dao creativity

Storm breaks into pieces, clouds charge the horizon. Revolving of the heavens Generates all movement. Without movement, there could be nothing created in this universe. The revolving of the heavens can generate wind, rain, thunder, lightening. The revolving of the earth enables us to have day and night, the very cycle of the earth, the seasons, and the growth of plants. Movement is responsible for creativity. Followers of Tao value initiative, but mere aggression is not enough. One needs creativity. This can mean the ability to solve problems, to think of unusual strategies, or to compose poetry, music, and painting. In all these cases, one moves in concert with Tao not by shadowed action, but by giving intelligent counterpoint and harmony. Creativity does not mean the arbitrary making of something out of our cultural minds. Rather, it is spontaneous movement in tandem with Tao, a movement that will generate life and not misery for others. One has reached the ultimate levels of creativity when one has mastered skill so thoroughly that it can be forgotten. Look at heaven and earth. Do they think about creating the weather, the seasons, and the cycles of growing? They only go on revolving according to their nature, and the rest is generated without any thought or work on their part. This is truly effortless action and is considered the highest skill that followers of Tao can attain. creativity 365 Tao daily meditations Deng Ming-Dao (author) ISBN 0-06-250223-9 TIBET: TREASURES FROM THE ROOF OF THE WORLD Basin with Phoenix China, Qing dynasty, 18th Century Tibet Museum Luxury objects—like this gold basin decorated with turquoise and precious jewels—were offered as gifts by Chinese emperors to high Tibetan lamas and members of their court. Sumptuous articles like this demonstrate the important relations maintained between the Chinese and Tibetan courts, and also reveal the opulent lifestyle led by the Tibetan nobility. Photo Courtesy of Bowers Museum Seal of the Yuan Preceptor, Supervisor of Buddhist Affairs Jade China, Yuan Dynasty (1260-1368) H: 10 cm; L: 12 cm x 12 cm Tibet Museum, Lhasa Published: Tibet Museum Catalog, pp. 30-31, no. 3; Golden Treasures, pp. 22-23 This square jade seal bears a crouching mythical beast and was made for the Yuan Dynasty guoshi (National Preceptor). Its inscription is written in Phagpa script. After Phagpa was named National Preceptor, these titles became more and more honorific. The title guoshi became Guanding guoshi (Empowered as National Preceptor), and was later changed to Da Yuan guoshi (National Preceptor of the Great Yuan). NOTE: tomorrow we will be moving on to another exhibit of Asian art T A O t e C H I N G t h i r t y - s e v e n Tao abides in non-action, Yet nothing is left undone. If kings and lords observed this, The ten thousand things would develop naturally. If they still desired to act, They would return to the simplicity of formless substance. Without for there is no desire. Without desire there is. And in this way all things would be at peace. — translation by GIA-FU FENG The Tao never does anything, yet through it all things are done. If powerful men and women could venter themselves in it, the whole world would be transformed by itself, in its natural rhythms. People would be content with their simple, everyday lives, in harmony, and free of desire. When there is no desire, all things are at peace. — translation by STEVEN MITCHELL Tranquility The Way takes no action, but leaves nothing undone. When you accept this The world will flourish, In harmony with nature. Nature does not possess desire; Without desire, the heart becomes quiet; In this manner the whole world is made tranquil. — translation by P. MEREL The Tao is always “not-doing” Yet there is nothing it doesn't do. If the ruler is able to embody it Everything will naturally change. Being changed, they desire to act. So I must restrain them, using the nameless “uncarved block (original mind).” Using the nameless uncarved block They become desireless. Desireless, they are tranquil and All-under-Heaven is naturally settled. — translation by C. MULLER The Way is always still, at rest, And yet does everything that's done. If then the king and nobles could Retain its potency for good, The creatures all would be transformed. But if, the change once made in them, They still inclined to do their work, I should restrain them then By means of that unique Original simplicity Found in the Virgin Block, Which brings disinterest, With stillness in its train, And so, an ordered world. — translation by R. B. BLAKEY a reading list of books and interpretations of the Daodejing is available at http://wwww.duckdaotsu.org/dao_books.html (duckdaotsu receives a small donation if you purchase books from this source, thanks!) for a meditation sent to your email address each day, please write ’subscribe tao’ in the subject line and send to lisbeth at duckdaotsu

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