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Today got a little emotional at times but I started with talking a bit about #57 when Sandy joined for #11 and Melissa chose #68. Jay K wrapped it al up with #38 #11 "Emptiness is Valuable" Spokes, tire, rim, and hub all make a wheel, Yet it is the space where the axel goes that makes it worthwhile. Clay is formed into a vessel, A vessel"s function is to hold things, Thus its form includes emptiness. A house can be built But if it were solid, it would be useless. It is easy to see structure, But structure is there to expose the value of emptiness. #38 "Dissolution of Tao" Masters have nothing to prove Making their power self-evident. Others continue to grasp at power Thus they never have enough. Masters needn't do a thing In so doing nothing is disregarded. Others are constantly doing Leaving everything else still to be done. The kind man does, and in so doing reveals all that remains undone. The just man does, and in so doing reveals all that still needs to be done. The moral man does and when there is no support will use force to gain consensus. When Tao is lost, we lean on etiquette. When that fails, we turn to morality. When morality dissolves, we teach ritual. Those who have only known ritual Are filled with shadow and ignorance. Therefore, the Master concerns herself With the substance not the shadow. She has no destination, Only to reside within herself Not the manifestation. #57 "Laws are All in the Heart" Tao governs all things by discarding objectives. Never possessing or interfering, All things only need abide the law in their heart, In this way they are free from desire. When Tao is ignored, objectives rule the day. Rules are created that make people expend energy to get around them. Intelligence is praised and rewarded while products become more demonic and intrusive. Weapons are paraded, fear spreads, and the hearts of all things close off. As litigation becomes a national focus politicians and criminals multiply. The Master needn't engage these traps She is quiet, and people follow their light She is peaceful, and people are compelled to be honest She does nothing, and all things flourish together. Have no desire and all things will achieve primal existence. #68 "Do What you Love to Do" Great athletes love to play, not win Great fighters love to fight, not be angry Great generals love to strategize, not destroy Great employers love to employ, not be a boss. Great musicians love to play, not perform. They are not attached to identities or outcomes, They simply dance with what they love to do. This is in harmony with Tao.

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I started talking about #69 and conflict resolution and was joined by Dayo and the conversation went ver gender sideways with #6. #6 "The Great Feminine" Everything is born from the feminine, Even Heaven and Earth. The Feminine that births is a Mother, She nourishes and supports without possessing. Despite your awareness of it You are using it right now. #69 "An Invitation to Conflict" In conflict the Master will never host aggression. She would much prefer to be the guest And relinquish space, rather than claim it. This allows the host space to exhaust themselves Without the Master having to weaponize anything. Wanting to control through aggression is foolish This underestimates conflict and its results. When you choose to conflict with another You look down on them and lose the 3 lessons. (Verse 67) By creating an enemy, you become an enemy. When two forces oppose each other The one who relinquishes prevails.

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Today I had a great group of contributers starting with the 3 Js: Julie, Jay K, and Johnny, selecting #53, #43, and #21 respectively. Marianny joined for the randomly selected #16 and Susan for #74. #16 "Stillness and Integration" Being empty of mind is of the utmost importance And it is to be guarded with fervor. We have all seen states of action arise, And always beyond it returns stillness. When any state of action is complete It naturally returns to stillness. This allows integration of what arose from action Which is the natural cycle of maturation. If stillness and integration cannot be achieved Constant action will lead to anxiety and wild movements. Yielding to stillness makes one impartial, And all particular things fall away, Then when it is time to die One can be impartial to that as well. #21 "Tao is not Temporary" The Master is at peace knowing she is of manifestation And that manifestations are always temporary. Knowing this, she always follows Tao. How can she be at peace knowing she is temporary? Because she doesn't cling to her life or ideas And still she is fulfilled. Tao cannot be fathomed or known; how can she follow it? She allows it to lead her from moment to moment. Tao is, and is always, Even before the manifestation of time and space. Tao is beyond both temporary and forever. How do I know this to be true? The evidence is within me as it is within you. #43 "Be Silent and Learn" The flexible will outlast the ridged. The gentle will outlast the hard. Tao, which has no structure, has penetrated all Even that which has no space to enter. Through this I see that unforced action, and silence are the only path to completeness. Action, free of expectation and desire, This is the lesson of the nature of things. Listen to your nature, be silent and learn. #53 "Tao is Easy" There is nothing simpler than to walk the way of Tao The only thing you'd fear is getting sidetracked And yet many people think there is an easier way. They pacify themselves with possessions and entertainment Distracting themselves enough to never see their bankrupt lives. They continue to acquire and convince others to join them in struggle. Everyone eating and drinking yet consumed by starvation and thirst. Excess is a thief, and the victim is the true self. This is not easy, this is not Tao. #74 "Don't Cut Yourself" People are not naturally afraid to die It is what we are born to do. Fear of death is important if you want to rule over the people However, you must artificially instill this fear into their hearts. To accomplish this you kill as an example to control the masses. Since the beginning of time there has been one executioner, Trying to take its place will lead to nothing good. As a novice with a master carpenter's tools You're going to cut yourself.

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Today I started talking a lot about compartmentalizing and Sandy Joined me for #8 and Susan for #80. Melissa popped up for #24 and Jay K for #54. #8 "Be Like Water" Water is humble, Always traveling to the lowest place, Nourishing, without taxing Everything along the way. In so doing, it is like Tao. The Master aims to resemble water: In thinking, she is simple. In conflict, she is yielding. In governing, she doesn't need control. In work, she does the obvious thing. In family life, she is continually present. When one can be content with being, And not require comparison or praise, It is said they invest in their life By making of it a donation. #24 "Do What is to be Done" Standing on tiptoes robs you of firm footing. Rushing ahead robs you of knowing where you are. Looking at yourself robs you of seeing. Boasting of yourself robs you of your brilliance. Overpowering others robs you of your power. Clinging to your work robs you of longevity. If you want to align with Tao Just do what is to be done and then stop. #54 "Observing Virtue" Tend to Tao in your life and it will never be uprooted. Hold fast to Tao and it will never slip away. Filled with Tao, respect the children and they will respect the children That simple virtue will continue for every generation. This can only start with an individual and when her virtue can be realized She will cultivate it in her family and it will become great. They will cultivate this virtue in their community and it will continue to grow, Naturally spreading across the nation and becoming abundant. Because it is abundant it will touch every part of the Universe. How do I know this is the way? By quietly observing myself. #80 "What's Important" Any state wishing to align with Tao remains small. Too many people bring about too many options and opinions. In a small State its inhabitants are skilled and wise However there is never a need to put their skills on display They will be happy to humbly use their skills and work together. They never dwell on anything too long The next thing to do is always making itself known. They love their surroundings so have no desire to travel. Although they have a few trucks and boats None are inspired to use them. They love their lives and their simple food, They make their own clothes, Spend time in their gardens while speaking to neighbors They take the greatest pleasure being with family. Even though there is a bus to the city that travels through every week Everyone here will be content without ever having made the trip.

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Today we talked about living resonably and reflecting on how we feel when we make a mistake. Jay K started us off with #58, Julie follwed her up with #43. Melissa reflected on her choices and #22 and Sandy's story gets filled in a bit with #79. #22 "Looking Away from What You Want" To become complete Know that you're partial. To become straight Know that you're crooked. To become full Know that you're empty. To be new Know that you're worn out. He who wants it all Must know what all includes. Thus, the Master stays centered in Tao And becomes an example for the world. Because she knows her light is forfeit People can see it. Because she has no point to prove People can trust her words. Because she has no identity She becomes a mirror for others. Because she has nothing to attain Nothing can be kept from her. Thus, when it is said "To become complete know that you're partial." It is wise to heed and surrender to it. Only by living in collaboration with Tao Can one find completion. #43 "Be Silent and Learn" The flexible will outlast the ridged. The gentle will outlast the hard. Tao, which has no structure, has penetrated all Even that which has no space to enter. Through this I see that unforced action, and silence are the only path to completeness. Action, free of expectation and desire, This is the lesson of the nature of things. Listen to your nature, be silent and learn. #58 "To Oversee, Don't Interfere" In overseeing anything, don't interfere, Let everything flourish in its own time. Interfering, you get met with resistance Or worse, apathetic adherence. Misery and misfortune are tied to expectation. To expect success is to focus on failure, To expect happiness is to invite misery, To expect moral adherence is to flirt with tragedy. There is no escaping it, expecting good yields bad, This is interfering, it has always been true. The Master therefore is content to simply be an example She has no desire to impose, and trusts all she oversees, She is firm but yielding, she is sharp, yet none are cut by her She is radiant, but easy on the eyes. #79 "Conflict Resolution" Every conflict creates an "Other" Even after a resolution, animosity remains. Is that good enough for you? Therefore, the Master always does her part Keeping the peace, not placing blame, Correcting her own actions, Without requiring the same from others. Tao doesn't care who's right If you do, you'll find it difficult.