taoist thought: soaring

Those who seek learning gain every day those who seek the Way lose every day they lose and they lose until they find nothing to do nothing to do means nothing not done who rules the world isn't busy if someone is busy he can't rule the world daodejing #48 translated by Red Pine For years, I've practiced ritual. It's dead now. For years, I've practiced meditation. It's dull now. Finally, there is only soaring Like an ectoplasmic ribbon Floating over the sea. When one is mature spiritually, one no longer needs the structure of ritual or formal meditations. This is not to say that structure was unnecessary, for without it one could not stand at this vantage point. But once one attains a level where one has completely internalized the lessons of structure, one can freely improvise in fresh and valid forms. In spirituality, one can soar, free of ordinary restrictions. Imagine yourself on a high cliff overlooking the ocean. Slowly your body elongates like a ribbon. Longer and longer, undulating up into the sky. Before you is the limitless vastness of the ocean and sky. You feel drawn forward, and you can glide and soar over that expanse like a ribbon. That is spiritual freedom. Autumn is about to pass into winter. Spring is on the other side, just as spiritual soaring is on the other side of stiff ritual. Devotions have their own seasons. When you first learn them, they are magical. Then they yield their harvest and wither. On the other side of the withering is a new spring and a new spiritual vista. Wherever you are in your spiritual years, cooperate with the cycle of the seasons, until you emerge like a design, soaring in the sky. soaring by Deng Ming-Dao from the book 365 Tao Daily Meditations ISBN 0-06--250223-9 Don't forget our new forum for discussion of the topic and to meet other members of the group! New topics online now ~ http://www.duckdaotsu.org/forum.html "Shadow Chicken" © 2006 by lisbethwest for a short reading list of Taoist and Zen material, please go to http://www.duckdaotsu.org/tao_books.html (duckdaotsu receives a small monetary contribution when books are purchased from that location) to subscribe to daily Taoist meditations send an email to duckdaotsu write SUBSCRIBE TAO in the subject line archived at http://www.duckdaotsu.org/nov06/soaring.html visit my online shop! at http://www.cafepress.com/duckdaotsu request any graphic you see here to be used on any item in the online store or as a photographic print for framing