Daily tao Woring Document 2

 Foreword

I had been writing a blog off and on for many days, months and years. There came a time in life for various reasons it was no longer practical. Whether those days will ever return I do not know but living in the moment and the day I will continue to go with the flow of life and take what comes my way.

When we take each day as it comes, rejoice that another day lies before us we are often surprised by the circumstances and happenchance.

So, it was when I continued to post a daily painting, instead of a link to a blog, I wrote a few words inspired by the painting of the day. I found that many found these few words were more than enough to start the day in a positive way.

I was encouraged to gather some of them into this little volume of art and thoughts. A little volume to dip into at random. 

I am surrounded by such books of all sizes and topics and find myself returning to them often as I strive to become a better meditator, thinker and encourager.

I hope, if you are a person like me this little volume will find a place on your bookshelves and from time to time you pick it up and find some positive thoughts fill your head and inspire further personal thinking.

This is a book that can be opened and read at random, or a selection made from the list of page titles.

Foreword

1 Life is a Journey

2 The Wind Blows

3 The Colours of Life

4 Hidden Deep

5 Winter Days

6 The Heart of Nature

7 Walking with Purpose

8 Steady as you Go

9 Go with the Flow

10 Natures Abundance

11 Chasing Moons

1 Life is a Journey

Life is a journey beginning at birth and moving through its many stages.

Each have their hopes and dreams of how this journey will be made, for some it will be a journey of search and discovery. For some the journey may be difficult and burdensome, for others a struggle. 

There will always be those who seem to have an easy path to follow. But the journey of life is better when not made alone. To be surrounded by the helping caring hands of others make the journey easier and often so much more worthwhile. 

Lao Tzu advises that we journey gently lightly with thoughtful steps. In this way there will always be another there beside us in those times of need.

2 The Wind Blows

The wind blows unseen except for the effects of its passing. The grass sways in the fields like the sea rushing to the shore. Dunes appear on beaches almost as a reminder to the sea that it should go no further. 

There are those in life who pass quietly through but leave their mark. A helping hand here and there, a smile on the face of another because of a gentle kind word spoken. 

To be like the wind making no noise about our presence but leaving our mark in the lives of others is an amazing desire.

3 The Colours of Life

Often an artist can be overwhelmed by the many colours before the eye. This mesmerisation of colour can bring confusion. 

It is often easier to select just one or two colours and use them to the very best of one’s ability. 

If we have before us a beautiful array of food and fill our mouths with a large number, we fail to fully taste any of the ingredients. 

Being too busy running here and there we can end up achieving very little. 

It is wise to now and again stop and take stock and allow the inner calm to direct us on the next stage and part of our journey through life.

4 Hidden Deep

Hidden in the mist lies the centre of this landscape, at the centre the very essence of life.

Abstracts are not to the taste of all I wonder if it is because they force us to seek for meaning. Life is very like an abstract the meaning and purpose of it can be elusive, difficult to grasp. 

How difficult it often feels to find this meaning. But it is there, not where we search for it but in the gentle heart of our own being. We need to take time to know ourselves, to know the meaning of life.

5 Winter Days

Cold winter days can be warmed by the friendship of another. There is something wonderful about such special lasting friendship. 

The man who sang, God only knows what I’d be without you, had such a relationship. He sang it at his wedding. The writer and singer of True Love Ways did similarly. 

Both died tragically. 

Friendship is such a precious thing we should cherish each moment. It is like everything else in life, it is like the laws of nature impermanent. Cherish and treasure every moment.

6 The Heart of Nature

There is something very worthwhile about taking a moment each day, even just a little stop to engage, in nature. 

By doing so we can often become conscious of the beating heart of nature. It brings with it a true sense of being at one with the self and all around. 

Such moments of unity can lead to a heightened awareness of the need to care for one another and especially the world and those around us. We need to think global but feel the heart of nature and act locally.

7 Walking with Purpose

To walk as if with purpose does not always mean that the destination is known or definite. 

It is possible to have desires to reach a certain place in life or to achieve a certain position or status that is a dream away beyond our possibility. 

Such aims and dreams set within us a feeling of failure that drags us down. To be continually striving for what cannot be attained brings only unrest to the inner being. To wander aimlessly through life will bring the exact same results. 

It is good to have a sense of purpose but to set goals that can be reached. There is little point in trying to be a great soprano if you have been born tone-deaf. Know yourself and strive to be the very best you can. 

There is no shame in being wonderful at what you are good at.

8 Steady as You Go

If you are steady on your feet and keep a steady mind you will be able to enjoy all the beautiful things on the path you travel.

Enjoy them to the full because that same beauty may not be there tomorrow.

You may never walk this path again so savour the day and take it with you as you move onwards on your way.

9 Go with the Flow

The water flows towards its destination possibly many miles away. 

Sometimes it hurries to reach journeys end at other times it seems to hardly move at all. In the still ponds created lie the roots of the plants that will on the surface bloom. They have grown from the mud and reached towards the light, out of the dark into the light to bring their beauty and nurture to all. 

We too can come from the dark places of our lives into the light if like the river we slow and ease the restless spirit.

10 Natures Abundance

Flowers can be bought all cut and ready wrapped in cellophane with the producer's name emblazoned on it. 

But the truth is the producer may enhance and change the colours by cross-fertilisation, but they cannot produce. Each flower is a product of nature. We can own it but merely for a short time. Enjoy its fleeting beauty. 

So much of what we surround ourselves with likewise gives us fleeting pleasure in ownership but soon the glow wears off and we seek something else to fill the gap. All things are constantly in a state of change and can only ever bring fulfilment for a moment but the realisation of this allows us to enjoy to the full being fully aware of its impermanence.

11 Chasing Moons

They had a dream and went to war. 

A dream of peace and war no more. 

Chasing moons and hopes and an end to all the hate. 

Some paid the ultimate and lay in shallow graves. Soon the poppies covered overall trace of a life given and they lay in silence and the moon looked down. 

For them, all chasing over but for us another day. 

May the sacrifice not be in vain as we enjoy the day.

12 The Poppy

A flower or maybe two a thing of beauty. 

Tender and delicate even a little breeze can take its petals off into the air. For many they hold such poignant thoughts of friend’s comrades and family blown away in the horrors of war, Gone in a fleeting moment. 

They had a dream and went to war. A dream of peace and war no more. Chasing moons and hopes and an end to all the hate. Some paid the ultimate and lay in shallow graves. Soon the poppies covered overall trace of a life given and they lay in silence and the moon looked down. For them, all chasing over but for us another day. May the sacrifice have not been in vain as we enjoy the day.

Their deaths must never be forgotten, or the reason for their death. The horrors caused by fighting should make us desire to hold onto the peace.

13 Misty Waters

Misty days and still pools bring a calm to life that should be allowed to calm the inner being. Allowing the Chi of nature to touch deep within. 

Such action calms the inner turmoil bring peace in troubled times. To drop even a pebble into the calm waters can cause ripples of disruption. 

Allowing the pebbles of worry within can bring ripples of discontent and a loss of harmony. Cast fears aside, be at one with self and all others.

14 The Wave

The wave reaches for the clouds as we reach to fulfil our dreams. 

In the process there becomes a harmony of sound and silence. How many have been inspired by the music of nature? How often we shelter away, hide from what might be unpleasant and, in the process, miss out completely on beauty, joy and peace. 

To be at one with life, is to be at one and in harmony with nature. 

It is to be at one with oneself and Chi.

15 Lift your Eyes to the Hills

To wander high amid mountains steep.

Overcome the fear that lies down deep.

To sense the beauty rich and rare.

Lift eyes to the hills and travel free.

In those moments feel the wonder of the Chi.

16 Staying Still

One of the greatest lessons in life is learning when to stop. 

If we ever want to move forward and learn, it is important to know when to stand still. 

Before you can fill the mind with wonderful knowledge you have to learn to empty it of all false delusions. 

In being still and free we can take time to learn.

17 Being Close

The closer we get to nature and the world around us the more beautiful it looks.

The closer we study a single aspect the more it makes us wonder.

The closer we contemplate ourselves the more abstract we may become.

18 Dream

To dream the impossible dream, the song tells us. 

There is no harm in dreaming if such dreams inspire us to reach greater heights. Aim further and achieve more.  Dreams may never become reality, but they can be the starting point for fulfilment. 

Find that you can do more than you ever thought possible.

19 Be Gentle

Life should be gentle like the movement of a butterfly. 

Every action should be gentle, and never cause any harm. 

If it does not seem gentle but troublesome, most times we have to look to ourselves to seek the cause. 

To be at one with the inner being and gentle with our self brings peace to the most troubled person.

20 Inner Storms

There can be times when it seems that the storms of life are about to overwhelm us.  

Then a small flicker of understanding fills our thoughts. 

The way ahead is no longer frightening, and a calm begins to remove the fear.

No storm lasts forever. This too shall end.

21 Obstacles

There are times when we feel that all is going smoothly there are no obstacles on the horizon. 

Without warning, we feel we are standing on the edge and the future looks difficult. 

It is at such moments we remember previous such times and know that this shall pass. 

We remind our self if we are not living on the edge, we are taking up some other persons space.

22 Time to Pause

Life is like a journey; it has a starting point and there will be an end.

Sometimes hectic, sometimes easy. 

There is in every journey a time when we just stop and rest.

23 Trust

Every day we put our trust in other people. We step out of our door and put our trust in the many drivers, those that might provide us with something we eat. In relationships, we put our trust in the hope that in turn we are not hurt or harmed.

Trust is the very bedrock of love and family life. Friendship requires deep and meaningful trust. If trust is in any way broken, we are shattered. Life seems broken, it is as though the light had been switched off.

When we have trust or give trust it is like a warm glow at the very centre of our being. It brings warmth and joy.

24 Cold Days Warm Thoughts

As cold days dawn and become ever more frequent we remember warmer times and the joy they brought. 

There is no barrier between them in the peace memories of happy days. 

Those we shared them with come flooding back and fill us once again with joy. Friendships fill us with a warm glow.

25 Silent Moments

Silence, a moment apart from the noise of life,
Golden times of peace autumnal wandering.
The bullfinch sings to interrupt.
The snuffle of a badger as it returns to its sett.
The recalled memory of a concerto.
Just flashing fleeting ticks of time.
Words of love from days long gone.
The wind rustles in high leaves
And they fall to earth in death.
Silence does tarry long,
So should be cherished and held to recall again.
Those precious moments.
When all is still within and without.
They are fleeting those silent moments

Yet bring the gift of peace.

26 Individuality

The smiling face of a pansy one of nature’s pleasures. Perfection? It may seem that this is so, but nature has the wonderful ability to create individuals, no one smiling pansy face the same as the next. 

We are also created individual a wonderful complexity of Genes and DNA. So why do we spend so much time jealousy trying to be like another? 

We each are cherished as we are and if we strive at all it should be to be the best that we can be.

27 Moving

The sea crashes towards the shore with mighty waves. 

They take no effort other than to be at one with the wind in harmony with nature. 

Crashing against the shore it is as if they have reached their goal and then later, they pull back to regroup and gather again for another forward move. 

We also need to stop and take time to re-gather and recharge ourselves for what lies ahead. 

Lao Tzu calls this going with the flow.

28 Autumnal Joy

In every season there is a beauty to be found. 

As the day draws to a close it fills us with the expectation of tomorrows rising sun. 

Cold of autumn nights, has the warmth of colour that can reach within. 

To walk a forest path is one of life’s great joys and wonders which comes at little cost. Grasp each moment and feel it's strength. Leave with singing heart, joining the symphony of nature.

29 Memories

How easy it is to dwell in the past: to remember only the good times.

 Equally how strange that for so many of us the good times all seem to be in the past. Yet by this very fact, the times of this present moment will become the good times of our tomorrows.

Time itself, by its very nature, is neither good nor bad, rather it is a moment to be lived. 

There are lessons to be learned from the past, it is the fool that ignores that which has gone before.  It is wise to remember that each moment we are in the business of creating our history and memories.

30 Lonely Places

To wander lonely places and feel at one with nature and the world is something to be cherished. 

It is in the silence of such places that we can calm the inner person and ease the pains of daily life. 

To be at one with creation inspires us to ever greater things. 

31 Autumnal Glory

Autumn is almost a warning for the coming of winter and cold dead days. 

It can be a time that captures the imagination with its myriad of colour. 

Each turn of the eye captivates and shouts with splendour. 

Long gone memories of the song Autumn Leaves crowd the mind with happy thoughts.

32 Be at One

Inspired by Sibelius Finlandia

Go with the flow and know that all is well,

See all around and peace will fill your life.
Be at one, at one with all,
and know that life is good.
Be as you are and yearn for nothing more.
For this is life and joyous it can be.

33 Misty Days

Ghostly memories of long-gone days and those who still reach into the present to warm the heart and mind. 

Thoughts of love and friendship.

Gone but never forgotten. 

Spectres of those happy days of youth. 

Hold to them and let them come alive again.

34 Catching a Feather on a Fan

The sage tells us to go gently, act as if catching a feather on a fan. 

Try to imagine how gentle this would have to be. There are people who act in all things very gently. 

It is always a pleasure to be in their company and to be inspired by them. Our mission should be, to be such a person. There will be many forward steps, then along will come the unexpected backward one. We may be tempted to anger or frustration. The mission goes on to find a gentle way. 

Once you have learned to catch the feather now try to catch the butterfly on your fan.

35 The Good Person

The sage asks what is a good and what is a bad person? 

He describes the good person as the one who walks lightly leaving very little evidence of them having been there. 

They are those who do not use words thoughtlessly so makes no slips of the tongue that can be regretted. 

They take care of the things in their possession and abandons nobody in need. 

The bad person, therefore, does not need description.

36 Against the Stream

To swim upstream against the current is never easy, to swim against an incoming tide is equally difficult. 

The sage says to go with the flow. 

When saying this he did not mean that we always look for the easy way or the simple solution. What he was saying was that there are battles and struggles worthy of our time and concern but there are times when it is better to not engage in conflict for the battle is not worthy. 

Then it is time to go with the flow.

37 Yin and Yang

How very simple it is to see life as either black or white, good or evil. 

Male or female, soft or hard, Yin or Yang. 

But life is never as straightforward. 

It is only when we hold things in balance that we ourselves can be true and unwavering. 

The sage tells us to know the black but to also know the white in this way we become an example to the world.

38 Stopping the World

Have you ever felt that you would like to stop the world? Not to get off but to put it to rights.

It would be like Canute trying to stop the tide. Or the man with a single rifle stopping the flight of the geese.

There are some things that just cannot be done, and we have to learn to accept. 

The wisdom is in knowing the difference between what you can change and what you cannot.

39 Lost in the Midst

The danger of great festivals and celebrations is they become nothing more. 

Concentration on the trivialities matters more than what lies at the heart. 

Unless we stop and consider, even just for a moment, the purpose might never be revealed. 

At the heart of a wedding lies its promises, at the centre of a climb lies sight the summit.

40 Reaching High

If you venture in the world it is wise to be steady on your feet.

To be steady on your feet you also need to be steady in your mind.

Once the two are in harmony your life will be at peace.

You will be the master of your own unrest.

It is simple to lose our bearings and act without thought and lose 

self-control.

41 Knowing When

Knowing your inner self is the beginning of wisdom.

To master others takes power. 

Mastery of self you need so much more. 

If you can and are aware of yourself, you will know when you have enough. 

You will have true will power.

42 Being at One

 No two flowers are ever identical though it may not seem obvious.

Every tiger seen looks the same as the one before, but it is not so.

There are identical twins yet they are not in fact so. Each being and person is unique.

When we see this around us, we learn how special we are.

43 At Peace

There are those who have learned how to be at one with themselves.

Having done so they find themselves surrounded by friends, without even trying.

They see in them something that they would wish to have.

What do they see? 

A life full of peace and not a restless person full of desire.

44 Freedom to Move

Confusion about just who we are or what we, are is often the only thing that stops us from being what we could be.

If we were a tree we would be rooted to the spot.

A boat on the sand is going nowhere.

You are neither and so you can be just what you wish to be with a little effort.

46 Force of Nature

Nature has such a natural power. For every force, there is also a counterforce.

We have also been endowed with varying amounts of energy and force.

All force has, therefore, to be held in check. 

Even the most well-intentioned violence can rebound upon ourselves.

It is wise to never take advantage of any power, or influence we may have.

47 Harmony

If we could learn to live in harmony with nature and creation.

The world would be a place of paradise.

Each would be at peace with the other.

The law of life would be emblazoned on our hearts.

48 Leave Well Alone

There are those who do plenty of speaking and are never short of words.

There are those who say that some things cannot be achieved.

So those who speak and do not do.

They should never stand in the way of those who are doing.

49 One Thing at a Time

When you walk, walk, do not run.

When you speak, do so aware of the words you use.

When you listen, give what you hear your full attention.

Act in this way and you need never walk alone, there will be those who listen to you.

You will never suffer from loneliness. 

50 Do Not Judge

It is very simple to jump to quick judgement and be wrong.

It comes easily to consider yourself always in the right.

How easy it is to consider another a fool, and yet they may not be so.

That person may simply be guarding their wisdom carefully, knowing talk comes to readily.

51 Yourself

If asked to honestly describe yourself, could you do it?

The real self we seldom reveal.

Yet we can feel it, and picture it, it has no hiding place from us.

It is only once we have learned to really love the self,

That we can begin to be honest and open with others.

.

52 Impermanence

These stones lovely placed to create a pillar are probably now again just stones.

Each stone may have changed some more as changing tides soften their edges.

Everything is under the laws of impermanence; nothing stays the same of lasts forever.

Therefore, each second of every minute is precious and should be cherished. 

53 A Sense of Peace

Much time is spent seeking joys and happiness.

If we are to truly find the joy, that brings with it a deep sense of peace.

It will be found is from a deep sense of self-contentment.

It will never be found from external gratification; this is only temporary.

54 Positive Thinking

It is true that wise and skilful thinking can infuse the mind with pleasant thoughts.

But the power of such positive thinking will never move a mountain.

Positive thinking can, though, move us towards a happier and more meaningful life. 

55 Daily Nurture

If we on a daily basis practice little acts of unselfishness and caring.

Greed place less and less a part in our lives. 

If we make a genuine effort to be loving and kind.

Anger and hatred will vanish.

56 Afraid of Failure

Standing on the brink of a decision we pull back afraid of failure.

We prefer the known, the comfortable.

Thankfully there have always been those prepared to face failure and grasp success.

57 Acts of Kindness

 Daily little acts of kindness cost little if anything. Serious giving comes at a price. 

Sacrificial giving is indeed costly.

Anyone of the three is far superior to doing nothing at all.

58 Accept Praise When Due

When you are offered praise accept it graciously but do not allow it to take control.

It is a very short step fro feeling positive to feeling proud and boastful.

Learn to live with a true sense of humility not putting yourself down but always acting with kindness.

59 There is Always Another Opportunity

No matter how much the hungry tiger wishes for success in the hunt it is not always the case that it goes their way.

They do though know that further opportunities will come their way.

This is the way of life. No matter how bad things may seem, this too shall pass.

This is the way of Tao, go with the flow.

60 This Too Shall Finish

Rain does not last forever, the sun shines once again.

The wind that blows does not blow forever, the day of calm most surely comes.

We should say what has to be said and then say no more, labouring a point is of little value.

Follow the way of nature.

61 Clinging On

How simple it is to cling to the things of the past that bring comfort.

Looking forward can become difficult when we act in this way.

Letting go of yesterday and facing tomorrow opens us to new possibilities.

And new joys yet unexperienced.

62 Making a Beginning

Every journey and everything ventured starts with the first move we make.

If we never get around to making that move then as surely as always nothing will happen.

To make anything of worth we have to take risks and make a start.

63 Contentment

When something as simple as a single bloom can make you happy.

You have almost reached the point where you can be happy with very little or nothing.

When you have reached this state of being you will constantly be content and happy.

What We See

           When we see an elder person that is often all we ever see.

           We find it difficult to see past that old face. 

           Yet this old man wrote one of the world's greatest books of wisdom.

           He too was once a boy doing boyish things.

           Do not ask what they can do, rather ask what they have done.