Cultivating the Grace of Wisdom...

At the moment, nearly all things China are heretical: at least for those tempted by, or serving, small-mindedness. I have found, though, that cultivating the grace of wisdom is a bridge-builder. Where there are apparent differences, the intention of harmony is, as it were, a door that swings open into unexpected vistas... such, is the consideration of Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching... Have you read this sacred text? 

I have multiple translations here and there about the house... David Hinton's translation is dear to my heart; but Red Pine's is equally good... A few years ago, I lucked upon the translation by Lin Yutang... And there is the still-popular (and very good) translation by Gia-Fu Feng, Jane English, and Toinette Lippe... I suppose, though, that the translation by John H. McDonald is my current favorite: multiple editions are easily available, from a boxed hardback, a large-size paperback, to a pocket-sized edition... 

A patient and reflective study of the Tao Te Ching is an essential wisdom-cultivation tool... 

Consider this, the conclusion"poem" 19: Embrace simplicity. Put others first. Desire little. In building your sacred life these core guidelines are a radical stripping away of ego-identification, and a way into the ordinary life of the sacred... Here's the thing about wisdom: it is supposed to very ordinary! Wisdom is not solely for the monk, nun, or distant hermit: what good is that, really? If wisdom is not accessible to me and you, then that means all of us will forever be condemned to the wretchedness of war, injustice, greed, exploitation, and all that necessarily support them... the Tao is the transformative feminine unity that is the very Heart of the Universe...

It is quite unfortunate that proponents of any one particular religion are, as often as not, quite ignorant of the religions of others: attending the Parliament of the World's Religions, a few years back in Salt Lake City, was a very grand time of my life! But, there is a "parliament" of religion, mysticism, poetry, and philosophy in your local library or bookstore! Read! Settle into a comfortable chair and sink into the Tao, for example... or pick up Rumi's Big Red Book and engage with a world-mystic! Be Here Now and Be Love Now by Ram Dass really should be in your hands, and on your mind, frequently!

​Wisdom requires intentional cultivation, just like a garden: the effort that you put into that cultivation will bear fruit, if you are motivated by Love, hungry for loving, and willing to surrender into changing your mind... 

​In America, we have always had an element of distrust of the different, the too knowing, and the too otherworldly... and so most of us have tended to settle into habits of a cultural and spiritual smallness... I don't think that we can any longer pretend that that is good enough: if you don't see that the well-being of every life, and the entire Planet, are @risk, then it's time to wash out your eyes, break open your heart, take some LSD if you want to really want to shake yourself up: but, by any means necessary, change your mind!

The Tao waits... the Gospel is ready... and the Mother of Wisdom has her tit out for you to suck... "The inner, subtle essences can be contemplated only by sucking, not by knowing."  -- Rabbi Isaac the Blind (an early Kabbalist of Provence)