Tao Te Ching: Verse 1

As I have read and reread the Tao Te Ching, I have realized that I would like to record my observations, thoughts, insights on each verse. There is so much wisdom contained in the 81 verses of the Tao, and it is stated so simply, yet a great deal of meditation is required to fully grasp what the significance is to our lives. And, in my opinion, without practical application, spirituality is simply another concept we can use to feed our egos and create suffering in the world.

Tao Te Ching translates to "living and applying the Great Way".

I will begin each post with the verse itself, followed by my thoughts.

Verse 1

The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.

The Tao 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 desireless, one can see the mystery;
ever desiring, one sees only the manifestations.
And the mystery itself is the doorway to all understanding.

My thoughts on the verse

The Tao is everything that you can experience with the senses. Everything in the universe for which there is a name is the Tao.

The Tao is also everything that can not be experienced with the senses. Everything that is beyond, behind, and within everything in the universe.

The Tao is everything in creation and that which created everything; the creator and the creation.

When we desire the things we can perceive with our senses (that is, when we feel we need them in order to make ourselves feel whole), all we can perceive are those things. We are unable to see anything more in this world than the matter that is in it.

When we are free of desire, we are able to see things as they truly are. We are then able to perceive the energy that is the Source of all things and is in all things. That is the Truth of any being or object in the universe, because that is the part of it that is eternal.

When we are able to perceive this energy in all of creation, we can see the mystery behind everything, behind life; that this energy created everything, is everything, including us...and that means we are all one.

All people, all life, all the universe in it's original and true state is one, eternal, infinite energy.

Practical implications for our lives

I read that true compassion is being able to see that which is true about yourself in others. Imagine how all our interactions with each other would change if we were able to constantly recognize in everything around us, and in ourselves, the creative Source energy that connects us all.

Would we be capable of feeling anything but love? Could you despise something so miraculous?

In our current state, it is impossible to imagine being able to walk around all day feeling like that. We are persistently confronted with challenging situations, egos (our own and others'), and the violence of current world affairs.

The challenge, then, is to as much as possible, connect with that energy. Whether we do that by meditating, being with nature, or taking time to be grateful, every moment of time we can spend strongly connect to and conscious of our Source energy, will bring us into alignment with Life and into a state of internal peace.

The result of this practice will be a greater sense of inner calm, an increased ability to express that calm outwardly, improved interactions with those around you (they can not help but respond to your positive energy with either positive energy of their own, or a decrease in their negative energy), and a greater enjoyment of life.

As with everything, the consistent application of this is necessary for it's continued effect in your life. To quote another part of the Tao, "People usually fail when they are on the verge of success. So give as much care at the end as at the beginning, then there will be no failure."