Taoist Wisdom 5 - Virtue

The idea of virtue in Taoism is much different than what we usually consider it. Rather than being obedient to a code of conduct, it stems from one's sensibility to the natural course of events, to one's awareness of their external and internal world. In this session, we'll connect to our inner virtue with a meditation and a visualization exercise.

Transcript

Welcome to this new meditation of Taoist wisdom.

At the heart of Taoist philosophy lies the idea that human nature is profoundly good and that this goodness stems from our immersion in the Tao,

In the natural course of the world.

At the opening of the Tao De Jing is the following sentence.

The Tao that can be told of is not the true Tao.

In other words,

Virtue which can be described or instructed in terms of rules,

Commandments or laws is not true virtue.

The virtuous person according to Taoists is the one who decides of the right thing to do in each and every moment,

Thanks to an acute sensibility to the world around them and to their inner world.

Human virtue is in this sense comparable to the healing virtues of a plant.

It's the expression of a natural quality within us that always tends towards a harmony with our social and natural environment.

One of the most efficient ways to connect to our virtue is through the practice of meditation.

Sitting down and developing mindfulness helps us become aware of our social conditionings,

To unlearn those which stifle us and to connect to this quiet inner power within us that is always waiting to be expressed.

That's what we'll be doing in today's meditation.

Start by finding a comfortable seat and make sure that your back remains tall and the front of your body is open to receive the full range of your breath.

Bring your awareness to the way your body makes contact with your seat.

You can even imagine that there are roots growing from your body down into the ground beneath you.

Bringing you a natural sense of stability and tranquility.

Slowly rock your upper body forwards and backwards,

Left and right,

As if you were a tree caressed by the wind.

Until you find your posture of equilibrium,

In which you don't need to exert any tension to remain in.

Take a deep breath in through your nostrils that opens your chest and inflates your belly and gently release it through your mouth.

Then a deep breath in and on the exhale allow any worries,

Tasks on your to-do list and expectations for this session to leave your body.

Your shoulders can fall naturally to your sides,

Your belly can soften and a slight smile can even come and relax the muscles in your face.

Let your attention turn inwards and your breath to find its natural rhythm.

Notice the sensations of the air as it comes in contact with the area of your nostrils.

The sensation of the air traveling through your throat.

The rise and fall of your chest.

The inflation of your upper belly on the inhale and its deflation on the exhale.

Notice your breath moving deeper within you.

Moving in contact with the area of your lower abdomen and pelvis.

It can help to place your hands on this area to feel deeper into the touch of your breath.

Now,

As you keep your breath deep into your lower abdomen,

Picture yourself in a situation where your actions contribute directly to the well-being of someone else.

An activity you love doing that has the power to put a smile on someone's face or relieve them from a suffering.

Perhaps it's something you already do occasionally or a new idea you've been dreaming of and that fills you with joy.

While keeping your breath full and deep,

Visualize yourself immersed in that activity as if it was an event that already happened and that is passing before your eyes like a movie.

Imagine how you feel when you offer this natural talent of yours freely to others without having to force anything.

Imagine what happens in your face,

In your chest,

In your belly.

If what you experienced during this visualization felt good or empowering,

Remember that you can always bring this feeling back to your experience anytime you wish to express this virtue within you.

Your body naturally knows what's good for you and for others.

Before ending this meditation,

I'll leave you with these words from Lao Tzu.

Humans are born soft and supple.

Dead they are stiff and hard.

Plants are born tender and pliant.

Dead they are brittle and dry.

Because whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death.

Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life.

The hard and stiff will be broken.

The soft and supple will prevail.

I hope you enjoyed this meditation and this course.

If you want to learn more about Taoism,

I highly recommend listening to Alan Watts's lectures on YouTube or reading the Tao Te Ching.

I'll be working on a course on the wisdom of other spiritual traditions,

So I appreciate your comments telling me about your experience and any suggestions you may have for future content.

If you want to see more of these meditations,

It helps me if you subscribe to this channel and share this episode with a friend.

I'll see you next time for new meditations.

Reviews

Your comparison of those who are soft and hard, or brittle is excellent. I am in the autumn of life and will remain soft and resist becoming brittle.

Thank you I have thoroughly benefited from this series. Your delivery, guidance and sharing has been excellent. Your gentle yet strong voice and words assist perfectly in the flow. I look forward to your future meditations

I certainly went with the flow with this and carried one way after it had finished. Many thanks for your gifts 🙏🏻😊🎶💗

Thank you so much! I hope you can do more Tao meditations… have a nice day!

Thank you for a lovely explanation of the Tao. I look forward to listening to more from you. Many thanks.

🙏🕉🙏 Thank you. These meditations are now a beautiful part of my day.

I am truly thankful for all the lessons you have shared. They are short but impactful. Namaste ❤️🙏☀️

This was an excellent course. It had a very profound effect on me, and I look forward to more of your teachings. Thank you 🙏💜

I like the correlation you bring about between Taoist thought and meditation...

I have really enjoyed meditating to your series on Toaism for the last 5 mornings. Thank you very much for sharing them! 🙏

Thank you, great to relax and reflect on what we can do to bring more joy to others and through that become fulfilled ourselves 🙏🏽

Thank you - I will bookmark and share. I'm looking forward for more meditations from you. ☮️🕉️

Thank you for the body awareness with the sense of joy and service. Soothing voice and pace.

Thank you for your time and offering. I really appreciated the entire series. I especially enjoyed the pacing and lack of background music. The space and silence allowed me to drop in to my own experience. Many teachers on IT could learn from your style.

Wonderfully produced with a wonderful meditation. Thank you brother.

Hello! I found this meditation enlightening for me. I think stumbling across this has taught me to challenge myself to improve my wisdom with my virtue. Thank you for this!!

I love your meditations. They are all fabulous and I appreciate and benefit from the wisdom you share. Thank you. 🙏💓

I really enjoyed this series...and I look forward to the next one. Thanks 🙏

Thank you for your beautiful meditations. I resonate with the teachings and look forward to connecting daily!

Superb series! Thanks so much!