expression coined by Lao Tzu, an ancient sage who introduced it in his renowned book, the Tao…
Cyclical Movement and Taoist philosophy Are things in this world moving along a straight line or in a cyclical manner? Those who are used to linear thinking would see it as a straight line. After a day, it’s a night. After life, it’s death. What else can that be? It can, therefore, be puzzling when…
Importance of Non-being How can emptiness be of any value? Emptiness can be the very purpose of an existence. When we value something, our attention is often on what we can see or touch. For example, when you see a pot, your attention is likely to be on its shape, its colours, workmanship and the material…
Tao is The Way, Not ‘Your Way’ There are many things that you can learn in Tao Te Ching, and these are three of them. First, staying detached. The first thing that you’d have to learn is to see yourself as part of the universe that you are in. You may wonder why I’m saying…