Tao Te Ching - Verse 8

Photo by Austin Neill on Unsplash

About verse 8 of the Tao Te Ching, Wayne Dyer wrote: "I live in accordance with nature and therefore never go against the way of things" (from the book 'Living the Wisdom of the Tao' by Wayne Dyer). In this Chapter Lao Tsu talks about water, and the supreme good, which is like water. Water behaves naturally, unselfishly and nourishing each being. Water is yielding but still very strong and determined. In Tai Chi the element of water is extremely important, it represents the ability to envelop, wrap up and avoiding to save energy. Water can overcome any obstacle by finding its way through everything. It's a very determined element which is associated with strong willpower. Calmness, patience, and reflectiveness are the keys to live in accordance with nature and be part of the "way".

On my Instagram: "verogreen23"

I posted a video related to this verse, where I show in practice what these words made me think about. 

Tao Te Ching - Verse 7

"..for this reason the sage puts himself last and so ends up ahead.." and also "..through selfless action, fulfillment is attained.." I've chosen to share these two sentences from the book: "Living the Wisdom of the Tao" by Dr. Wayne Dyer, both from chapter 7. This seventh chapter of the Tao Te Ching (in any translation) is about 'selflessness'. Heaven and Earth are eternal because of their humility and generosity and the sage is always fulfilled because of its generosity and selfless capability to serve others. In this chapter, we are confronted with our ambitions and egoistic needs and about this Lao Tzu would like to share a really powerful truth: when the selfish ego pulls back, the Universe can fill that void and take care of things. It's actually a really hard statement to understand and put into practice, because it's linked directly with our capability to let go or let God as always said Wayne Dyer (and here I refer to anything we may believe in: Universe, God, Spirituality...). As human beings, we have this desperate need for controlling everything and constantly fight against ourselves to obtain more. I really like the message of this chapter because it's so true and powerful that I'm attracted to it and at the same time I feel the need to deny it. Awakening it's a long and hard road, so I won't force myself to understand everything immediately, but I'd rather try to live by it. For this chapter, I've chosen a move from the "Spring Form for the liver", a move that should liberate ourselves for attachment, resentment, and selfishness. Spring is the season of generosity and inclusion, connection and fulfillment. - Please remember I'm not teaching the move but just showing it. - 

Tao Te Ching - Verse 6

About the 6th verse of the Tao Te Ching, Wayne Dyer wrote: "I pay attention to my inner callings" (from the book 'Living the Wisdom of the Tao' by Wayne Dyer). In this chapter, Lao Tzu refers to the spirit which resides in everything and everyone. This spirit is pure, neverending and creative as the Tao. As we said before, the Tao is empty. And here Lao Tzu uses the word gu which means valley, gorge, cave and in many translations is connected to the feminine. Heaven and Earth are rooted in this feminine spirit (which is the Tao), but also he writes that this source is endless and still willing to give more. I like how Wayne Dyer took the complexity of these words and elaborated a unique vision centered on our own personal growth. People may discuss the Tao Te Ching and its different meaning, an exercise of linguistic and philosophy. But very few are capable to catch the essence of this book and try to apply its teachings to their daily life. For this chapter, I've chosen a move from the Shi Ba Shi Form. It's called: "Take the boat to the center of the tranquil lake". In this move, the hands are moving from the outside towards the inside. This move always makes me feel more connected to my spirit and my inner callings. And the tranquillity of the lake, makes me think about the gu Lao Tzu refers to in this chapter. - Please remember I'm not teaching the move but just showing it. - 

Tao Te Ching - Verse 5

"Hold on to the center. Man was made to sit quietly and find the truth within." 

This is the last part of the 5th verse of the Tao Te Ching (this part is from "Living the wisdom of the Tao" by Wayne Dyer). In this part, Laozi is underlining how the authentic way is the one emerging from the inside, without any external requirements. These words made me think a lot about judgment, and I am not talking only about external evaluation but mostly about self-judgment. Truth is, we are our most fearsome and ruthless judges, we have the ability to hurt ourselves with comparisons and degradation and rarely we treat ourselves with love and compassion. It's very hard to sit quietly and trust our center which is directly connected to the source of energy. We already have all the answers, but we are never really quiet and those answers cannot reveal themselves to a confused and doubtful mind. Centering is one of my favorite movement in Tai Chi and Qi Gong. When I practice Centering I really feel connect and quiet, open to listen and to trust my truth within. This is connected to the first part of this verse, which is about changes and the ability to accept them as a natural part of life. A strong attachment to things and people could lead to pain and disappointment, driving us away from our truth within. Of course, this is really the hardest part to practice, but I've personally developed my own way to deal with this: I imagine myself as an observer of my own life and I try not to be judgmental while observing all the things which are hurting me or those which are keeping me from evolving. Observation without judgment is a great way to be aware of what is going on in our lives without adding any other pressure. After observing I practice my Centering exercises and then I let my Center guide me back to my own truth. - Please remember I'm not teaching the move but just showing it. - 

Tao Te Ching - Verse 4

I'm currently reading and studying the 4th chapter of the Tao Te Ching. This verse is really intense and profound and it has taken me a while to understand it. "The Tao is empty but inexhaustible, bottomless, the ancestor of it all." This is the first part of verse 4 (translation provided by "Living the Wisdom of the Tao by Wayne Dyer"). It seems like this part is talking about the soul, the spirit and its inclusiveness. The spirit is bottomless, is infinite and connected to everything. I also like the part where it says: "it is hidden but always present". Again the Tao Te Ching seems to connect with the principles of Quantum Physics, acknowledging the fact that reality is the result of infinite possibilities and that the observer is the key to create different perceivable realities. Void, form, emptiness, and perception. This verse also reminds me of the Heart Sutra: (here a small part translated by Thich Nhat Hanh ) “Listen Sariputra, this Body itself is Emptiness and Emptiness itself is this Body. This Body is not other than Emptiness and Emptiness is not other than this Body. The same is true of Feelings, Perceptions, Mental Formations, and Consciousness." For this verse, I've chosen the first move of the Ba Duan Jin: shuāngshǒu tuō tiān - hands supporting Heaven. Please remember I'm not teaching the move but just showing it.

Tao Te Ching - Verse 3

Today I'm gonna talk about the 3rd verse of the Tao Te Ching. As always I've started my research from the translated version of Dr. Wayne Dyer, but online you can find many different translations of the Tao Te Ching. This verse is very intense and strong. It's a lot about liberation and the art of 'not doing'. I'm gonna write the last part: "Practice not doing... When action is pure and selfless, everything settles into its own perfect place". This, of course, is a very famous quote and it's also really comprehensible (harder is its implementation). But the part I really like about this 3rd verse, it's the center. 

The central part talks about the sage. It's written that the sage empties the hearts (xin) and fills the cores (translation by Universale Economica Feltrinelli). Xin is not only the physical heart, but it's also everything which is connected to it. It's the place of thoughts, intentions, and emotions. Emptying the hearths, the sage leads his people to a calm and peaceful state and filling their core, he assures a state of wellbeing to all of them. The sage leads people to their natural state and helps them be, and find self-consciousness. A clear mind is more receptive and a calm heart can recognize its real path. Wayne Dyer, about this verse, wrote: "I know that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way". It may sound obvious and simple, but it's not. I think it's simply amazing how he lived and interpreted the Tao. For this verse, I've chosen a posture from the 108 Tai Chi Yang form.

It's called 'Hai Ti Chen' - grab the tip on the sea bottom. Only in calm and clear water, we are able to see and grab the tip. (Please remember I'm not teaching movements or postures, but just showing them!)

Tao Te Ching - Verse 2

video on my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx4gEsajmdg/

Today I'm gonna talk about the 2nd verse of the Tao Te Ching, following the post about the 1st verse which I wrote a couple of days ago. The second verse is about the complementarity of opposites and the attitude of the sage (I recommend you to find your favorite translation of the Tao Te Ching because they are all slightly different). When I think about opposites I can clearly visualize the yin and the yang of the Taijitu. The Taiji is this famous symbol ☯️ representing the infinite movement of the yin yang in harmony, literally translated as the 'supreme ultimate (taiji) diagram (tu)'. In this second verse, there is a very important sentence about it: "So the sage lives openly with apparent duality and paradoxical unity". I think this part is essential to understand Taiji (Tai Chi) and its practice: duality and complementarity. In Tai Chi, moves are all connected, but they are all different and equally important. In this practice, the end of a move is the beginning of a new one. When I practice the 108 Taiji form I try to think about it and connect every movement, but also I try to remember the importance of each posture. I'm also attempting to apply this to my daily life, enjoying the present, but keeping in mind the great picture. I'd like to leave you with the last part of the second verse: "When the work is done, it is forgotten. That is why it lasts forever". (This translation of the Tao Te Ching is from the book: Living the wisdom of the Tao by Wayne Dyer). The sage is someone who doesn't crave for rewards, the sage doesn't want to lead, but at the same time, because this person knows the Tao, the sage is a real inspiration. For this verse, I've chosen the third posture of the Ba Duan Jin, where the hands connect and exchange at the center (I often use this practice to prepare myself). Please remember I'm not teaching movements or postures here, but just showing them!

Tao Te Ching and Tai Chi - Verse 1

From now on, I'm gonna study the Tao Te Ching and publish some posts about it. I read this book many years ago, but now after practicing Tai Chi and Qi Gong intensely for many years (and after deciding to change my approach to spirituality), I've thought it was about time to read it again under a new light. The Tao Te Ching was probably written around the 6th century BC. You can read a lot about its history and its author Lao Tze on the internet (or on many books). Tao means way, Te means virtue or integrity and Ching can be translated as classic or book. So this book can be considered a guide into Living the Way of the virtue. You can find the complete 1st verse on the internet, but I like to show you the beginning and the end of it: "The Tao can that can be told is not the eternal Tao" (first part) "And the mystery itself is the doorway to all understanding" (final part). I love these two sentences and they remind me of this Tai Chi (Taiji) posture called Wuji. Wuji means nothingness, emptiness, the great void. I'm not gonna teach you how to do it, because it requires a lot of time and practice in class, but I decided to show myself doing it. I like that one of its translation is "free man". In this posture, we are still, but moving inside, ready to start something. In this posture, I've always felt relaxed and calm and the center of myself and the universe. I think this is the right position to associate with the mystery and the eternal Tao (my personal vision). I'd like to learn this lesson from this first verse: I want to enjoy the mystery in calmness and be ready to move into something great. 

Reiwa - a wonderful gift

A wonderful present from one of my Tai Chi students. This amazing woman studies shodō (artistic Japanese writing) and from time to time she amazes me with these wonderful presents! For the end of this spring session, she gave me this paper with the new Japanese era kanji. For this new era was chosen the word: reiwa. Reiwa means beautiful harmony. Rei actually means 'command' or 'decree' and wa means 'harmony' or 'peace'. I love kanjis and the fact that they could mean different things at the same time and that there's something ancient and profound behind them. A really amazing gift!!

My latest Green shopping

My latest purchases: "Living the Wisdom of the Tao" by Dr.Wayne Dyer and Evolve Organic Beauty facial cream. 

I've decided to go back to studying the Tao and its wisdom. This time I'm gonna do it with Dr. Wayne Dyer help. I really love Wayne Dyer and his view, so I'm sure I'm gonna enjoy this journey. 

I've also decided to properly take care of my skin with this amazing product: Daily renew facial cream by @evolvebeautyuk.

This cream is organic, vegan and natural. This product contains natural peptides, hyaluronic acid, and argan. I've been using this cream for two weeks now and I'm really happy about my purchase! Thanks to @eccoverdefor shipping this product to Italy! 😍

Here we have a very inspiring Monday! Namaste 🙏🌼