NO ATTAINMENT WHATSOEVER
the Tao of the sage is work without effort
work not consisting of any effort
effort never idolized in place of work
where what we are / meets what is
where the bent tree’s use is known to itself
do not be fooled by effort / effort will not make you wise
the peaks unscaled by man have a use still undefined
that the defining and words themselves would destroy its work
the work of existing / the work of untouchable spires
the work of a bent tree making shade and accessible nests
your everyday mind is the Tao
there is no way through effort to accord with it
when you try to accord, you deviate.
we, reaching the peak of our own spires,
know passion in effortless sky-touched
impenetrable mountains of our true power
“the general sense seems to be that one must destroy only that which is truly harmful to society or to oneself and that this cannot be discerned without the authentic, impartial love for the whole that is the mark of the wise man, of the master.” – Tao Te Ching (Notes), Lao Tsu (J. Needleman)
Thank you for the reminder of the teachings here: “the defining and words themselves would destroy its work
the work of existing”. My elders teach us, similarly, that teachings are everywhere but we must be still and silent to hear them.
There is a serenity in your work which echoes the teachings you walk in. I feel the life of each word and the spirit of their teachings as you have allowed them to dance together in a way that allows the reader/learner/witness to feel the soundings of them, too. Chi miigwech (thank you very much) for this.
Oh wow, thank you! I consider myself a “mystic poet” walking alongside many lineages- knowing that you feel this through my work is immeasurably comforting to me! ❤️