Tao Meditations

TAO MEDITATIONS "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit." - Jesus of Nazareth Hello Reader. How do we know we're on the right path in life? This question can completely overwhelm our mind if we do not evaluate it clearly. First, what makes a path right? To answer this question, we must look at the ultimate purpose of life: alignment with nature, cultivation of virtue, and the development of your own character. The right path, then, helps you to do these...

TAO MEDITATIONS "The one who has conquered himself is a far greater hero than he who has defeated a thousand men." - The Buddha Hello Reader. The greatest adversary you will ever face is your own mind. If runs automatically. It carries our patterns. It stores our emotions. If we do not exercise conscious control, it will run unrestrained. And an unrestrained mind can do more damage than almost anything else. We wrestle control of our mind through one thing - the cultivation of awareness....

TAO MEDITATIONS "Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive." - Dalai Lama XIV Dear Reader, The vast majority of wise teachers have one thing in common: a message of love, kindness, and understanding towards other people. Why is this? Why would so many of history's greatest minds tell us to be kind to one another? Because they understand human life at its core. We were made for each other. We rely on others for our survival. We rely on others for...

TAO MEDITATIONS "Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think." - The Buddha Dear Reader, In life, there is one thing that determines nearly every aspect of our experience. It determines whether we are happy or sad. It determines whether we will be successful or fail. It determines whether the world is beautiful or miserable. This power is none other than your own thoughts. For in truth, circumstances alone do not have the power to determine our feelings. Rather, our feelings are...

TAO MEDITATIONS Who Will You Help Today? "[The master] is there to help all of creation, and doesn't abandon even the smallest creature." - Lao Tzu Dear Reader, How many of the things you use on a day-to-day basis were created by another? You sleep in a bed crafted by someone else. You eat a breakfast whose ingredients were grown, shipped, and prepared for you by someone else. You drive in a car made by someone else. And you're currently reading this on a device created by someone else. All...

TAO MEDITATIONS The Fear of Change "Being one with Tao, we are no longer concerned about losing our life because we know the Tao is constant and we are one with Tao." - Lao Tzu Dear Reader, Change is the language of nature. Nothing can come into being without it. Nothing can exist without it. Nothing can take form without it. Despite change being so essential to life, it is one of the most feared things within it. But what about change is worthy of fear? Has fearing change ever prevented it?...

TAO MEDITATIONS NEWSLETTER Good Company, Good Life "Admirable friendship, admirable companionship, and admirable camaraderie is the whole of the holy life." - The Buddha Dear Reader, There are few things in life more joyous than to call someone a true friend. Companionship, friendship, and loving-kindness forge strong bonds, and strong bonds form the bedrock of a happy life. When the people around us are happy, we share in their happiness. If someone has brought joy to your life recently,...

TAO MEDITATIONS NEWSLETTER The Power That Shapes Our Lives "Our life is shaped by our mind. We become what we think." - The Buddha Dear Reader, One of the Buddha's most important teachings is that our life is shaped by our mind. As we think, so we are. Our thoughts become how we interpret our experiences. This interpretation determines our feelings. Our repeated feelings become our patterns. Our patterns become our character. Our character determines our destiny. It all stems from our way of...

TAO MEDITATIONS NEWSLETTER The Greatest Thief of Joy "Those who stand on tiptoes do not stand firmly. Those who rush ahead do not get very far." - Lao Tzu Dear Reader, There is a desire that is innate to all human beings. It is a desire that goes deeper than the one to be healthy, knowledgeable, wealthy, abundant, and so on. It is the desire to be healthier, wealthier, and smarter than others. When this desire is leaned into, we view our fellow human beings as our competitors. We view every...