"I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Simple in actions and in thoughts, you return to the source of being. Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are. Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world."

The Tao Te Ching is a book written over 2500 years ago by the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. During the initial stages of my search for happiness blog, I began to read about Lao Tzu and the Taoist teachings. The principles behind Taoism and the search for balance and flow, understanding, yet not understanding, and various other paradoxical ideas and concepts are simple, profound, yet somewhat distant in understanding.

As I venture further into this deep and meaningful approach to life and the pursuit of purpose, the contradictory balancing act plays a critical role in my understanding of not understanding. As I write this blog, I find myself trying to absorb ideas and information yet maintain an open mind, body, and soul to the endless possibilities of alternative paths to a central point in space and time.

"The Master does nothing, yet he leaves nothing undone. The ordinary man is always doing things, yet many more are left to be done."

Some of the concepts are somewhat skewed in their contradictory nature, like the one mentioned above. Doing nothing yet leaving nothing undone. My initial interpretation of the Tao Te Ching is obviously that of a novice, but the ability to find freedom and consistent flow, like a river, without being captured by the river banks, is a simple, complex, yet profound thought process. The first time I read about Lao Tzu's metaphor and ideology around flow and being like a river, I understood that we must allow all emotions and experiences to be balanced from a neutral standpoint and absorb and release in real-time without pondering too much on any given thing, good and bad.

Information and education is a necessity in life, the ability to absorb information and source education without losing yourself into a rabbit hole is a contrast of search and receive. If we allow ourselves to fall to deeply into a position of confusion around what is the most valuable information or the best education, we can easily lose sight of ourselves and become overwhelmed. The Taoist teachings remind us of the importance of simplicity, patience, and compassion as guiding principles in our search for knowledge and understanding.

Simplicity encourages us to remove unnecessary complexities and return to the essence of things. It allows us to take a step back, unwind our minds, and focus on the present moment. By embracing simplicity in both our actions and thoughts, we tap into the source of our being and connect with a greater sense of clarity and universal truth.

Patience, on the other hand, teaches us to approach life with acceptance and a neutral balanced frame of mind. It recognizes that everything in the world has its own natural rhythm and timing. Rather than rushing or forcing outcomes, patience allows us to align ourselves with the flow of life and transition through challenges with flow

Compassion towards ourselves and others is the force that creates harmony and unity. It emphasizes the universal connection of all beings and encourages us to extend kindness and understanding to ourselves and those around us. Through compassion, we can heal and reconcile not only our individual conflicts but also the conflicts that exist in the wider world.

The wisdom of Lao Tzu's teachings lies in the ability to guide us towards a balanced and meaningful existence. They remind us that our greatest treasures are not material possessions, but rather the qualities of simplicity, patience, and compassion that reside within us. By cultivating these qualities, we can navigate life's complexities with greater ease and find fulfillment in our pursuit of purpose.

By allowing a balanced frame of mind, where we choose to flow seamlessly through the vast array of challenges and emotions that we face, we can contribute to putting ourselves in a strong position in the search for happiness.

“Free from desire, you realize the mystery. Caught in desire, you see only the manifestations.”

Thanks,

Dean