New Year Goal Strategies: Meditation

  • Sovereignty is the principle of the true self-managing the ego mind
  • The ego and the true self should work in balance and harmony
  • Excessive negative emotions can indicate an overactive ego
  • Transcending the ego mind leads to self-awareness
  • Self-awareness is being detached from the ego mind and connected to the true self
  • Focusing awareness and attention through meditation helps rise above the ego
  • The observer state allows detachment from thoughts and emotions
  • Mindfulness is observing thoughts and emotions with calm detachment
  • Willpower is the ability to control desire and urges and listen to the wisdom of the True Self
  • Self-discipline is the true self taking charge and managing the ego
  • Transcending the ego through meditation helps control it
  • Change is hard for balancing the ego but one can become more skilled with practice
  • Mindfulness helps manage important life choices in real time.

Self Awareness

This is the 2nd article in the New Year Goal Strategies Series. In the
previous article, the Tao principle of “Sovereignty” was introduced. Sovereignty is the principle of the true
self (the internal spirit) as the manager of the mind. The True Self is the eternal consciousness that is eternally present and the origin of your life. In the living state, the ego is the primal mind that we use to help us to survive and deal with living in a challenging world. The two should work in a state of balance and harmony. When the ego is too strong, its self-absorbed, self-protective perspective can cause problems. The ego’s role seems to be one whose sole role is to take care of “me”. The ego by its nature is never satisfied, always wants more, and is overly concerned about its importance.

When not obsessed with protecting itself, it is obsessed with desire. It seems to always be consumed with fear, desire, or both. Strong negative emotions are signs of an overactive ego. Anger, rage, and frustration can fill the mind and create havoc. Decision-making during these episodes can be problematic.

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Many more ego traits cause problems, but for the discussion of “self-discipline,” these two
states of being are a good place to focus on.  I highly recommend reading Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth for the best description of the ego. He calls it “the pain body“. Once you read it, you will have a complete understanding of the ego has on everyday choices and how it influences destiny.

Tao cultivators (et al) understand that the only way to control and manage the ego’s mind influence is by transcending the ego mind and awakening into self-awareness. In this article, you may think of “self” awareness as being detached from the (self) ego mind. What is it that has become detached
and apart from this sense of “me”? This part of you that is above and separate is the eternal spirit, the true self, the wisdom mind, or as the Buddhists call “true nature.”

How does one rise above the ego? Through learning to focus awareness, to focus attention. If you have heard of this concept or never practiced meditation you may only know what it is like to be constantly in your mind, with little control over where it goes and what it gets filled with. Below is an excerpt
from my book, The Tao of Longevity. 

“Through meditation, a transcended state of
awareness is realized by awakening the true self. Awakening is the process of
rising above the distraction of thought. In this heightened state of awareness,
the true self becomes aware of the influence of mind and mood instigated by the
ego-mind, hence “self-awareness.” “Self” is the dichotomy
of being, with true self and ego-self. Self-awareness is being awake and
transcended, observing, and managing the lower ego. Most people live in a distracted,
uncontrolled state of mind, enslaved to thinking and emotions.”

Chapter 7, The Tao of Longevity

The transcendence occurs the moment you become the observer. When the mind is fully focused, watching, listening it begins to lose thinking inertia and to become still. You will realize that you are not your thoughts. You are the observer of thoughts and everything else that rises in mental existence. From this detached state, you will be able to observe the thoughts, feelings, and intentions that are holding your attention. In a lot of cases, you will be able to see how you were “lost in thought” and caught up in the reactive emotions of those thoughts. Watching those thoughts and emotions with a sense of calm detachment is known as mindfulness. The next post is devoted to the practice and cultivation of mindfulness. Before mindfulness can be achieved, one must transcend the mainstream of thoughts and emotions and awaken into a meditative state (focused observation).

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The power of this is realized when you exercise control of the choices that are being made. Lost in the ego, it will eat the whole bag of cookies and then go looking for more. The choice to not do it, is not available to a wise spirit, because the ego has control of everything. Even reading this, your ego may be warning you that “I will never give up my cookies.” Cookies are a metaphor for any desire that the ego wants to indulge in, but it is without a doubt a poor choice. Even if you are just hesitating for a second, some of you know that eating a bog of cookies is not a good idea and you should refrain from it. That part of you whispers to you to not do it is the true self trying to stop the ego from making a bad choice. Without being at least partially self-aware, the spirit doesn’t have a chance to stop this wrong action from occurring. Meditation is a state of being where you wake up from the endless mind stream of thought and detach into a state of higher knowing. The true self can take charge of making the right choices and empower willpower and self-discipline. This is the Tao of Sovereignty.

Self-Discipline

“If I have a little knowledge

I fear only to deviate from it.

walking on the great Tao,

The great Tao is broad and plain,

but people like to take the side paths”

Chapter 53, Verses 1-5, Tao Te Ching

I put the word “self” in quotes to draw attention to the word. We use the word ‘self’ over and over every day without thinking about it. In the study of Eastern spirituality, the self has a counterpart, “no self”. For Tao cultivation remember that all things in existence follow the yin-yang dichotomy. No self is yin, and self is yang. No self and true self describe the same thing, spirit. The self is the tangible physical self that you have always known as ‘me’. As discussed above, only the true self can take charge and manage the ego aspect of the self. This is ‘self’ discipline. The true self practices ‘self’ discipline when it says no more
cookies. Self-discipline is a spectrum of attainment that is constantly changing. Tao cultivation works on a balance between the two with the true self as the manager. Self-discipline is the trait that is going to keep you on the true path to success by not allowing the ego (desire) to get lost on the side paths.
This is the heart and soul of successful living. Lao Tzu tells us:

Paraphrased he is saying:

 If I know just one important thing, it is that my great fear is not staying on the path (the Tao). The great Tao is simple and easy to follow but people get distracted and get lost on side paths (shortcuts).

Following the Tao, the true path is easy. It is only hard when the ego is involved because it hates discipline and rules. When one can be detached from desire and emotion, or at least learn to channel emotion, making the right choice becomes natural. You can see how powerful this concept and practice is. Controlling the ego is the hardest thing you will ever try, but it will be the most powerful life-changing
skill to master. In the previous article, I shared Lao Tzu’s statement:

“One’s limits are unknown!

Perhaps now you can begin to see why so many people fail at life, especially in achieving New Year’s resolutions. But now you know that there is a higher path to follow and if you can escape the ego long enough to begin cultivating self-awareness, you may have a chance to be one of the few who are successful in life. (See this Sovereignty article “BeThe One”

Will Power

Excerpt from the book:

 Willpower is defined as the ability to control desire and the many urges that come and go, especially during times of stress. Willpower is a Tao Virtue and not an attribute of the ego, filled with its many manifestations of desire. Willpower is the foundation of Sovereignty, in which the True Self can exert control over ego and manage desire. Through Mindfulness, the True Self is alert to the rising of desire and, through Willpower, manages it with moderation. Willpower is a virtue cultivated like any other and can be accumulated with practice. Accumulated virtues are those that have been cultivated to the degree that they become second nature and are effectively utilized every day. Willpower is an aspect of “working on the self” and happens each time you deny the ego and avoid attachment.

One must cultivate the skill of having the will of the true self (spirit) to manage the willfulness of the ego mind. 

The essence of this article is that to control the ego, one must transcend the ego. Meditation is an intentional practice of drawing attention up out of and away from deep within the thinking mind and observing with detachment.

For a deeper explanation of this process and much more please consider
getting the book.

Following Tao lessons is not just for Longevity, it will help in all areas of life. I feel sure that I would be dead by now if I had not discovered these ancient truths and learned to put the bag of cookies down and get off the sofa. Only through self-discipline have I been able to incorporate lifestyle changes that take me closer to longevity rather than away from it.

Remember change is hard for the ego, for the true self it is a matter of doing what needs to be done. Doing the right thing is easy, but controlling the ego is hard. However, it can become easier with practice. The next article is about how to use your newly found focusing skill to pay attention to the mind in a detached purposeful way so that you can manage those important life choices in real time. This is the practice of Mindfulness.

Kindle Unlimited members can read for free.

Digital Version is

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The Tao of Longevity

I asked an AI to summarize the book.

“The Tao of Longevity is a book that explores how to prevent and heal chronic diseases by following the ancient wisdom of Taoism. The author, Samuel E Beasley, shares his personal journey of overcoming two chronic diseases that were caused by his unhealthy lifestyle habits. He explains how he discovered “the way” of Taoism, which is a philosophy and practice of living in harmony with nature and oneself. He also provides practical advice on how to adopt a Taoist lifestyle that leads to natural longevity and well-being. 🌱

Some of the topics covered in the book are:
How to stop making bad choices that cause chronic disease and how to take control of your life and destiny.

How to cultivate a calm and disciplined mind that can make the right choices and stop self-destructive behaviors.

How to nourish your body with natural foods and herbs that support your health and vitality.

How to exercise your body with gentle and effective movements that enhance your energy and immunity.

How to balance your emotions and cultivate positive feelings that enrich your life and relationships.

How to connect with your spirit and discover your true purpose and meaning in life.

The book is based on the author’s personal experience and research, as well as the teachings of Taoist masters and sages. It is written in a simple and engaging style, with anecdotes, examples, and exercises. The book aims to inspire and empower readers to transform their lives and achieve a long life of well-being. 🙌

I hope this summary gives you an idea of what the book is about. If you are interested in reading the book, you can find it on Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, ThriftBooks, Amazon, or other online platforms. You can also follow the author’s Facebook page for more updates and information. 😊
If you have any other questions or requests, please let me know. I can also generate creative content

Microsoft Copilot
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New Year’s Tao Strategy: Mindfulness

The Power of Mindfulness and Meditation: Cultivating Self-Awareness for a Balanced Life

Mindfulness and meditation are powerful practices that can enhance self-awareness, reduce stress, and bring balance to our lives. By paying attention to the present moment and observing our thoughts and emotions without judgment, we can cultivate a deeper understanding of ourselves and make wiser choices. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of mindfulness and meditation, and how they can transform our lives.

Understanding Mindfulness and its Role in Self-Awareness:

  • Mindfulness is the act of paying attention, on purpose, to the present moment without judgment.
  • It helps us balance our true self and ego, enabling us to manage our minds and make conscious choices.
  • Mindfulness can be practiced anywhere and at any time, not just during meditation sessions.

The Relationship Between Meditation and Self-Awareness

  • Meditation is a transcendental process that facilitates self-awareness and a connection with our true selves.
  • It allows us to observe our minds without reacting and expands our ability to remain present and mindful in daily life.
  • Through meditation, we learn to become detached from our ego-driven thoughts and develop a state of non-reactivity.

The Importance of Mindfulness in Real-Life Situations:

Practice self-awareness and mindfulness wherever you are, especially in distracting circumstances.
Photo by Hert Niks on Pexels.com
  • Cultivating the Tao (the way) involves practicing mindfulness in the material world, embracing its challenges and messiness.
  • It’s good to practice being self-aware and mindful in noisy, busy, and distracting places. Don’t avoid them [these types of places] to cultivate this skill. If you can stay present and awake in crazy situations, you will find that it is when you need it most.
  • By applying mindfulness to our problems and experiences, we learn valuable lessons and make better choices.
  • Mindfulness empowers us to step back from destructive reactions and make decisions from a place of wisdom.

Overcoming Emotional Reactivity through Mindfulness:

Photo by Andrew Neel on Pexels.com
  • Mindfulness offers a way to step away from the grip of intense emotions before they take control.
  • By remaining detached from the chaotic mind, we can dissipate the power of dark emotions and ego-driven reactions.
  • With practice, we can condition ourselves to be less reactive and make choices guided by wisdom instead of impulse.

The Practice of Mindfulness: Waking Up and Paying Attention:

Photo by Aphiwat chuangchoem on Pexels.com
  • Finding moments to “wake up” during the day and bring awareness to our thoughts and actions is crucial.
  • Starting with simple reminders, such as setting alarms or using mindfulness apps, can help cultivate this skill.
  • Mindfulness is a continuous practice that deepens our self-awareness and strengthens our ability to catch reactive patterns.

Avoiding the Trap of Ego and Distraction:

Photo by Roman Pohorecki on Pexels.com
  • The ego can deceive us by pretending to practice meditation and mindfulness for its own satisfaction.
  • We must be aware of ego-driven distractions and remain patient and accepting of stillness.
  • By returning our attention to the breath and staying focused, we resist the allure of distractions and cultivate self-discipline.

The Journey Towards Longevity and Well-Being:

Photo by Hakan Erenler on Pexels.com
  • Self-awareness and mindfulness enable us to make conscious choices that influence our destiny.
  • Paying attention to our thoughts and actions helps us recognize how our present experiences are shaped by our past choices.
  • By practicing mindfulness, we create a balanced and harmonious life, where our internal and external worlds align.

Mindfulness as a Tool for Emotional Regulation:

  • Mindfulness is particularly beneficial for individuals prone to anger or intense emotions.
  • By monitoring our moods and emotions, we can choose alternative responses and avoid escalating conflicts.
  • Mindfulness allows one to step back from mistakes by paying attention to intentions and thoughts that lead to trouble.

For more on this topic please see Chapter on Mindfulness in the Book: The Tao of Longevity.

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New Years Resolutions

Tao strategies for achieving your goals (series)

Article 1 in this Goal Series

Summary:

  • This article is the first in a series of posts on Tao strategies for achieving goals and living a long and successful life.
  • The main Tao principles for avoiding failure: The document discusses some of the Tao teachings that can help people overcome obstacles and challenges, such as meditation, wu wei, oneness, moderation, simplicity, and desire.
  • The ultimate goal of longevity: The document explains that longevity is more than just living a long life, but also living a content and well-being life that is aligned with one’s spiritual harmony.
  • The importance of working on the self first: The document emphasizes that the quality of the mind creates the quality of existence and that one should cultivate sovereignty, which is the ability to detach from the ego and take charge of one’s life.
  • The role of self-discipline and willpower: The document advises that one should be mindful and careful of the goals they select and that they should have the self-discipline and willpower to resist distractions and bad habits that can lead to failure.
  • The next step in the series: The document announces that the next blog post will discuss how to wake up and take charge of the mind through meditation and mindfulness.

It’s January and we are all starting a new year. I was curious about what the new resolution failure rate is so I asked an AI (MS Copilot). Copilot says that a 2016 study that of the 41% of people who make resolutions, only 9% feel they were successful in keeping them; and that means a 91% failure rate.

I have spent a lot of time contemplating failure, and until I began following the Tao, I was one of the 91%. Once I began practicing some of the Tao teachings, I was able to achieve a higher success rate.

A New Series – Being Successful in 2024

This post will be the first in a series of articles on Tao strategies for avoiding failure and achieving goals for a more successful life this year. I anticipate topics later not listed below, these are at least what will be covered.

Discussion Post Topics

Meditation / Mindfulness vs Distraction

Wu Wei – detached action  vs Striving and attachment to outcome

Oneness vs wrong thinking

Moderation, balance, and Harmony vs Excess, imbalance, and entropy

Simplicity vs complexity

Desire: Want vs Need

What is your life goal?

Longevity is the ultimate life goal. Taoist longevity is more than just clawing your way to old age only arrive to senior hood in such a poor condition that you cannot fully enjoy the golden years. There are those [seniors] who can enjoy many years of contentment and well-being having successfully traveled a long life journey avoiding chronic disease and poverty. Your life goal could be to live long and well, experiencing, learning, and evolving spiritually. The longer you live the further you advance. How well you advance, and how successful you become will be determined by lots of factors. The goal of longevity is to live a long, content, and successful life.

Photo by Sharefaith on Pexels.com

Most people have learned that big goals are accomplished by breaking them down into actions and steps that carry them along to their destiny. This new year we have begun another time segment along the way. We are experiencing life and passing along a timeline cycle that begins January 1st and ends December 31st. This is a moment when you consider your destiny.

Thanks to Lao Tzu, Tao cultivators know that the future is not pre-determined. That we craft our destiny in the choices we make each moment of each day along our life path. Tao cultivators also know that physical longevity is reflected by the cultivating of spiritual harmony. Spiritual harmony is cultivated in the relationship between the spirit, the mind, and the physical world. Remember, we are spiritual beings having a physical experience. The quality of the mind creates the quality of existence. Taking a moment to be self-aware and reflecting on your Life goal is a most powerful step for Longevity and well-being.

  • Where do you want to be in life by the time you become a senior? Think of how you want life to be like then.
  • Now think about where you want to be at the end of this year.
  • What do you need to do, what are the action steps you need to take to get there?
  • Can you see that all other goals either take you towards achieving your Longevity (life goal) or they take you further away from them?

Picking the Right Goals

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Be mindful and careful of the goals you select. If you are not setting goals that create a destiny of well-being, you are wasting time and resources. By this statement, I am asking you to examine your New Year resolution to see if you are striving for success as defined by ego mentality. I have noticed in my “self” and others, that when in an ego state of mind, I will find my “self” thinking/saying “I will be happy when _____(fill in the blank). These can be empty goals. This ego trap can be avoided by learning to be content in the present moment and not postponing happiness and well-being until some future moment when you may or may not achieve the goal. Also, be realistic and consider carefully how achievable the goal is.

  • What are the costs? Consider the cost to be more than just money, but also time and energy. How will the money, time, and energy spent on working on this goal affect other areas of life?
  • What motives or intentions are behind your decision to pursue this goal? Are they driven by ego traits such as vanity, greed, or any other superficial desire? Or are they based on more virtuous reasons such as being fit and healthy? Are they simple, straightforward, less expensive, and not complicated?
  • Are the actions and steps simple and easy enough that you can do them without striving? Are they challenging enough to be meaningful when completed?

Do you have the self-discipline and willpower to resist the many ego distractions that can take you down a side path and away from the true path that leads to success? Be honest [with your “self”] and consider how well you can maintain these two virtues. If you answered no to self-discipline and willpower, then this book is for you. Without these two virtues, you will fail. Willpower and self-discipline fall under the Tao principle of Sovereignty, which is to be able to be detached from the ego influence and take charge of your life.

Let me be clear, goals are important. Ship captains all have a distant port that they are navigating towards for a future arrival. Yet all sailors know that along the way, day by day, life goes on while the ship slowly makes its way toward its destination. All sorts of obstacles and challenges can appear along the way. As long as the Captain, crew, and ship stay focused and do their job they maintain their forward progress. A voyage will face challenges, slow-downs, and setbacks, but the Captain stays on course by dealing with all the small and large problems they will encounter.

A journey of a thousand miles begins beneath the feet.

Lot Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, v11, Chapter 64

Moment by moment, mile by mile they keep tracking towards their destination. Each step is right here, right now. The example of the Captain, ship, and crew is a metaphor for your life journey. The ship’s Captain is you, the spirit commands and makes all final decisions. You are the Captain of your journey through life and your crew are all the people you interact with who help you get to where you are going. Letting the ego take over your mind, would be like the Captain going to sleep and only waking up when the ship runs aground. Or letting ego emotions take over the mind is like a crew that mutinies and takes over the ship, and decides to change course and go to a more attractive destination. When this happens, the cargo is never delivered, the goal is not accomplished and problems get worse.

Pirate crew as a metaphor for ego traits that cause problems when the spirit is weak (without Sovereignty)
Photo by Arian Fdez on Pexels.com

So the Tao lesson for doing this is called “working on the ‘self’ first”. This means that in the moment-by-moment, day-to-day journey of life, you are awake, aware, and mindful of each step you take to get where you intend to. All ships face stormy weather and other obstacles along the way. A voyage is a series of course corrections that keep the ship heading in the right direction to the intended destination. Your life voyage is the same with each moment offering choices that either lead you toward your goal or away from it.

The Topic: Sovereignty – The Spiritual Discipline of “self” management.

The first Tao principle for you to begin working on is Sovereignty. As mentioned above, research uncovered by the Copilot AI, that most people (91%) will fall off of the path and not keep their promises to themselves. My experience is that it takes Willpower and Discipline. Or more accurately it takes “Self” discipline.

I define a Sovereign as one who is the supreme authority or ruler over a domain. You can think of it as being the leader of a country like a President, a Prime Minister, a King or a Queen. Sometimes these supreme rulers are great leaders and are loved by the people, and sometimes they are hated as wicked despots. History remembers them as benevolent and wise leaders. Modern society has memorialized their words as common sayings. And you can look back through history and see where the powerful tyrants have created catastrophe and suffering. These types of monarchs have left devastation and are remembered as examples of humanity’s dark side.

For a moment think of yourself as a Czar and the empire you rule over is your life. Within this dominion are the people you interact with and the challenges you experience. As the ruler over your life, how is it going? As the president of your life, your choices and decisions play a prominent role in both the present moment and your future. The seeds of the future, your destiny, are planted in the present moment. The present moment you are experiencing now began in your past. As the top decision-maker, what kind of life have you created?

Sovereignty is about how you can become a successful and efficient ruler through consciously cultivating “self” discipline and will-power. Sovereignty is more than just a term; it is a state of being. It is being self-aware and mindful of how you perceive reality along with wise choices and right actions. It is a management system implemented in a state of self-awareness. This self-awareness is an awakened state, as a spiritual being, managing and experiencing life. See the blog devoted to cultivating The Tao of Sovereignty.

If you look back over your life and consider the areas where you have failed, you will see that being unable to control ego, desire, and other emotions was the main reason.

“…Accumulating virtues means there is nothing one cannot overcome

When there is nothing that one cannot overcome

One’s limits are unknown

The limitations being unknown, one can possess sovereignty…”

Excerpt from Chapter 59, Tao Te Ching

Cultivating Sovereignty is simply working on the “self” first. In this case, “self” is the ego aspect of your mind which is often in control. If the ego becomes the ruler over the mind and all of the many life choices, you will experience failure often. Working on the “self” means waking up, transcending, and becoming free of this mental state so that your deeper essence, your spirit, and your true self are in charge of your life. To wake up is to become “self-aware” and to detach and to move beyond being trapped in the ego mind. As the old master Lao Tzu states with this ability “One’s limits are unknown”.

About the ultimate goal of Life, which is Longevity, you will no longer be trapped in continued failure but instead create a destiny, a future that is the one filled with a series of continued successes. To be even more specific, with Sovereignty (spiritual self-discipline), you will be able to break those dangerous habits that cause chronic disease. With willpower, you will be able to resist bad financial choices that lead to not having enough money to live comfortably.

The next step is to learn how to wake up and take charge of your mind. We will discuss that in the next blog post: Meditation and Mindfulness.

I invite you to read a copy of the book, The Tao of Longevity, which is filled with much more detail than found in this blog series. If you are an Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscriber, you can get a free copy of the book here.

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How to Use the Tao as a Tool for Longevity

And All Other Areas of life.

The Tao is empty; when utilized, it is not filled up So deep! It seems to be the source of all things.

V1&2, Chap 4, Tao Te Ching

During a recent Tao lesson on Chapter 4 by Derek Lin, he said something that is good advice for Tao cultivators who are always looking for ways to implement Tao practice for success in life. He was discussing verse one, which is Lao Tzu’s explanation that the Tao is empty but unlimited. Derek used our universe, space, as an example. Space goes on infinitely, without end and without limits. In this line, Lao Tzu is describing it as if it were a vessel that, no matter how much is poured into it, it is never filled up. He uses the ancient word for “use it,” in which the modern context is worded as “utilized.” Thus, the suggestion is to use it (the Tao) as a tool to be used. Derek explains that the more you use the Tao, the better life becomes. The rest of the chapter is about applying the Tao in life. If you read it without explanation, it very well may not make sense, so I encourage you to watch the video as Derek unpacks the deeper meaning of this ancient wisdom. Once you have heard the entire lesson, you will see why Lao Tzu says, “So Deep! It seems to be the source of all things. “

So, after hearing this lesson, I began to think about the concept of using the Tao as a tool. And more specifically, how does one use the Tao daily to succeed, thrive, and survive? How would Tao cultivators use the Tao for Longevity goals? What are some Tao lessons that would apply?

To begin with, one has to learn to awaken and be present. Being present includes mindfulness. You must be self-aware and consciously recognize the moment of choice at hand and then be able to consider how to apply the Tao to that situation.

Yet, as I found out, just being aware is not enough by itself. One must learn the spiritual lessons or Tao lessons that can be mindfully applied. By studying the Tao, you will have the lessons at hand to apply when the opportunity arises.

This brings about the question of what Tao lesson should you learn? My answer is that you can start with a problem or question you may have right now in your life. What is something you are trying to deal with? What is a situation where you really need to make the right choice and be able to follow the right path forward to good place in the future? If you have studied the Tao, you might know right off what the Tao would recommend. Others of you may not know in the beginning where to start. Your journey begins by searching for the answers and lessons on your own. Perhaps in one of my books, you will see something that resonates. A good start would be listening to a lecture such as the one listed above. Over time, you will pick up lots of interconnected wisdom.

Longevity Challenges

How would a Tao cultivator deal with some of the current challenges our world faces today?

We can start close to home with our wallets. Most people right now, November 2023, are coming face to face with the cost of living becoming a challenge. Everything is expensive right now. Trying to avoid becoming homeless is harder and harder. So, as a Tao cultivator, I can see two complementary perspectives. The first is prevention, and the second is conservation. Like all Tao virtues, these two can appear to be just “feel good” cliches with little practical value. But Tao cultivators recognize their power.

Prevention is something many people could put more emphasis on. Yet you should also see that prevention is easier applied if one has also been practicing conservation. From a financial perspective, conservation would be to mindfully manage limited money resources so that they go as far as possible. It is hard to enact prevention from a state of lacking resources. But once the action of conservation has taken effect, resources will stay available. From an awakened state, steps can be taken to avoid unnecessary spending. Having enough financial resources to live a comfortable life in all circumstances is the goal of the Tao cultivator.

  • Keep this lesson simple.
  • Wake up.
  • Pay attention to desire.
  • Use discipline to refrain from making useless expenditures.

It’s not complicated, but in the beginning, it can be hard do to. So start small and be consistent. Cultivate mindfulness so that you can be awake and aware of what you are doing and why.

What did Lao Tzu think about conservation? He listed it as one of “three treasures” that he held a very important. You can learn more about the lesson of The Three Treasures here.

…I have three treasures
I hold on to them and protect them.
The first is called compassion.
The second is called conservation
The third is called not daring to be ahead in the world..

Verses 7-11, Chapter 67, Tao Te Ching

A Tao Tool for Conserving Financial Resources

Conservation, the second treasure, is to take care of what you have. Regarding financial resources and the ability to create wealth, one should take great care not to waste them. In my book, Sovereignty, I discuss at great length how the ego, if left unmanaged, causes great self-harm.

So, one must be awake and present to make wise choices for well-being. At the root of ego waste is the anti-virtue of desire. Managing desire is part of the process of self-discipline. Self-discipline, controlling the ego self, is applying the Tao in life. When the ego is controlled, you are aware of it, yet have no trouble asking yourself in the moment of choice, is this a want or a need? Too many choices where you give into want or false need will unnecessarily waste financial resources. As someone who knows first hand, this directly affects quality of life.

A lot is riding on being on sound financial footing. Sometimes, life becomes hard through no fault of our own. Yet the opportunity will come when you can do something constructive to improve your situation. At that moment, it is important to know what to do. That is when the Tao lesson will come into play. In a moment of clarity, you will ask:

  • Do I save that money, or do I give in to my ego?
  • Will this take me further from or closer to financial stability?
  • Is this something ego wants, or do I really need this? (be honest!)

Health and Fitness

Once you learn the virtue of conservation and apply it daily without even thinking about it, you will have a Tao skill to “hold it and protect it.” This same Tao tool, conservation, is a principle that should be applied to other areas of life, such as Health and Fitness, which require the same spirit of conservation. With diet, it is the quantity and quality of nutrition. Can you be conservative with your nutrition and avoid those things that negatively affect your health? Overindulgence and poor nutrition quality can quickly erode Longevity. Conservation applied to lifestyle in the form of eating can keep you on the path to good health, which is arguably necessary for Longevity.

With Fitness, it will mean learning to conserve energy through a balance of rest and exercise. Lots of this is discussed in the Tao of Longevity Book. See the section on The Longevity Protocol. Good Fitness is a state of harmony derived through a balance of physical activities with its complementary opposite of rest and sleep. Conservation protects this balance and the sense of Harmony that can be a game changer in the way you feel. In this way, a Tao cultivator uses the tool of conservation to manage various aspects of life and lifestyle to achieve the highest success.

“So deep! It seems to be the source of all things.”

The action of conservation is a Tao tool. To really see its “deep” effects, you must use it in all aspects of life. I have found firsthand that it works. Now that you see that Tao lessons are tools to achieve success in life try seeing how you can use other lessons/tools to help you navigate life for the long haul. See out other Tao lessons, get to know how they work, and try them in everyday situations in life.

Don’t Forget Karma

Don’t forget the actionable creative force in the Tao known as Karma, or cause and effect. Every choice and every decision are seeds planted in each moment that will grow and mature into a future state of experience. So, in each moment, plant the seeds of virtue so that you will end up in a better place down the road. With this in mind, consider the other two treasures that Lao Tzu holds dear and holds onto: Compassion and Humility which are Tao lessons in themselves. Just know that these are powerful life-changing tools to cultivate a better life if you use them effectively.

All the blog posts in this blog are lessons that are tools to be used by a person cultivating the Tao. When you read about a different lesson, try to think of how they, too, can be used as tools for Longevity. You might also explore the other book blog for other Tao lessons regarding spiritual self-discipline. The Tao of Sovereignty Blog.

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Self-Care

Self-Care: Devotion to longevity through regular steps to restore and preserve well-being both internally and externally.

What is your idea of self-care? Is it binge-watching TV after a hard day? Is it eating “high calorie, low nutrition junk food after a long day of drama? Maybe, if you are lucky, you realize it’s not the right path and are searching for answers. Chapter 33 in the book discusses this important lifestyle routine to stay on the better, enjoy life, and stay on the longevity path.

There are many chapters on bringing about harmony, the foundation for well-being. The Tao Te Ching has many lessons for avoiding the things that cause stress, drama, anxiety, and the seduction of desire (ego). Five sections of The Tao of Longevity book will guide you in understanding how to take care of your “self” along your life’s journey and avoid the suffering brought about by following the path of distraction being dominated by the ego (self).

Meditation is the highest level of self-care because it is the means of transcending the distracted state in which we make our worst choices. Bad choices, often made while coping and distracted, have the karmic effect of evolving into a state of suffering, which is the opposite of well-being. Self-care is the action of preventing, restoring, and maintaining a high state of harmony and balance through the everyday choices we all make each day. So many of us are necessarily distracted and do not even notice what we are doing and what impact it will have on life, so it is important to wake up and pay attention to what we are doing and why. This is the function of meditation and mindfulness.

Once you are “self-aware,” you can head off the not-smart choices and choose things that will bring about the conditions for feeling really good as a normal state of being.

So…how well are you taking care of your “self”? Ready to take charge of your life path and find that place where you honestly feel and think “life is good”?

Kindle Ebook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CL2JDWDQ

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKZD171M

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An Introduction to The Tao

Wanting to know more about the Tao? here is a great introductory video about the upcoming course and what the Tao is, how to pronounce it, and a little history. You may have done a little research on the web to learn more about it. Most of the common ones only give a surface-level description and understanding of the ancient spiritual path. There is so much more so I hope that you will be inspired to join our group for tomorrow’s live lecture. To sign up for the class, just go here. (Taoism.net)

Sam (The Dixie Taoist)

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The Tao of Contentment

Contentment is a powerful sentiment, one that leads to longevity.

My Tao journey has revealed just how powerful Tao virtues are. To some people, terms of virtue don’t carry much weight. They can be viewed as a sort of sentiment or suggestion for moral behaviors. In this blog post, I will show another perspective, one which will reveal the deep-abiding power of contentment.

First, an introduction to Virtue as a Tap Principle. The paradigm shift happens when you suddenly see something you have not seen before. It can seem like magic, but it is simply Tao. Virtue is much more than a sentimental or moral term. Once you see its function, it becomes clear.

Here is an example of what I mean. Consider the phrase:

“The people deeply loved her because of her service to the poor people in her village.”

Notice the phrase “because of.” This woman gained love and affection from her village because of devotion and compassion. The virtue of compassion, of devotion, has a cause and effect of becoming loved by those who appreciate it. People can look on this type of thing as someone who is giving themselves for the betterment of others. Compassion is the first virtue that comes to my mind. But with further thought, other virtues are present too. Filling this kind of role in society must surely require the virtue of patience, kindness, conservation, and humility.

Then there is the virtue of Contentment. Let’s use ‘the because test’ to see if the power will reveal itself.

“When asked, the woman said the secret to her longevity was being content with her life. Because of her contentment, the woman experienced harmony and longevity.”

Being able to live a long life of contentment is one of the secrets to longevity. Contentment is experienced when life is a good balance. Harmony is a catalyst for nurturing the flame of life.  Contentment and harmony create vitality, the quality-of-life force energy. The healthier this vital energy is, the more you will enjoy life and the longer you will continue to live.

How do you feel about seeking contentment? Does it appeal to you? Or is there some part of you that is just too hungry for stimulation or that you just can’t see yourself just letting go and living a simple life? I hope you will take a few moments to think about it sometime. You may conclude that all the stuff you do is because, deep down inside, it is contentment that you are seeking. Lasting contentment is not found in the material sense as much as it is in the spiritual sense. Dealing with that need is at the heart of the matter. When you uncover your deeper feelings you can begin the process of letting go and simplifying your life. A simple life is one where you are not creating an unnecessary burden to carry. Look at the part of you that is feeling that needy longing. When you can see that, ask yourself who it is that is witnessing that emotion. Notice the detachment. This is something you can cultivate with practice. It is the epicenter of mindfulness, something you can cultivate.

For me, Contentment was something that I had to cultivate over a long period of time. Had I known now how good it is, I would have embraced it a lot earlier. Ego-Desire management is not easy. The hard part is cultivating willpower and ‘self’-discipline.

Personally, I cannot help but wonder why everyone doesn’t try to become content with life and just simply enjoy being alive. The answer, I believe, is that too many are lost to the distraction of modern society. I discuss this and the vital energy Qi in the book. There you will get a bigger, more detailed picture of the power of virtue and harmony.

Being able to wake up from this distraction is “the big thing” you must work on when trying to get on the path to longevity. In the book, I talk about the process of waking up, transcending the ego mind and finding the virtue of Sovereignty. Sovereignty is another powerful virtue. I started a blog and wrote a book devoted to sovereignty. You can visit  The Tao of Sovereignty website here.

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