Welcome my name is Joey.
Today we are exploring chapter 10 of the Tao Te Ching followed by a meditation.
This chapter is different from many others because Lao Tzu presents it almost entirely as a series of questions but these questions aren't meant to be answered with the intellect but instead meant to guide us inward which will be perfect for a meditation.
If we look closely these questions actually move through three levels of mastery.
First the mastery of self when the Tao asks can you coax your mind from its wandering and return to oneness?
Can your body become supple like a newborn child's?
Can your inner vision become clear enough to see the light?
Here he's pointing us toward inner refinement calming the mind softening the body and clearing perception so we see reality without distortion.
Then the questions move outward into how we live with others this second level of mastery.
Can you love people and lead them without imposing your will?
This is the Taoist way of influence not through control but through presence and then Lao Tzu asks about how we move with life itself.
Can you deal with the most vital matters by letting events take their course?
Can you step back from your own mind and understand all things?
This is the shift from forcing life to flowing with life.
And finally the chapter ends with what Lao Tzu calls the essence of supreme virtue giving birth and nourishing having without possessing acting with no expectations leading and not trying to control.
In other words living fully giving fully but without clinging.
So in the meditation we're about to do we'll walk through these same stages settling the mind softening the body clearing our inner vision and learning to act in the world without force or control.
But first let's read chapter 10 of the Tao Te Ching.
Can you coax your mind from its wandering and keep to the original oneness?
Can you let your body become supple as a newborn child's?
Can you cleanse your inner vision until you see nothing but the light?
Can you love people and lead them without imposing your will?
Can you deal with the most vital matters by letting events take their course?
Can you step back from your own mind and thus understand all things?
Giving birth and nourishing.
Having without possessing.
Acting with no expectations.
Leading and not trying to control.
This is the supreme virtue.
So go ahead and close your eyes and take a slow deep breath in and gently let it go.
Allow your body to settle in to stillness.
Breathing in and breathing out.
Now bring your attention to the movement of your mind.
Notice how thoughts wander,
Drift,
And move.
And quietly ask yourself,
Can I coax my mind from its wandering and return to the original oneness?
No forcing.
Just allowing the mind to settle.
Like ripples fading on the surface of a lake.
Now bringing your awareness into your body.
Relax your shoulders,
Your arms and hands and fingers softening.
Soften your face.
Relaxing your jaw.
Feeling your body soften all the way down to your chest.
Into your stomach.
Through your legs and your feet.
And now ask yourself gently,
Can my body become supple like a newborn child's?
Feel the softness in your muscles.
The ease in your breath.
The natural vitality of your body when it's not holding any tension.
Now bring your attention to the space behind your closed eyes.
The inner field of awareness.
And ask,
Can I cleanse my inner vision until I see nothing but the light?
Imagine the mind clearing like a sky after rain.
Clouds dissolving.
Distractions fading.
And in that clear space,
A gentle light begins to appear.
A quiet,
Steady ball of light.
Not harsh or blinding,
But peaceful and alive.
Allow this inner light to grow brighter and brighter.
Filling your awareness with calm clarity.
Rest here for a moment in this light.
And now gently bring your attention to the people in your life.
Family.
Friends.
Strangers.
And ask,
Can I love people and lead them without imposing my will?
Feel the openness of a heart that guides through presence,
Not control.
Now bring to mind the challenges or responsibilities in your life.
And ask,
Can I deal with the most vital matters by letting events take their course?
Notice the shift from strain to trust.
Notice the shift from forcing to allowing life to move.
Now take one more step inward.
Observe your thoughts as if they are clouds passing through the sky.
And ask quietly,
Can I step back from my own mind and thus understand all things?
Feel the spacious awareness that opens when you step back.
You are the awareness.
Now rest in the final teaching of the chapter.
Giving birth and nourishing without possessing.
Giving birth and nourishing without possessing.
Acting without expectations.
Leading without trying to control.
Feel the peace of living this way.
Where life moves through you naturally,
Like sunlight shining,
Like water flowing,
Like the Tao expressing itself through your being.
Rest here.
And now I will re-read chapter 10 as you settle in and relax in this meditation.
Can you coax your mind from its wandering and keep to the original oneness?
Can you let your body become supple as a newborn child's?
Can you cleanse your inner vision until you see nothing but the light?
Can you love people and lead them without imposing your will?
Can you deal with the most vital matters by letting events take their course?
Can you step back from your own mind and thus understand all things?
Giving birth and nourishing.
Having without possessing.
Acting with no expectations.
Leading and not trying to control.
This is the supreme virtue.
Rest here with the Tao.
The music will continue to play.
