From the “Introduction” This book is a love child born from the mingling of the Mystical Traditions of both the West and the East. To illustrate its mixed heritage I have chosen to title this work “Liber Tao,” a pairing of the Latin word Liber or “Book” with the Chinese word Tao or “The Way” whose combined translation, “The Book of the Way,” is a direct reference to the legendary classic of Chinese Mysticism known as the “Tao-Te Ching.” It has been my intention with “Liber Tao” to recreate my own version of the “Tao-Te-Ching.” By “my own version” I do not mean another translation or interpretation of the original masterwork, but rather a brand new effort based on the experiences and insights I have gained while trying to forge my own “Way” in life. In homage to the great Chinese classic I have subsequently organized this current work into the same format and style as the original “Tao-Te-Ching,” namely a collection of 81 entries (none longer than a single page) with each one written in a direct, minimal fashion. …..By itself, the term “Tao” represents an idea that is at the center of all Chinese thought. While its most common translation is “ The Way,” conceptually the Tao may also be thought to mean a path, a method, a principle, a doctrine, or even the matrix of universal consciousness. Yet beyond all these possible translations, the Tao is ultimately recognized by the Chinese mind to be the symbolic name for the eternal essence from which all other reality emanates. Even though it is believed that the true nature of the Tao is beyond human comprehension, ancient Taoists nevertheless endeavored to find traces of the Way in nature, the social world, and also within the individual. As a result, the Chinese feel there is a Tao or Way that represents the purest and most truthful approach to any activity or form of being. The desire to be more in touch with this type of awareness is essentially the driving force behind all evolution, so when the Chinese speak of understanding the Tao, they are essentially referring to the possible bridge that can be forged between our normal daily perceptions and the Intuitive, Divine presence that permeates all life….. From the Text 6 The usefulness of a vessel is not how much it can hold But rather how much it serves This distinction is subtle, yet forms the root Of the difference between fear and courage Fear wants the vessel to always be full And will hoard in anticipated need Courage uses the vessel with impunity Seeing the cycles of emptiness as the way of life This dynamic is the root of all creativity And allows the student to see how letting go Is the first step to acquiring what is necessary 43 When small children are brought to cemeteries They want to run and play between the headstones Yet they are scolded and told to respect Something they do not understand When small children are brought to churches The candles, shadows, and echoes, seem like a funhouse Yet they are scolded and told to respect Something they do not understand This is how we all get divided from the Tao Into the illusory world of this and that Yet there is room in a cemetery for more than death, After all, a cemetery is maintained by the living And there is room in a church for more than piety, After all, a church is a refuge for the wayward in spirit Therefore, to reunite ourselves with the Tao We must remember to sometimes forget All we’ve been taught to understand 50 When we perceive the world Without intending to do so Like a mirror that reflects Everything it faces This is called “no mind” What we think of as “mind” Is because we discriminate Between ourselves And what is around us This is why the mind is always in conflict With the world in which it exists Therefore, just as a mirror can be useful For expanding the sense of a small room So too can embracing “no mind” be of use As a doorway beyond our discrimination And into the Tao 60 Creativity is how we interact with the unknown The Tao is how the unknown interacts with us Thus our consciousness is an alchemical marriage Of an awareness of form and a formless awareness When one does not allow this partnership to deteriorate Through attachment to temporary conditions This is known as relinquishing the mind Without abandoning it 62 The Tao allows for every possibility Yet the mind seeks perfection Eternity is endless Yet the mind searches for conclusions Birth and death are infinitely recurring Yet the mind forms a sequence Being and Non-being require each other Yet the mind retains a preference It therefore makes perfect sense Why museums preserve the brains of famous men in jars It is a way for us to see The nature of our limitations 71 What are the sounds of wind and rain? Moving in the heavens, the wind is silent, Only to be heard when it meets resistance As it shakes the trees Or fills our ears Falling from the heavens, rain is also silent, Only to be heard when it meets resistance As it hits the roof With its steady drumming Both wind and rain come from silence Yet are known by how they disturb the silence Likewise, we come to know ourselves Only by what we do, Unaware of what we truly are. 78 Our mind is a flame And our body is a candle Yet what remains When the fire and wax are done? Such is the essence of the Tao T.C. Eisele has been a Professional Psychic, Astrologer, and Tarot reader for over 17 years as well as a Teacher and Author whose work has appeared in numerous magazines and journals including, The Astrology Quarterly in London, Ashe Magazine, and Cosmopolitan Online. "Liber Tao"(2015) and "Psychic Reading" (2017) are his third and fourth books published by Rebel Satori Press in New Orleans. |
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