OceanofPDF .comOceanofPDF .comAlso by Dr . Wayne W . Dyer
BOOKS
Being in Balance
Everyday W isdom
Everyday W isdom for Success
Getting in the Gap (book-with-CD)
Incredible Y ou! (children’ s book with Kristina T racy)
Inspiration
The Invisible For ce
It’s Not What Y ou’ve Got (children’ s book with Kristina T racy) Manifest
Your Destiny
A Morning and Afternoon of Y our Life
No Mor e Holiday Blues
The Power of Intention
A Promise Is a Pr omise
Pulling Y our Own Strings
Real Magic
The Sky’ s the Limit
Staying on the Path
10 Secr ets for Success and Inner Peace
There’s a Spiritual Solution to Every Pr oblem
Unstoppable Me! (children’ s book with Kristina
Tracy) What Do Y ou Really W ant
for Y our Childr en? Wisdom of the Ages
You’ll See It When Y ou Believe It
Your Err oneous ZonesYour Sacr ed Self
Your Ultimate Calling
AUDIO/CD PROGRAMS
Applying the 10 Secr ets for Success and
Inner Peace Change Y our Thoughts—Change
Your Life (unabridged 8-CD set)
Change Y our Thoughts Meditation
Everyday W isdom (audio book)
Freedom Thr ough Higher A wareness
How to Be a No-Limit Person How to Get What Y ou
Really , Really , Really , Really W ant
If You Change the W ay You Live, the Life Y ou Ar e
Living W ill Change
(abridged 4-CD set)
Inspiration (abridged 4-CD set)
Inspirational Thoughts
The Keys to Higher A wareness
Making Y our Thoughts W ork for Y ou (with Byron
Katie) Meditations for Manifesting
A Morning and Afternoon of Y our Life
(abridged 4-CD set) 101 W ays to T ransform
Your Life (audio book) The Power of
Intention (abridged 4-CD set) A Promise Is a Pr omise
(audio book) The Secr ets of the Power of Intention
(6-CD set) 10 Secr ets for Success and Inner Peace
There Is a Spiritual Solution to Every Pr oblem The
Wayne Dyer Audio Collection/CD Collection YourJourney to Enlightenment (6-tape program)
VIDEOCASSETTES
Creating Real Magic in Y our Life
How to Be a No-Limit Person
The Miracle Mindset
10 Secr ets for Success and Inner Peace
What Do Y ou Really W ant for Y our Childr en? MISCELLANEOUS
Everyday W isdom Perpetual Flip Calendar
Inner Peace Car ds
Inspiration Car ds
Inspiration Perpetual Flip Calendar
The Power of Intention Car ds The Power of Intention
Perpetual Flip Calendar 10 Secr ets for Success and
Inner Peace Car ds
10 Secr ets for Success and Inner Peace gift products:
Notecar ds, Candle , and Journal
 
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OceanofPDF .comCopyright © 2007 by W ayne W . Dyer
 
Published and distributed in the United States by: Hay House, Inc.: www .hayhouse.com  •
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Wayne Dyer ’s editor: Joanna Pyle
Editorial supervision: Jill Kramer • Design: Amy Rose Grigoriou
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or
electronic process, or in the form of a phonog raphic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval
system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private use—other than for “fair use” as
brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews—without prior written permission of the publisher . The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a
form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician,
either directly or indirectly . The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to
help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the
information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher
assume no responsibility for your actions. Library of Congr ess Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Dyer , Wayne W . Change your thoughts, change your life : living the wisdom of the T ao / W ayne W . Dyer .--1st ed.,. p. cm. ISBN 978-1-4019-1 184-3 (hardcover) -- ISBN 978-1-4019-1750-0 (pbk.) 1. Laozi. Dao de jing. I. Title. BL1900.L35D94 2007
 
299.5’1482--dc22
2007000532
 
 
 
ISBN: 978-1-4019-1 184-3
 
10 09 08 07 4 3 2 1
1st edition, August 2007 
 
Printed in the United States of America
OceanofPDF .comOceanofPDF .comC o n t e n t s
Preface. V erse Number:
1 Living the Mystery
2 Living the Paradoxical Unity
3 Living Contentment
4 Living Infinitely
5 Living Impartially
6 Living Creatively
7 Living Beyond Ego
8 Living in the Flow
9 Living Humility
10 Living Oneness
11 Living from the V oid
12 Living with Inner Conviction
13 Living with an Independent Mind
14 Living Beyond Form
15 Living an Unhurried Life
16 Living with Constancy
17 Living as an Enlightened Leader
18 Living W ithout Rules
19 Living W ithout Attachment
20 Living W ithout Striving
21 Living the Elusive Paradox
22 Living with Flexibility
23 Living Naturally
24 Living W ithout Excess
25 Living from Greatness26 Living Calmly
27 Living by Y our Inner Light
28 Living V irtuously
29 Living by Natural Law
30 Living W ithout Force
31 Living W ithout W eapons
32 Living the Perfect Goodness of the T ao
33 Living Self-Mastery
34 Living the Great W ay
35 Living Beyond W orldly Pleasures
36 Living in Obscurity
37 Living in Simplicity
38 Living W ithin Y our Own Nature
39 Living Wholeness
40 Living by Returning and Y ielding
41 Living Beyond Appearances
42 Living by Melting into Harmony
43 Living Softly
44 Living by Knowing When to Stop
45 Living Beyond Superficialities
46 Living Peacefully
47 Living by Being
48 Living by Decreasing
49 Living Beyond Judgment
50 Living as an Immortal
51 Living by Hidden V irtue
52 Living by Returning to the Mother53 Living Honorably
54 Living as If Y our Life Makes a Dif ference
55 Living by Letting Go
56 Living by Silent Knowing
57 Living W ithout Authoritarianism
58 Living Untroubled by Good or Bad Fortune
59 Living by Thrift and Moderation
60 Living with Immunity to Evil
61 Living by Remaining Low
62 Living in the T reasure-house of the T ao
63 Living W ithout Dif ficulties
64 Living by Being Here Now
65 Living by Staying Simple-hearted
66 Living by Emulating the Sea
67 Living by the Three T reasures
68 Living by Cooperating
69 Living W ithout Enemies
70 Living a God-Realized Life
71 Living W ithout Sickness
72 Living with A we and Acceptance
73 Living in Heaven’ s Net
74 Living with No Fear of Death
75 Living by Demanding Little
76 Living by Bending
77 Living by Of fering the Surplus
78 Living like W ater
79 Living W ithout Resentments80 Living Y our Own Utopia
81 Living W ithout Accumulating
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
OceanofPDF .comPreface
Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their
minds cannot change anything. — George Bernard Shaw
Change Your Thoughts—Chang e Your Life is the end product of my
yearlong journey of research, contemplation, and application of the Tao Te
Ching, a book of wisdom that’s been translated more than any volume in
the world, with the exception of the Bible. Many scholars consider this
Chinese classic the ultimate discourse on the nature of existence; and it
continues to be a valuable resource for achieving a way of life that
guarantees integrity , joy, peace, and balance. I recently read about someone
who overcame life-threatening addictive behaviors by reading and
rereading the 81 verses of this ancient text. Just imagine! In fewer than 100
short passages, it describes a way of living that’s balanced, moral, and
spiritual; and that works for all facets of life on Earth. Legend tells us that the Tao Te Ching was authored by Lao-tzu, a prophet
who was also the keeper of the imperial archives in the ancient capital of
Luoyang. Seeing the continual decay during a period of warring  states, Lao-
tzu decided to ride westward into the desert. At the Hanku Pass, a
gatekeeper named Yin Hsi, knowing of Lao-tzu’ s reputation for being a
man of wisdom, begged him to record the essenc e of his teaching. Thus, the
Tao Te Ching was born out of 5,000 Chinese characters. In all my readin g on the origin s of the Tao Te Ching, I never found a
definitive histor ical record of its writing . . . yet today it survives in
thousands of versions in virtually every language. In fact, after reading this
classic text one morning and then taking  in a different interpretation that
afternoon, I was hooked. I ordered more translations, five of which were
quite old and five of which were more modern (you’ll find their titles in the
Acknowledgments). Since neither Lao-tzu nor the origins of his verses are
historically certain, I was fascinated by the different ways the 5,000
characters were interpreted by scholars in the editions I studied—especially
when you consider that many of these ancient Chinese symbols are no
longer in use and invite dif fering translations themselves.I then felt called upon to write  an essay for each verse that showed its
valuable wisdom applied to the 21st century . From those ten transla tions I’d
gone over, I pieced together the 81 passages in Change Your Thoughts—
Change Your Life, based on how they resonated with me. This book is my
personal interpretation of the T ao Te Ching, each verse of which gave me an
insight into life and nature. As you read on, know that these pages were
pasted together from what I personally felt were  the most useful aspects of
those ten different translations I studied, and I apologize for any exclusions
(or if the inclusions don’ t seem to be a perfect fit). One of the many gifts of the Tao Te Ching is its mind-stretchin g quality ,
especially in the way that Lao-tz u uses irony and paradox to get you to look
at life. If you think that being forceful is the appropriate response, Lao-tzu
urges you to see the value in being humble. If action seems called for, he
asks you to consider nonaction. If you feel that grasping will help you
acquire what you need or want, he counsels you to let go and be patient. And just what is this thing called “the Tao”? As we’re told in the 1st
verse, to name it is to lose it, so here’ s the best that I can come up with: The
Tao is the supre me reality , an all-pervasive Source of everythin g. The Tao
never begins or ends, does nothing, and yet animates everything in the
world of form and boundaries,  which is called “the world of the 10,000
things.”
Commentaries on the Tao Te Ching generally interpret Tao as “the Way,”
Te as “the shape and power” (that is, how the Tao manifests), and Ching as
“book.” Every translation I read referred to the Tao as the Way with a
capital W, and Te as adding light or color to the Way. Well, as I look at the
name I’ve carried with me for over 65 years, Wayne Dyer , I realize what
may have attrac ted me to study ing and writing these essays! As you can
see, the first three letters of my name make up the word Way, while a dyer is
one who adds light or color . It’s no wonder why I’ve been  so totally
involved in reading, writing, interpreting, and, most significantly , putting
into practice these 81 verses. In The Wisdom of China and India, Dr. Lin Yutang states, “If there is one
book in the whole of Oriental literature which should be read above all
others, it is, in my opinion [Lao-tzu’ s] Book of Tao. . . . It is one of theprofoundest books in the world’ s philosophy . . .” As you read Change Y our
Thoughts—Change Your Life, you’re going to find your way through Lao-
tzu’s mystical and practical philosophy , along with the joy of applying it to
your life in today’ s modern world. Writing this book was a complete surrender to ideas that didn’ t always
seem to fit a linear rational approach, and it has changed me in a way that’s
like the Tao itself: unexplainabl e and unnameable. Once I knew  that I’d be
spending a year on this project, its creation came abou t in the following
way, which I have journaled for you:
I awake befor e 4 a.m., meditate, consume juices and
supplements, and enter my sacr ed writing space. On a table, I have
some framed drawings of Lao-tzu: In one he’ s clad in simple r obes,
in another he’s standing with a staff, and in a third he’s astride an
ox. I ease into my work and read one verse of the Tao Te Ching,
letting the words stay with me and inviting the forces of both the
outer and the inner life to inform me. Some of the passages contain ideas that seem to be directed to
political leaders —yet in all cases I keep the average reader  in
mind. In other words, I seek the wisdom for everyone, not just for
those in positions of government or business. I jot down a few notes, and for the next three days I think about
what Lao-tzu is offering. I invite the Tao to be with me throughout
the day in all my activities as a backgr ound to the title of this book. “Change your thoughts, Wayne,” I tell myself, “and watch how
your life changes.” And my thoughts do change. I feel the Tao with me, always there, always doing nothing, and
always leaving absolutely nothin g undone. As I’m now Seeing with
a capital S, the landscape looks differ ent. The people I See are
godly creations who are ignoring their own natur e, or even more
poignantly , need ily interfering in the affairs of others. I have a
differ ent perspective now: I feel more peaceful and patient. I keep
being reminded of the cyclical natur e of the world of the 10,000
things and have powerful insigh ts that change what I see. I know
that we humans  are like the rest of the natural world and thatsadness, fear, frustration, or any troubling feeling cannot last. Natur e doesn’ t create a storm that never ends. Within misfortune,
good fortune hides. Following my days of thinking and then applying the wisdom of a
particular verse, I look into the eyes of Lao-tzu’ s pictur e in the
early morning, and I wonder , What did you mean? How does this
apply here, today , to anyone who might want to live accor ding to
these majestic teachings? What happens next is mind-bl owing in that it simply comes . Through the ages, through the atmospher e, through my purple pen
and onto the page, flows what I can only call automatic writing . I
know I don’t own it. I know I can’t touch it, feel it, see it, or even
name it, but the words arrive in the world of the 10,000 things. I
am grateful, bewilder ed, astonis hed, and overjoyed. The next day I
begin another four-day advent ure with this wisdom a Chinese
master recorded 2,500 years ago, feeling so blessed, honor ed, and
completely awes truck by the profound impact these words have on
me. It’s my vision that in this 21st century , our world must recruit future
leaders who are steeped in the importance of Lao-tzu’ s words. Our survival
may depend on understanding that the concepts of “enemy” and “war” can
cease to exist through living Tao-centered lives. Government will need to
retreat from regulating our personal lives, overly taxing our income, and
invading our privacy . Yet the lessons and truths of the Tao must be discovered and applied by
individuals. In this way, it can bring you to the enormous wonder of your
own being—yes, you are the Tao at work. Your Preface being came from,
and will return to, nonbeing. So for maximum enjoyment and benefit, make
reading this book a personal journey . First peruse one of the passages of the
Tao Te Ching and the essay that follows it. Next, spend some time applying
it, changing the way you’ve been conditioned to think and letting yourself
open up to a new way of conceptualizing these ideas. Finally , individualize
the verse  by writing, recording, drawing, or expressing yourself in whateverway you’re called to. And move on to the next verse with a rhythm that
suits your nature. The following is from 365 Tao: Daily Meditations by Deng  Ming Dao,
which I love to turn to each day. Read this excerpt and see the Tao coming
alive in you:
If you spend a long period of time in study and self-cultivation,
you will enter Tao. By doing so, you also enter a world of
extraordinary perceptions. You experience unimaginable things,
receive thoughts and learning as if from nowhere, perceive things
that could be classified as presci ent. Yet if you try to communicate
what you experience, there is no one to understand you, no one
who will believe  you. The more  you walk this road, the farther you
are from the ordinary ways of society . You may see the truth, but
you will find that people would rather listen to politicia ns,
performers, and charlatans. If you are known as a follower of Tao, people may seek you out,
but they are seldom the ones who will truly understand Tao. They
are people who would exploit Tao as a crutch. To speak to them of
the wonders you have seen is often to engage in a futile bout of
miscommunication. That is why it is said that those who know do
not speak. Why not simply stay quiet? Enjoy Tao as you will. Let other s
think you are dumb. Inside yourself, you will know the joy of
Tao’s mysteries. If you meet someone who can profit by your
experience, you should share. But if you are merely a wanderer in
a crowd of strangers, it is wisdom to be silent. Perhaps the overriding message of the Tao Te Ching is to learn how to
luxuriate in the simplicity of what you’re being told throughout this ancient
sacred text. As you put its ideas into practice, you’ll discover how profound
it all is—but then you’ll find yourself startled by its simplicity and
naturalness. The advice of this ancient master is so easy to apply that you
mustn’ t try to complicat e it. Simply allow yourself to stay in harmony with
your nature, which can be trusted if you just listen and act accordingly .I hope that you’l l feel joyously in love with Lao-tzu and his wondrous Tao
Te Ching, and that you’ll add your light and color to the Great Way. I offer
you my love, along with my commitment to a Tao-centered world. I can
think of no greater vision for you, for our planet, or for our universe. — W ayne W . Dyer
Maui, Hawaii
(Editor ’s note: Lao-tzu’ s name has been spelled many different ways over the years, so in order to
avoid confusion in this book, we’ll be using the spelling preferred by Merriam-W ebster ’s Collegiate
Dictionary , 11th Edition. ) OceanofPDF .comOf bir ds
I know that they
have wings to fly with,
of fish that they have fins to
swim with, of wild beasts that they
have feet to run with. For feet ther e are traps,
for fins nets, for wings arr ows. But who knows how dragons
surmount wind and cloud
into heaven? This day I have seen
[Lao-tzu] and he is a dragon. — from The W ay of Life Accor ding to Lao Tzu, translated by W itter Bynner
(This quote is attributed to Confucius, after he visited the elder Lao-tzu to seek advice on points of
ceremonial etiquette.) OceanofPDF .com1st Verse
The T ao that can be told
is not the eternal T ao. The name that can be named
is not the eternal name. The T ao is both named and nameless. As nameless it is the origin of all things;
as named it is the Mother of 10,000 things. Ever desir eless, one can see the mystery;
ever desiring, one sees only the manifestations. And the mystery itself is the doorway
to all understanding. OceanofPDF .comLiving the Mystery
In this opening verse of the Tao Te Ching, Lao-tzu tells us that the “Tao is
both named and nameless.” This sounds paradoxical to our Western
intellect—and it is! Paradoxical thinking is embedded in Eastern concepts
such as yin and yang or the feminine and the masculine, and where things
are comfortably described as both this and that. We in the West, by contrast,
tend to view opposites as incompatible concepts that contradict each other . Yet this book is asking that we change our ingrained ways of thinking and
see how our lives change as a result. The Tao is an unknowable, unseeable realm where everything originates;
while at the same time, the Tao is invisibly within everything. When we
desire to see this invisibleness (mystery), we attempt to define it in terms of
the outer world of form—what Lao-tzu calls “the 10,000 things.” He
counsels us that letting go of trying to see the mystery will actua lly allow us
to see it. Or, as I like to think of it, “let go and let God.” But how can we do
that? One way is to permit ourselves to practice more paradoxical thinking
by recognizing that desiring (wanting) and desireless (allowing) are
different and the same . . . rather like the mysterious ends of a continuum. Desiring is the physical expression of creating conditions that allow us to
be recep tive; that is, it’s in-the-world preparation for receiving. According
to Lao-tzu, wanting to know or see the mystery of the Tao will reveal
evidence of it in a variety of manif estations, but not the mystery itself. But
this isn’t a dead  end! From this ground of desiring, the flowering of the
mysterious Tao grows. It’s as if wanting transforms into effortless allowing. Desiring, one sees the manifest ations; desireless, one can see the mystery
itself. When we tune in to what Lao-tzu is telling us, it becomes readil y apparent
that our world produces abundant examples of this paradoxical process. Think of gardening and desiring those luscious homegrown tomatoes or
spring daffodils: Allowing them to grow is ultimately what happens. Now
think of the things in life that involve wanting and how they differ from
allowing: Wanting to go to sleep, for instance, rather than going to sleep. Wanting to diet, rather than dieting. Wanting to love, rather than loving. Inthis reference to the Tao, desireless means trusting, perm itting, and
allowing. Desire is both the beginning and the ground of desirel essness, yet
wanting is also the beginning and the ground of allowing. They are the
same, and they are dif ferent. Pay attention to times when you can feel in your body where you are on
the continuum between desiring and allowing (or trying and doing). Trying
to play the piano, drive the car, or ride the bicycle is the same as, and
different from, actually playing the piano, driving the car, and riding the
bicycle. Once those outer -world activities are desired and learned, there’ s a
time when allowing is what you do. The point here is to recognize the
difference in your body between trying and allowing, and to then become
aware of the effortless sensation of the latter . This practice will also lead to
a greater awareness of the invisible mystery and the 10,000 things, which
are the visible phenomena of our world. The 10,000 things that Lao-tzu refers to represent the categorized,
classified, and scientifically named objects of the earth, which help us
communicate and identify what we’re talking and thinking about. Yet for all
our technological expertise and scientific catego rization, we can never truly
create a human eye or liver , or even a grain of wheat for that matter . Each of
these things—along with the remainder that comprise the known or named
world—emer ge from the mystery , the eternal Tao. Just as the world is not
its name d parts,  we’re not exclusively the skin, bone, and rivers of fluids
that we’re physically made of. We, too, are the eternal Tao, invisibly
animating our tongues to speak, ears to hear, and eyes to see and experience
the manifest and the mystery . Consciously allowing this nameless mystery
is ultimately the way to practice the T ao. Does that mean putting yourself  in harm’ s way? Of course not. Does that
mean trusting the mystery at the moment you’re being mugged or
mistreated? Prob ably not. Does it mean never trying to change things? No. It does mean cultivating a practice of being in the mystery and allowing it
to flow through you unimpeded. It means permitting the paradox of being in
form at the same time that you allow the mystery to unfold. Do the Tao; find your personal ways of living in the mystery . As Lao-tzu
says in this 1st verse, “And the mystery itself is the doorway to allunderstanding.”
Here’ s my advice for translating this passage into daily pract ice in this
21st century:
First and for emost, enjoy the mystery! Let the world unfold without always attempting to figure it all out. Let
relationships just be, for exampl e, since everything is going to stretc h out in
Divine order. Don’ t try so hard to make something work—simply allow . Don’ t always toil at trying to understand your mate, your children, your
parents, your boss, or anyone else, because the Tao is working at all times. When expectations are shattered , practice allowing that to be the way it is. Relax, let go, allow , and recognize that some of your desires are about how
you think your world should be, rather than how it is in that moment. Become an astute observer . . . judge less and listen more. Take time to
open your mind to the fascinating mystery and uncertainty that we all
experience. Practice letting go of always naming and labeling. The labeling process is what most of us were taught in school. We studied
hard to be able to define things correctly in order to get what we called
“high grades.” Most educati onal institutions insisted on identifying
everything, leading to a tag that distinguished us as graduates with
knowledge of specific categorie s. Yet we know , without anyon e telling us,
that there is no title, degree, or distinguishin g label that truly defines us. In
the same way that water is not the word water —any more than it is agua,
Wasser , or H2O—nothin g in this univers e is what it’s named. In spite of our
endless categori zations, each animal, flower , mineral, and human can never
truly be described. In the same way, the Tao tells us that “the name that can
be named is not the eternal name.” We must bask in the magnificence of
what is seen and sensed, instead of always memorizing and categorizing. Do the T ao Now
At some point today , notice an instance of annoyance or irritation you
have with another person or situation. Decide to do the Tao (or practice the
Way) in that moment by turning inward with curiosity about where you are
on the continuum between desire and allowing. Permit the paradox ofwanting the irritant to vanish and allowing it to be what it is. Look inward
for it in your thoughts and allow yourself to feel it wherever it is and
however it moves in your body . Turn all of your attention to becoming open-minded, allowing
permissiveness to befriend the mystery within yourself. Notice how the
feeling manifests itself: perhaps doing “loop-de-loops” in your stomach,
giving a rigidne ss to your skeleton, making your heart pound, or tightening
your throat. Wherever it is, allow it as an enigmatic messenger within you,
and give it nonjudgmental attention. Notic e the desire for the feeling to
disappear , and allow it to be monitored compassionately by you. Accept
whatever comes. Encounter the myst ery within without labeling ,
explaining, or defending. It’s a subtle distinction at first, which you must
take personal responsibility for identifying. You alone can prepare the
ground of your being for the experience of living the mystery . OceanofPDF .comOceanofPDF .com2nd Verse
Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty ,
only because ther e is ugliness. All can know good as good only because ther e is evil. Being and nonbeing pr oduce each other . The difficult is born in the easy . Long is defined by short, the high by the low . Befor e and after go along with each other . So the sage lives openly with appar ent duality
and paradoxical unity . The sage can act without effort
and teach without wor ds. Nurturing things without possessing them,
he works, but not for r ewar ds;
he competes, but not for r esults. When the work is done, it is for gotten. That is why it lasts for ever. OceanofPDF .comLiving the
Paradoxical Unity
The concept of something or someone being beautiful is grounded in a
belief system that promotes duality and judgment. This way of thinking  is
prevalent and commonplace for just about everybody in our culture,
perhaps even having some value in society . I encourage you to explore the
concept of paradoxical unity in this 2nd verse of the Tao Te Ching. By
changing your thoughts, you can change your life and truly live the bliss of
oneness. Has it ever occurred to you that beauty depends on someth ing being
identified as ugly? Therefore, the idea of beauty produces the idea of
ugliness, and vice versa. Just think of how many concepts in this “duality
belief system” depend on opposites: A person isn’t tall unless there’ s a
belief system that includes short. Our idea of life couldn’ t exist without that
of death. Day is the opposite of night. Male is the antithesis of female. What if you instead perceived all as a piece (or a glimpse) of the
perfection of oneness? I think this is what Lao-tzu is suggesting with his
description of the sage who “lives openly with apparent duality and
paradoxical unity .” Imagine the perfect oneness coexisting in the apparent
duality , where opposites are simply judgments made by human minds in the
world of 10,000  things. Surely the daffodil doesn’ t think that the daisy is
prettier or uglier than it is, and the eagle and the mouse have no sense of the
opposites we call life and death. The trees, flowers, and animals know not
of ugliness or beauty; they simply are . . . in harmony with the eternal Tao,
devoid of judgment. As the sage lives openly with apparent duality , he synthesizes the origin
with the manifestation without forming an opinion about it. Living without
judgment and in perfect onenes s is what Lao-tzu invites his readers to do. He invites our wisdom to combine perceived opposites  and live a unified
life. The perfect ion of the Tao is allowing apparent duality while seeing the
unity that is reality . Life and death are identical. Virtue and sin are
judgments, needing both to identify either . These are the paradoxes of aunified life; this is living within the eternal Tao. Once the dichotomies or
pairs of opposites are transcended, or at least seen for what they are, they
flow in and out of life like the tides. Practice being a living, breathing paradox every moment of your life. The
body has physical boundaries—it begins and ends and has material
substance. Yet it also contains something that defies boundaries, has no
substance, and is infinite and formless. You are both the Tao and the 10,000
things simultane ously . Let the contrasting and opposite ideas be within you
at the same time. Allow yourself to hold those opposite thoughts without
them canceling each other out. Believe strongly in your free will and ability
to influe nce your surroundings, and simultaneously surrender to the energy
within you. Know that good and evil are two aspects of a union. In other
words, accept the duality of the material world while still remaining in
constant contact with the oneness of the eternal Tao. The debilitating
necessity to be right and make others wrong will diminish. I believe that Lao-tzu would apply the Tao Te Ching to today’ s world by
suggesting the following:
Live a unified life. Enter the world of oneness with an awareness of the propensity to
compartmentalize everything as good or bad, right or wrong. Beautiful or
ugly are standards of the phys ical world, not the Tao. Cont emplate the
insight that duality is a mind game. In other words, people look the way
they look, period—criticism is not always necessary or helpful. See the
unfolding of the Tao inside everyone, including yourself, and be at peace
with what you observe. Be a good animal and move freely , unencumbered with thoughts about
where you should be and how you should be acting. For instance, imagine
yourself as an otter just living your “otterness.” You’re not good or bad,
beautiful or ugly, a hard worker or a slacker . . . you’re simply an otter,
moving through  the water or on the land freely , peacefully , playfully , and
without judgments. When it’s time to leave your body , you do so,
reclaiming your place in the pure mystery of oneness. This is what Lao-tzu
means when he says, “When the work is done, it is forgotten. That is why it
lasts forever .”In other words, you don’t have to leave your body to experience forever;
it’s possible to know your eternal self even in the embodied condition. When duality and judgment crop up, allow them to be a part of the perfect
unity . When other people create dichotomies, you can always know oneness
by practicing the T ao. Accomplish much by trying less. Effort is one piece of the whol e; another piece is non-ef fort. Fuse these
dichotomies, and the result is effortless action without attachment to
outcome. This is precisely how you dance with someone: You make an
attempt, assume a position, listen to the music, and let go all at the same
time, allowing yourself to easily move with your partner . Combine the so-
called opposites into the oneness of being without judgment or fear. Labeling action as “a fine effort” implies a belief that trying hard is better
than not trying. But trying itself only exists because of beliefs about not
trying. Attempting to pick up a piece of trash is really just not picking up
the trash. Once you’ve picke d it up, then trying and not trying are
irrelevant. Understand that you can act without the implied judgment of words such
as effort and trying. You can compete without being  focused on outcome. Eliminating opposites paradoxically unifies them so that it is unnecessary to
identify with one position. I imagine that in today’ s language, Lao-tzu
would sum up this 2nd verse of the Tao Te Ching in these two simple
words: Just be. Do the T ao Now
Do the Tao today by noticing an opportunity to defend or explai n yourself
and choosing not to. Instead, turn within and sense the texture of
misunderstanding, feeling it all the way through your physical system. Just
be with what is, instead of opting to ease it by traversing the outer -world
path of explaining and defend ing. Don’ t get caught up in the apparent
duality of being right or wrong. Congratulate yourself for making a choice
to be in paradoxical unity , a oneness where all of the spectrum simply is. Silently appreciate the opportun ity, along with your willingness to practice
your sageness!OceanofPDF .comOceanofPDF .com3rd Verse
Putting a value on status
will cr eate contentiousness. If you overvalue possessions,
people begin to steal. By not displaying what is desirable, you will
cause the people’ s hearts to r emain undisturbed. The sage governs
by emptying minds and hearts,
by weakening ambitions and str engthening bones. Practice not doing. . . . When action is pur e and selfless,
everything settles into its own perfect place. OceanofPDF .comLiving Contentment
This 3rd verse of the Tao Te Ching advises rearranging priorities  to ensure
contentment. Focusing on obtaining more objects of desire encourages
external factors to have control over us. Pursuit of status, be it monetary or
a positio n of power , blinds us to our relationship to the eternal Tao, along
with the contented life that is available. Overvaluing possessions and
accomplishments stems from our ego’s fixation on getting more—wealth,
belongings, statu s, power , or the like. The Tao recommends refraining from
this kind of discontented way of life, which leads to thievery ,
contentiousness, and confusion. Rather than seeking more, the Tao practice
of gratitude is what leads us to the contented life. We must replace personal
desires with the Tao-centered question: How may I serve? By simply
changing these kinds of thoughts , we will begin to see major changes taking
place in our lives. The advice to practice “not doing” and trusting that all will settle into a
perfect place may sound like a prescription for laziness and a failed society ,
yet I don’t think that’s what Lao-tzu is offering here. He isn’t saying to be
slothful or inactive; rather , he’s suggesting that trusting in the Tao is the
way to be directed by the Source of your creation and to be guided by a
higher principle than your ego-driven desires. Ego-fixated wants can get in the way of Divine essence, so practice
getting ego out of the way and be guided by the Tao in all that you do. In a
state of frenzy? Trust in the Tao. Listen for what urges you onward, free
from ego domination, and you’l l paradoxically be more productive. Allow
what’ s within to come forward by suspending worldly determina tion. In this
way, it will no longer be just you who is conducting this orchestration  that
you call your life. Much of this 3rd verse contains  advice on how to govern. I view this not
as political or administrative advice, but as it pertains to our own personal
lives and those we’re entrusted to guide—that is, our immediate  family , and
in a larger sense, the human family that comprises all of those with whom
we’re in contact on a daily basis.Encourage your relatives to empty their minds of thoughts about status
and acquisitions, and think instead about serving others and contributing to
the healt h and strength of all. Model the harmony of this attitude; after all,
everyone has a calling to be inspired. The Source of creation is not
interested in material possessions or status. It will provide what is needed—
it will guide, motivate, and influence you and everyone else. Ego (and its
incessant invent ory of desires) probably needs to be weakened so that the
beauty of the Tao can be sensed. Demonstrate this to others by being a
leader who removes the egocentric temptations that foster envy , anger , and
competition. If Lao-tzu were able to view our contemporary world from his 2,500-year -
old perspective, I believe that he’d offer the following advice based upon
this 3rd verse of the T ao Te Ching:
Remind yourself daily that ther e is no way to happiness; rather ,
happiness is the way . You may have a long list of goals that you believe will provide  you with
contentment when they’re achieved, yet if you examine your state of
happiness in this moment, you’ll notice that the fulfillment of some
previous ambitions didn’ t create an enduring sense of joy. Desires can
produce anxiety , stress, and competitiveness, and you need to recognize
those that do. Bring happines s to every encounter in life, instead of
expecting extern al events to produce joy. By staying in harmony  on the path
of the Tao, all the contentment you could ever dream of will begin to flow
into your life—t he right people, the means to finance where you’re headed,
and the necessary factors will come together . “Stop pushing yourself,” Lao-
tzu would say, “and feel gratitude and awe for what is. Your life is
controlled by something far bigger and more significant than the petty
details of your lofty aspirations.”
Trust the perfection of the eternal T ao, for it is the ultimate Sour ce of
the 10,000 things. The Tao is working for and with you, so you needn’ t remind it of what
you crave or what you think it has forgotten on your behal f. Trust the
harmony of the Tao. It took care of everything that you needed in your
creation as well as your first nine months of life without any assistancefrom you, and totally independent of any desires you may have had. The
Tao will continue to do so if you just trust it and practice not doing. Inventory your desires and then turn them over to the unnameable. Yes,
turn them over and do nothing but trust. At the same time, listen and watch
for guidance, and then connect yourself to the perfect energy that sends
whatever is necessary into your life. You (meaning your ego) don’t need to
do anything. Instead, allow the eternal perfection of the Tao to work
through you. This is Laotzu’ s message for our world now . Henry David Thoreau made the following observation in the middle of the
19th century as he wrote at Walden Pond, and I feel that it personifie s this
3rd verse of the T ao Te Ching:
Let us spend one day as deliberately as Nature, and not be
thrown off the track by every nutshell and mosquito’ s wing that
falls on the rails. . . . If the engine whistles, let it whistle till it is
hoarse for its pains. If the bell rings, why should we run? . . . I
have always been regretting that I was not as wise as the day I was
born. Trust in your essential sageness. Don’ t let desires obscure your eternal
connection to the T ao. Do the T ao Now
Watch for an opportunity today  to notice that you’re planning on buying
something. Choose to do the Tao and listen for guidance. Be grateful that
you have the choice to make the purchase, then practice listening to
yourself and not doing. Through  your feelings, the Tao will reveal the way
for you in that moment. Trust it. You might be guided to buy the item and
savor it with gratitude, donate  it, procure one for you and one for someone
else, give the money to a charity  instead of getting the item, or refrain from
obtaining it altogether . Practice doing the Tao in everyday situations and you’ll know
contentment in a deeper sense. As this verse says, “When action is pure and
selfless, everything settles into its own perfect place.” Now that’s my
definition of contentment!OceanofPDF .comOceanofPDF .com4th Verse
The T ao is empty
but inexhaustible,
bottomless,
the ancestor of it all. Within it, the sharp edges become smooth;
the twisted knots loosen;
the sun is softened by a cloud;
the dust settles into place. It is hidden but always pr esent. I do not know who gave birth to it. It seems to be the common ancestor of all, the father of things. OceanofPDF .comLiving Infinitely
The Tao is the Source of all life, yet it is empty and limitless and cannot
be constrained, quantified, or measured. This life-giving energy of creation
provides a profound Source of joy that’s accessible at all times. If you live
from an infinite perspective, you’ll relinquish the idea that your only
identity is the physical body in which you progress from birth to death. In
your totality, you’re an infinite being disguised as a person existing in the
world of “sharp edges” and “twisted knots” that this verse refers to. Coalescing within and around you at all times is the invisible life-giving
force of the T ao. It is inexhaustible. It is bottomless. It cannot be depleted. This 4th verse of the Tao invites you to consider rearran ging your
thoughts about who you are. It seems to be saying that cultivating an
awareness of the infinite aspect of yourself is the way to tap into the
limitless Source of creative energy that flows through you. For example,
you may want to help less fortunate people improve their day-to-day
existence, but you don’t believe that you have the time or energy to do so
because of who you are and what you presently do. As you relax your hold
on the idea of yourself as the job you do or the life you’re living and seek to
acquaint yourself with the limitless creative energy that’s a part of you, the
time and ener gy you require will appear . Imagining yourself helping others, guided by the infinite aspect of
yourself, will generate behavior and actions that complement your vision
through the “common ancestor”  of the Tao. Ultimately , you’ll cultivate an
absolute knowin g that whatever assistance you need is right here and right
now—in front of, in back of, above, and below you. It is empty , yet very
much present. It is, as Lao-tzu reminds you, “inexhaustible, bottomless, the
ancestor of it all.”
Awareness of the omnipresen ce of the Tao means that thoughts of
shortages or lack aren’ t prevalent. Beliefs such as “There’ s no way this will
happen,” “It’s not my destiny ,” or “With my luck, things could never work
out,” cease to be entertained. Instead, you begin to expect that what you
imagine for yourself is not only on its way—it’ s already here! This new
self-portrait based on the cooperative presence of the invisible Tao elevatesyou to living an inspired life—that is, one of being “in spirit” or in
unending touch with the Tao. When you live infinitely , the rewards are a
sense of peaceful joy because you know that all is in order . This is what I imagine Lao-tzu’ s ancient words mean in our modern era:
Consider all things that seem to be a pr oblem
from the perspective of the eternal T ao. Believing that there’ s a shortage of prosperity is a signal to think in terms
of the inexhaustible Source: the Tao. Just like everything else on our planet,
money is available in limitless quantities. Know this and connect to the
bottomless supply . Do it first in your thoughts by affirming: Everything I
need now is here. Prosperity thoug hts are energetic instructions to access
your infinite self, so actions will follow them. Take this same approach—stay ing in harmony with the Tao—to all of
your problems, for there’ s an all-encompassing supply of well-being to
partner with. So rather than giving energy to illness and perceived
misfortunes, stay with the Tao. Stay with what can never be used up. Stay
with that which is the father of all things, the creative Source of all. It will
work with and for you, as you have it in your thoughts, then in your
feelings, and finally in your actions. Be an infinite observer . When acknowle dged as a sign of change, worry is transitory—i t’s simply
part of the world of the changing. If you view your life from  the vantage
point of an infin ite observer , concerns, anxieties, and struggle s blend into
the eternal mix. From this ageless perspective, picture how important the
things you feel depressed about now will be in a hundred, a thousand, a
million, or an uncountable number of years. Remember that you, like the
infinite T ao from which you originated, are part of an eternal reality . Rearrange your thoughts to practice thinking in alignment with the Tao. With the assistance of the eternal Tao, all of the sharp edges of life smooth
out, the knots loosen, and the dust settles. T ry it! Do the T ao NowPick a situation today (any situation will work), and instead of verbally
responding, be silent and listen to your thoughts. For example, in a social
gathering or business meeting , choose to seek the emptiness found in
silence in order to be aware of your infinite self. Invite it to let you know
when or whethe r to respond. If you find your worldly ego interpreting or
judging, then just observe that without criticizing or changing it. You’ll
begin to find more and more situations where it feels peaceful and joyful to
be witho ut respo nse . . . just to be in the infinity that’s hidden but always
present. You might want to duplicate this advice of my teacher Nisargadatta
Maharaj and post it conspicuously so that you can read it daily:
Wisdom is knowing I am nothing,
love is knowing I am everything,
and between the two my life moves. And while you’re living, stay as close to love as you can. OceanofPDF .com5th Verse
Heaven and earth ar e impartial;
they see the 10,000 things as straw dogs. The sage is not sentimental;
he treats all his people as straw dogs. The sage is like heaven and earth:
To him none ar e especially dear ,
nor is ther e anyone he disfavors. He gives and gives, without condition,
offering his tr easur es to everyone. Between heaven and earth
is a space like a bellows;
empty and inexhaustible,
the mor e it is used, the mor e it pr oduces. Hold on to the center . Man was made to sit quietly and find
the truth within. OceanofPDF .comLiving Impartially
The Tao does not discriminate—period! Like heaven and earth, it is
impartial. The Tao is the Source of all, the great invisible provider . It
doesn’ t show preference by giving energy to some while depriving others;
rather , the basic life-sustaining  components of air, sunshine , atmosphere,
and rain are provided for all on our planet. By choosing to harmonize our
inner and outer consciousness with this powerful feature of the Tao, we can
realize the true self that we are. The true self is our unsentimental sage
aspect that lives harmoniously with the Tao. This aspect doesn’ t view life in
one form as more deserving than another , and it refuses to play favorites. Or, as Lao-tzu states, “He treats all his people as straw dogs.”
Lao-tzu uses this term to describe how the Tao (as well as the enlightened
ones) treats the 10,000 things that comprise the world of the manifest. In
Stephen Mitchel l’s translation of the Tao Te Ching, he explains that “straw
dogs were ritual objects, venerated befor e the ceremony but afterward
abandoned and trampled underfoot.” In other words, Taoism reveres and
respects existence impart ially, as an ebb and flow that is to be revered and
then released. With impartial awareness, the sage genuinely sees the
sacredness within all the straw dogs in this ceremony we call life. The 5th verse encourages us to be aware of this unbiased Source  and, as a
bonus, to enjoy  the paradoxical nature of the Tao. The more rappo rt we
have with the energy of the Tao and the more we’re living from its all-
creating perspective, the more it is available to us. It’s impossible to use it
up—if we consume more, we simply receive more. But if we attempt to
hoard it, we’ll experience shortages ourselves, along with the failure of
having even a wisp of understanding. The Tao and its inexhaustible powers
paradoxically disappear when we attempt to exclude anyone from its
unprejudiced nature. The varied forms of life are illusory as far as the Tao is concer ned, so no
one is special or better than anyone else. This sentiment is echoed in the
Christian scriptures: “[God] sends rain on the righteou s and the
unrighteous” (Matt. 5:45).Practicing impartiality is a way to incorporate the 5th verse of the Tao Te
Ching into your life, and to practice its wisdom in today’ s world. To that
end, this is what I believe Lao-tzu was trying to impart to us from his 2,500-
year-old vantage point:
Stay in harmony with the impartial essence of the T ao in all of your
thoughts and all of your behaviors. When you have a thought that excludes others, you’ve elected to see
yourself as “special” and therefore deserving of exceptional favor from
your Source of being. The moment you’ve promoted yourself to this
category , you’ve elevated your self-importance above those whom you’ve
decided are less deserving. Thin king this way will cause you to lose the all-
encompassing power of the Tao. Organizations—including religious groups
—that designate some members  as “favored” aren’ t centered in the Tao. No
matter how much they attempt to convince themselves and others of their
spiritual connection, the act of exclusion and partiality eliminates their
functioning from  their true self. In other words, if a thought or behavior
divides us, it is not of God; if it unites us, it is of God. Stay centered on this
Tao that resides within you, Lao-tzu advises, and you’ll never have a
thought that isn’ t in harmony with spirit. Offer your tr easur es to everyone. This is what the Tao is doing at every moment—of fering to all, the entire
spectrum of creation. Think of this as a simple three-step process:
1. Eliminate as many judgment s of others in your thoughts as possible. The simplest, most natural way to accomplish this is to see yourself in
everyone. Remember that you and those you judge share one thing in
common—the Tao! So rather than viewing appearances, which are really
nothing more than straw dogs, see the unfolding of the Tao in those you
encounter , and your criticisms and labels will dissolve. 2. Remove the word special from your vocabulary when you refer to
yourself or others. If anyone is special, then we all are. And if we’re all
exceptional, then we don’t need a word like that to define us, since it clearly
implies that some are more favored than others!3. Finally, implement the third step of this process by extending
generosity through living the Tao impartially and connecting with the inner
space of being the Tao. In this space you’ll be able to be unbiased about
your possessions, recognizing that they’re not exclusively yours but are
rather a part of the entirety . By unconditionally sharing and giving, you’ll
thrill at the experience of living the Tao and being unprejudiced. The Tao is
your truth; it resides within you. Quietly be in the peace and joy of
connecting with the inexhaustible T ao. Do the T ao Now
As many times as possible today , decide to approach interactions or
situations involving other people with a completely fair mind-set, which
you allow and trust to guide your responses. Do this as often as you can for
an entire day with individua ls, groups, friends, family members, or
strangers. Create a short sentence that you silently repeat to continually
remind yourself that you’re approaching this situation with an unbiased
attitude, such as Guide me right now, Tao; Holy Spirit, guide me now; or
Holy Spirit, help us now . Keeping this brief sentence on a loop in your mind
will prevent judgment from habitually surfacing—but even more appealing
is the feeling of relaxation and openness to whatever wants to happen in
those moments of impartiality . OceanofPDF .com6th Verse
The spirit that never dies
is called the mysterious feminine. Although she becomes the whole universe,
her immaculate purity is never lost. Although she assumes countless forms,
her true identity r emains intact. The gateway to the mysterious female
is called the r oot of cr eation. Listen to her voice,
hear it echo thr ough cr eation. Without fail, she r eveals her pr esence. Without fail, she brings us to our own perfection. Although it is invisible, it endur es;
it will never end. OceanofPDF .comLiving Creatively
In this 6th verse, Lao-tzu refers to an eternal and indescribable force of
creation that continuously gives birth to new life. He tells us that this
“mysterious female” energy continually reveals itself in perfection, and he
invites us to an awareness of that voice of creation echoing  throughout life
in myriad ways. “Living creatively” is how I describe existing with a
conscious awareness of the presence of this feminine principle. This mysterious female is always birthing, and the T ao Te Ching speaks of
the gateway to her as the “root of creation.” It’s telling us that we have the
ability to tap into this unlimited field and co-create, or as I’ve said, live
creatively through the Tao. The never– dying form ative energy is both our
heritage and our destiny , functio ning whether we’re conscious of it or not. What awarenes s accomplishes, through practicing the Tao, is to let us
participate in the process—whic h in turn leads us toward the wholeness that
is our ultimate earthbound task. Although his writings are almos t 3,000 years old, Lao-tzu is offering 21st-
century advice here, with a message that’s as timeless and never -ending as
the Tao itself. Words may change, but be assured that the feminine energy
can and will bring you to your own perfection. If you choose to be aware of
the inherent creativity that resonates deep within you, where the invisible
Tao sings the loudest, you’ll assist the birthing of new ideas , new
accomplishments, new projects, and new ways of understanding your life. In Deng  Ming-D ao’s 365 Tao: Daily Meditations, the Divine feminine
energy is equated with the soun d of birds soaring and gliding over a vast
landscape:
You can feel this in your life: Events will take on a perfect
momentum, a glorious cadence. You can feel it in your body: The
energy will rise up in you in a thrilling crescendo, setting your
very nerves aglow . You can feel it in your spirit: You will enter a
state of such perfect grace that you will resound over the landsca pe
of reality like ephemeral bird song.When Tao comes to you in this way, ride it for all that you are
worth. Don’ t interfere. Don’ t stop. . . . Don’ t try to direct it. Let it
flow and follow it. . . . As long as the song lasts, follow . Just
follow . Here are some thoughts for living creatively:
Know that you ar e a Divine cr eation birthed, not by your par ents, but
by the gr eat spritual Divine Mother , the T ao. When you’re in touch with the energy of your origin, you offer the world
your authentic intelligence, talents, and behaviors. You’re co-creating with
the you that originated in the T ao, with the very measure of your essence. The Tao is not confused about what to create and how to go about it, as
this is your legacy from the mysterious feminine. Listen to your inner
callings, ignore how others might want to direct your life energies, and
allow yourself to radiate outward what you feel so profoundly and deeply
within you. There is a reservoir  of talent, ability , and intelligen ce inside of
you that’s as endless  and inexhaustible as the Tao itself. It must be that way,
because you are what you came from, and where you came from is this all-
encompassing, endlessly creative Divine Mother , the mysterio us feminine
of the T ao. Whatever you feel within you as your calling—whatever makes you feel
alive—know in your heart that this excitement is all the evidence you need
to have your inner passion become reality . This is precisely how creation
works . . . and it’ s that energy that harmonizes with the T ao. Be cr eative—in your thoughts, in your feelings, and in all of your
actions. Apply your own uniqueness to everything you undertake. Whatever you feel compelled to do—be it write music, design software,
do floral  arrangements, clean teeth, or drive a taxi—do it with your unique
flair. Being creative means trusting your inner calling, ignoring criticism or
judgment, and releasing resistance to your natural talents. Reread this 6th
verse, paying particular attentio n to these words: “Without fail, she reveals
her presence. Without fail, she brings us to our own perfection.” Then
choose to let go of the doubt and fear you’ve harbored within you regardingyour capacity to harmonize with the creative power—a power that’s not
only greater than your individual life, but is life itself. As the great 14th-century Sufi poet Hafiz reminds all of us:
Just sit ther e right now
Don’ t do a thing
Just r est. For your separation fr om God,
From love,
 
Is the har dest work
In this
World. When you reconnect to your Divine Mother , you’ll be living creatively . You will, in fact, be living the T ao! Do the T ao Now
Today , notice babies and small children. Look for the mysterious feminine
nature in little boys and girls who haven’ t yet become so attuned to cultural
and societal demands that their true selves are hidden. Can you see some
whose inherent nature is intact? Notice what seems to be their natural
character , or their gift from the Tao. Then try to recall yourself as a child,
when the natural, Tao-given self was unaware of the ego-self—the time
before you believed that acquisitions or power were important. Who were
you? Who are you? Yes, today spend a few moments with a young child and contemplate his
or her connection to the Tao and how it unfolds perfectly without any
interference. OceanofPDF .comOceanofPDF .com7th Verse
Heaven is eternal—the earth endur es. Why do heaven and earth last for ever? They do not live for themselves only . This is the secr et of their durability . For this r eason the sage puts himself last
and so ends up ahead. He stays a witness to life,
so he endur es. Serve the needs of others,
and all your own needs will be fulfilled. Through selfless action, fulfillment is attained. OceanofPDF .comLiving Beyond Ego
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 physicality of life—and basing our 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, to radically change our thoughts in 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 its 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 immorta lity 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 that’s never satisfied: It constantly 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 wisd om of this verse of the Tao Te Ching is
saying for the 21st century:
Make an attempt to r everse ego’ s hold on you by practicing the T ao’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 rhythm of the Tao—then its power will flow
freely , leading to a fulfilling life. Ego wants the opposite, however , as it
tells you to think of yourself first and “get yours” before someone else beats
you to it. The main problem with listening to ego is that you’re always
caught in the trap of striving and never arriving. Thus, you can never  feel
complete. As you reach out in thoughts and 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. When you’re tempted to focus on your personal successes and defeats,
shift your attention in that very moment to a less fortunate individual. You’ll feel more connected to life, as well as more satisfied than when
you’re dwelling on your own circumstances. Imagine what it would be like
if you dismissed ego’s hold on you. Serve others and watch how all that you
give returns to you tenfold. The poet Hafiz expresses this attitude perfectly:
Everyone
Is God speaking. Why not be polite andListen to
Him? Stop the chase and be a witness. The more you pursue desires, the more they’ll elude you. Try letting life
come to you and begin to notice  the clues that what you crave is on its way. You’re in a constant state of receiving because of the ceaseless generosity
of the eternal Tao. The air you breathe, the water you drink, the food you
eat, the sunshin e that warms you, the nutrients that keep your body alive,
and even the thoughts that fill your mind are all gifts from the eternal Tao. Stay appreciative of all that you receive, knowing that it flows from an all-
providing Source. Stop the chase and become a witness—soothe your
demanding habits by refusing to continue running  after more. By letting go,
you let God; and even more significantly , you become more like God and
less like the ego, with its lifetime practice of edging God out. Do the T ao Now
Be on the lookout for ego demands for an entire day. Decide to defuse as
many of them as you can comfortably , perhaps by assignin g them an
“intensity grade.” Living beyond ego situations that are easy to accomplish
get a low number , while those requests that are difficult  to quell get a higher
number . For example, let’s say that your spouse is driving a car in which you are a
passenger . You see the perfect parking space, but your mate drives right on
by; or you watch him or her take a different route than you ordinarily do. Silently witness the degree of discomfort with your decision not to say
anything. Did ego let you know its preference? Or if you have a conversational opportunity to display your specialized
knowledge or describe a situation wherein you were the recipient of honor
or succe ss, note how uncomfortable your decision to remain quiet felt. Again, did ego let you know its preference?
_OceanofPDF.com_Change_Your_Thoughts_-_Change_Your_Life_-_Wayne_W_Dyer.txt
Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        OceanofPDF. comOceanofPDF. comAlso by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
BOOKS
Being in Balance
Everyday W isdom
Everyday W isdom for Success
Getting in the Gap (book-with-CD)
Incredible Y ou. (children’ s book with Kristina T racy)
Inspiration
The Invisible For ce
It’s Not What Y ou’ve Got (children’ s book with Kristina T racy) Manifest
Your Destiny
A Morning and Afternoon of Y our Life
No Mor e Holiday Blues
The Power of Intention
A Promise Is a Pr omise
Pulling Y our Own Strings
Real Magic
The Sky’ s the Limit
Staying on the Path
10 Secr ets for Success and Inner Peace
There’s a Spiritual Solution to Every Pr oblem
Unstoppable Me. (children’ s book with Kristina
Tracy) What Do Y ou Really W ant
for Y our Childr en. Wisdom of the Ages
You’ll See It When Y ou Believe It
Your Err oneous ZonesYour Sacr ed Self
Your Ultimate Calling
AUDIO/CD PROGRAMS
Applying the 10 Secr ets for Success and
Inner Peace Change Y our Thoughts—Change
Your Life (unabridged 8-CD set)
Change Y our Thoughts Meditation
Everyday W isdom (audio book)
Freedom Thr ough Higher A wareness
How to Be a No-Limit Person How to Get What Y ou
Really, Really, Really, Really W ant
If You Change the W ay You Live, the Life Y ou Ar e
Living W ill Change
(abridged 4-CD set)
Inspiration (abridged 4-CD set)
Inspirational Thoughts
The Keys to Higher A wareness
Making Y our Thoughts W ork for Y ou (with Byron
Katie) Meditations for Manifesting
A Morning and Afternoon of Y our Life
(abridged 4-CD set) 101 W ays to T ransform
Your Life (audio book) The Power of
Intention (abridged 4-CD set) A Promise Is a Pr omise
(audio book) The Secr ets of the Power of Intention
(6-CD set) 10 Secr ets for Success and Inner Peace
There Is a Spiritual Solution to Every Pr oblem The
Wayne Dyer Audio Collection/CD Collection YourJourney to Enlightenment (6-tape program)
VIDEOCASSETTES
Creating Real Magic in Y our Life
How to Be a No-Limit Person
The Miracle Mindset
10 Secr ets for Success and Inner Peace
What Do Y ou Really W ant for Y our Childr en. MISCELLANEOUS
Everyday W isdom Perpetual Flip Calendar
Inner Peace Car ds
Inspiration Car ds
Inspiration Perpetual Flip Calendar
The Power of Intention Car ds The Power of Intention
Perpetual Flip Calendar 10 Secr ets for Success and
Inner Peace Car ds
10 Secr ets for Success and Inner Peace gift products:
Notecar ds, Candle, and Journal
 
All of the above are available at your local bookstore,
or may be ordered by visiting:
 
Hay House USA: www. hayhouse. com
Hay House Australia: www.
The author, Wayne Dyer, hopes to create a world where people understand the importance of living a Tao-centered life and applying the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching to their daily lives.
What is the author's vision for the world?
The author advises staying calm and not getting caught up in the situation, and instead, choosing to be a witness to the events unfolding.
What is the author's suggestion for dealing with difficult situations?
The author interprets this verse as suggesting that we should focus on giving and serving others, rather than seeking external validation or material possessions.
What is the author's message in the 4th verse of the Tao Te Ching?
The author recommends defusing ego demands by recognizing the infinite nature of the Tao and the futility of seeking external validation or recognition.
What is the author's advice for overcoming ego demands?
The author believes that the concept of beauty and ugliness is a human construct, and that we should instead focus on the creative power of the Tao to bring about positive change.
What is the author's perspective on the concept of beauty and ugliness?