Text Study 3: The Tao, Revisited

For my third text study, I chose to revisit the Tao Te Ching, using it to refine my beliefs further. I chose three common themes in the Tao that specifically resonated with me: being content with how life is, living a consistent life, and deprecation of humanity's blind quest for knowledge. These have begun to play a larger role in my life, especially over the past few months, and I strongly feel that these are at the core of how I want to lead my life.

1. What stories or metaphors does the text use that illustrate or challenge your values and beliefs?
The metaphor that leaps out for me is in chapter 13 of the Tao:

Whether you go up the ladder or down it,
your position is shaky.
When you stand with your two feet on the ground,
you will always keep your balance.

This speaks directly to my value of living a consistent life. Sure, I do want some things to change, but what this passage means to me is that I should be wary when I desire to make a change, because transition brings with it an element of vulnerability. To be honest, I do not desire the prototypical view of a successful life, just to find a place of contentment and reside there. When I achieve that, I will be happy as a clam.

2. What "hard questions" does the text ask or answer about your values and beliefs?
Throughout my life, I often worry or fret about things. Though it can be a good thing sometimes, I usually would worry to the point of not being able to think of anything else. The "hard question" for me is a conflict between my deep value of being content with life and what seems to be an intrinsic worried state that I will fall into. I am not sure how this will be resolved just yet, as it is such a huge conflict for me.

3. How were you reinforced in you values and beliefs, or how did your understanding of them change as a result of studying this text?
There is such great similarity between my beliefs and the text, the best way to illustrate this is to let Lau Tzu do the talking:

Free from desire, you realize the mystery.
Caught in desire, you see only the manifestations.
-Chapter 1

Chase after money and security
and your heart will never unclench
-Chapter 9

If you let yourself be blown to and fro,
you lose touch with your root.
If you let restlessness move you,
you lose touch with who you are.
-Chapter 26

Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you.
-Chapter 44

4. What are your core values? What do you believe?
I believe in living a grounded life,
in staying to what really matters,
in preserving mystery.

I value calm,
humility,
presence,
wisdom.