“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
This image shows different images of the same jar. One is with the mud and water disturbed and murky, the other image shows the mud settled to the bottom and clear water above which is reflective of what happens to the mind when one sits in meditation. Murky water is a metaphor of an anxious mind which is represented by the jar on the left. The other represents a mind that is still and has clarity (oneness with the Tao).
If you missed The Tao of Oneness Part One, go here
Part Two of this Chapter (the middle part) indicates what happens without oneness.
The sky, lacking clarity, would break apart
The earth, lacking tranquility, would erupt
The gods, lacking divinity, would vanish
The valley, lacking abundance, would wither
Myriad things, lacking life, would be extinct
The rulers, lacking standard, would be toppled.
Verses 9-14, Chapter 39, Tao Te Ching
Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching translated and annotated by Derek Lin.
When the weather is stormy, the skies are cloudy and not clear. When our minds have stormy weather, our choices and decisions lead to negative results.
When the earth erupts, it can be like a volcanic eruption, which is a good example of what happens when people lose their temper. Anger and violence create cataclysmic mistakes and create tensions, strife, violence, and devastation.
When spirituality is put aside or forgotten, a person loses the benefits that come with it, such as wisdom, discipline, and faith. When cultivation stops, we become vulnerable to mistakes and consequences.
When the valley and the river that provide nutrients (abundance) dry up, all those living things that are dependent on it begin to wither away.
When the myriad of living creatures lacks vital life energy and die off, which leads to extinction. In a more modern and personal context, this means health. Without oneness, health declines and will lead to death.
When rulers lack the world standard (being a good example), people no longer listen to or follow them. They are no longer looked up to or can be seen as someone to follow as a source of advice, and they lack credibility. Without oneness, they become irrelevant. loss of oneness leads to as reflected in the sky, earth, divinity, fertile valley, life, and leadership:
A lack of clarity (being clear-minded and having understanding).
Cataclysmic results interrupt well-being and bring about suffering.
Spirituality (divineness) begins to erode and disappear, which leads to the emptiness of purpose and spiritually void and empty. (Ego will fill the void).
A lack of abundance in its many examples. Quality of life withers, and suffering fills the void.
Loss of health and well-being. Atrophy sets in, and unless it is turned around will lead to death.
With rejection and loss of natural leadership. You become irrelevant at best, and no one will see you as someone to follow or listen to because of such an inferior performance.
In summary, these reflections of existence deteriorate.
The benefits of oneness:
Clarity
Tranquility
Divinity (Spirituality)
Abundance
Physical Life and Health
Leadership
The consequences of not having oneness:
Unclear judgment and thinking
Destruction and life coming apart in disintegrating fragments
Being controlled by ego and its emotions
Poor health leads to death
Becoming an example of failure in life (how to not live life)
You can see the importance of Oneness. So, what is Oneness?
Answering this question requires examination from three aspects. Unity, Connectivity, and the One True Path.
Unity. Unity begins with the perspective of bringing the unity of all things into one reality. On the largest scale, this would be the universe and everything in it as one collective. Oneness of the Tao begins on a personal level that is relevant because our lives reflect all other aspects of the Tao. It’s a pattern that you will recognize.
For example, we can see that the universe is not empty but filled with stars, gases, planets, and other elements. It is a collection in a working system that is thought to begin with the big bang.
A reflection of that system is the human body. We are a universe contained within our physical bodies. We have many different elements from the skeletal bone structure down to the microscopic cells that keep us alive. We even have life forms living in symbiosis within our gut. From large down to small it is a living system, a collective that works in harmony with natural law, the Tao. Taken to an even smaller level, such as microscopic, atomic, and quantum, the same pattern is seen. It is a collective of many parts that is unified and inseparable.
Connectivity. Another perspective is to see oneness as the connectivity between us as a people. Collectively we are one, yet despite being individuals we are all connected. The perspective of being separated from everyone else is an illusion that is opposite from Oneness. This [illusion] or desire to be separated from everyone else leads to division and separation. Lack of unity and divisiveness creates strife and conflict. Unity opens the way for cooperative harmony. Unity is Oneness. Reasonable people will see this to be true on every level beginning with everyone in your neighborhood, in your town, in your state, in your country, and especially throughout the world. Together we have Oneness. When as a world society we develop Harmony, prosperity, and well-being follow. When we have disparity and disharmony between societies, we have war, famine, and large-scale suffering. There is Harmony when people ascend the ego mind. There is disharmony when people are prisoners of their egos. Those who find their true path, join with others who are where unity brings widescale well-being. When ego-centric people collectively follow their own self-destructive paths there is widescale suffering.
The third aspect of Oneness is the One True Path which is a rich topic and is revealed in detail in Part Two of the Oneness Feature. This post is just a paraphrase of Derek Lin’s Lecture on Oneness. This has been just a brief report on what he goes into detail about. Here are the links to the lectures that this lesson is sourced from. I invite you to watch and listen to the in-depth translation and explanation of this especially important Tao principle.
Part Three
(The Third Part of the chapter on Oneness) How to Attain it.
The Tao of Oneness – Finding the One True Path
Therefore, the honored uses the lowly as basis
The higher uses the lower as foundation
Thus, the rulers call themselves alone, bereft, and unworthy
Is this not using the lowly as basis? Is it not so?
Therefore, the ultimate honor is no honor
Do no wish to be shiny like jade
Be dull like rocks
Verses 15-21, Chapter 39, Tao Te Ching
The One True Path.
Left the muddy water represents a turbid mind. Right is a settled mind that has clarity. The sediment has dropped away through tranquility and stillness.
Parts One and Two ended with two of the three aspects of Oneness. They were Unity and Connectedness. The third aspect of Oneness with the Tao is finding and staying on the One True Path to attain oneness. Attaining oneness is to gain:
Robust life energy (Qi) to maintain and enjoy life
Sought out by others due to success (example for others)
The One True Path is the one that is unified with Tao teachings. It is the one that creates, sustains, and promotes successful living. The Tao, also known as “The Way,” is the one true path. This aspect of how to be on the One Path is something that most people will not recognize with a skilled teacher points out the intentions of Lao Tzu. Which path is the true one? You must seek that answer by finding clarity. As mentioned above, you must do this yourself. It happens through practice, trial, and error. This is what cultivation is. How do you know if you are being successful? Karma is your judge by enacting cause and effect. You will know when life becomes simpler and better. You will know when your spirit is right (clarity), and your heart is tranquil. You will know when the people around you start to notice and want to mirror what you do and have.
The True Path is the most optimal and beneficial. When you sit and contemplate this you can get a sense of which way to go; which path to take. In those moments of choice when destiny awaits, you step forth carefully with wisdom.
Your true path is unique to you. Of the many choices, only one is the true one, the most optimal. Tao cultivators have learned that the Tao teachings reveal which path, is right and which is wrong. This one true path is that which has Oneness with the Tao and not the distracted side paths of the ego.
Here are some steps for finding and attaining Oneness with the Tao. This section is characterized by the virtue of Humility.
Humility becomes the way to self-honesty. With self-honesty, you can take ownership of your faults and change your ways. As you contemplate what this all means to you, ask yourself what you need to master to attain Oneness? What is it you will commit to? What speaks to you in such a way that you are willing to invest in and stick with for the long term. It is writing this book and sharing what I learn through blogging. I do this because I have seen it work in my life. This can be one of your most important decisions, so think carefully before vowing and committing to it.
As you consider this be truthful with your self-talk. What are you holding in your heart and mind? What is the underlying intention behind your consideration? Your motivation should come from a place of gratitude. Solid intention and a foundation of gratitude are necessary parts of the recipe for Oneness to work.
These two virtues will empower and motivate you to action, which is the next step in the process. As you experience the benefits of Oneness, the feeling of gratitude will join with the intention to share what you found with others. As you gain clarity and tranquility, Oneness arises. As you begin to master Oneness, you will look back at the past with a feeling of never wanting to repeat the lack of vision, the instability, the spiritual awakening, the lack of abundance, and the lack of leadership amongst your peers. Naturally, having transcended that, you will feel grateful for your newfound wisdom. As you begin to attain Oneness, others will notice your success. They will want to know the secret, and you naturally attain leadership by request.
Then you will gladly take the next steps because you know how effective they are, and you want others to receive the same benefits. These actions become second nature and will compound over time, leading to a mastery of life.
The Protocol steps and levels listed above are:
Commitment,
Intention,
Gratitude,
Actions,
Mastery
There is an alchemy of bringing these spiritual ingredients together in such a way that the sum is greater than the individual parts. The result is Oneness and the One True Path. For true results, practice this every day until it becomes second nature over time. Be patient and remember why you committed to the process.
With Humility in your heart, you start over and begin taking small steps following the protocol above. Begin and build from the ground up so that you have a strong foundation. Make a commitment to yourself to finish what you start and do a good job. Success at this commitment will help you develop the right intention where you realize a sense of true gratitude about being able to improve your well-being, quality of life and longevity. With gratitude you take actions with courage and confidence because you know that the process works through experience. After a time of success, you will realize that are ascending toward Mastery. With mastery, comes the natural leadership for those who want to know how you do it. With Humility as your foundation, you will not let ego go to your head and stray from the path.
Know that you will have setbacks which are inevitable in training, so know what to do when it happens. Meditation and mindfulness are the self-management skills to deal with those days when can’t hold Oneness. When you can become aware of your cloudy and turbid mind you can find the Clarity and Tranquility that you need through meditation. Mindfulness practice helps you to pay attention and notice the moments when you have a lack of Clarity, and the mind is not tranquil.
When you lose your feeling of gratitude due to the inevitable times when the challenges of life temporarily distract us from our higher self. In those times you can step back (mentally) and remember those times in your life where you were experiencing life with contentment and joy.
Remember those things that you have experienced and are grateful for. Look at some photos of time where you were really enjoying life.
Remember how as you attained Clarity in other areas how it brought more success and joy to life.
Think of people who love you
Think of people who you love and enjoy spending your life with
Take some self-time to enjoy a moment in life again.
Look at all you have accomplished through Oneness up to this point.
Be humble and recognize the fault and resolve to do better.
Summary: Oneness is a powerful Tao Virtue that will improve every aspect of life that you practice it in. As stated in the beginning of this chapter, Oneness is reflected in every aspect of life, especially in spiritual longevity. Spiritual Longevity opens the way for Physical Longevity.
Cultivate Oneness through Meditation, Mindfulness, and Spiritual Cultivation.
Through Tranquility and Clarity, discover your true self and your true path.
Let humility and gratitude be the foundation virtue and guide for attaining Oneness
By adhering to and following your true path, you will transform your life by reducing suffering and achieving Well-being and Longevity.
For a deeper insight into Oneness, watch the original lecture from Tao Teach Derek Lin.
This is an excerpt from the book, The Tao of Longevity (part one only)
The lesson of Oneness is one of the most important and key Tao principles for Tao Cultivators to master. As mentioned before, spiritual longevity leads to physical longevity. Oneness is one of the cultivating principles to work on for having success in life, especially for longevity. After all, you are crafting your destiny in every moment of every day so to heal, restore your vitality and maintain it for the long haul, Oneness is essential to cultivating spiritual longevity. We begin with Lao Tzu’s Chapter 39 which explains the what, why, and how to cultivate it.
The chapter can be broken down into three parts in which I am sectioning into two parts as separate blog posts. Part one is a study of sections one including verses 1 -8, and Part Two are verses 9-14. And Part Three is verses 15-21.
Part One. What is Oneness and how is it reflected in life, especially for Longevity?
The Chapter Study begins with part one which is the first 8 verses of Chapter 39. Its sub-title could be stated as You Mirror All Aspects of the Tao
Those that attained oneness since ancient times
The sky attained oneness and thus clarity
The earth attained oneness and thus tranquility
The Gods attained oneness and thus divinity
The valley attained oneness and thus abundance
The myriad things attained oneness and thus life
The rulers attained oneness and became the standard for the world
These all emerged from oneness
Verses 1 – 8, Chapter 39, Tao Te Ching
Oneness is referenced in three different chapters of the Tao Te Ching. It is featured in chapter 39 (above) and mentioned in chapters 10 and 56. You will notice as you read the Tao Te Ching that Lao Tzu uses local metaphors for perspective. These metaphors are historically contextual and may not make sense when you take the translations at face value. Here I am giving you a very basic explanation of what they mean to us now. For a deeper and more thorough understanding please watch Derek Lin’s YouTube video. See the links below.
The first seven verses are examples of different elements of existence in which oneness is reflected in our lives. We are reflections of the universe both internally and externally. Tao cultivators understand that all perspectives of existence are reflected in each of us. Each of us is a reflection of the Tao. Above are seven different examples, and metaphors for seeing the different areas of existence in our life in which we are to mirror Oneness. As you read through these consider how they can be reflected in the different aspects of your life. to personally apply them.
The Sky has oneness when it is clear thus it has clarity. Not having oneness would be cloudy and stormy weather reflected as cloudy or turbid thinking. In life, we can avoid stormy weather by avoiding the egocentric activities and drama that distracts us and causes us to have stress and anxiety. A mind filled with drama, anger, arguing, and fighting is one that clouded my emotion and not thinking clearly. When we see things clearly as they truly are we have clarity. Then perception is free from distracting emotion and mood which often filters and distorts thinking. A good example is to think of when you are in a depressed mood and how ineffective your thoughts are at planning future events. When the spirit and mind are free of these, inspiration rises, and we know our path forward with confidence
With clarity, we are free and clear to observe and flow with life unimpeded. When the mind is clear there is oneness of the true self (spirit). This is clarity through oneness. With clarity, you can make sound and wise choices that advance success in your life.
The Earth has tranquility when it is without cataclysm which is most of the time. Most of the time the earth is stable. However, people are not so tranquil as they are often distracted with drama, debate, arguing, fighting and other negative traits opposite of tranquility. When we are tranquil like the earth is most of the time, then life has stability. Earth here is a metaphor for heart and home which for most people is the center and foundation of life. Most of the time the earth is solid and still and is easy to stand and walk on. When you have tranquility in your heart and in your home which are the center of your life, it radiates outward into all the other aspects of life. How about your life? Is its lack of tranquility causing instability and distraction where you live and work? When we avoid egocentric drama and chaos, we lose our stable foundation for navigating life’s challenges. Too much turmoil erodes peace of mind and heart. When we are constantly bouncing around from one drama to another it is hard to enjoy life and be productive. Oneness in this perspective is to develop tranquility in life by avoiding the distractions and reactions of the emotional ego.
The Gods and divinity are a reflection of spirituality. When you can have oneness in your spiritual development you realize authentic spiritual wisdom. This is to say that when you have oneness in your spiritual life, you do your best to practice, to cultivate the spiritual lesson rather than to just go through the empty motions of being spiritual. The colloquial saying that comes to my mind is “to practice what you preach” or “walk to talk”. Those who just pretend to follow spiritual disciplines reveal their true nature in the things they do in life, in the way they interact with others, and in the lack of true leadership they portray. I am reminded of those who are pious on Sunday morning in the temple or church yet back to business-as-usual on Sunday Afternoon and the following week.
The Valley and Abundance is reflected in our lives through Oneness of clarity and tranquility. The Valley is a metaphor for abundance having its origins in the way the ancients appreciated how the low areas between and following the mountains were where rich nutrients were deposited on a regular basis in the rivers and streams. Perhaps gold is a good example of how nuggets are found in the silt and sand of riverbeds in the valley of hills and mountains. How is abundance reflected in your life? Are you free from distractions and turmoil so that mind, body, and spirit are clear and tranquil so that you can manifest wealth? Or are you living a chaotic life always struggling from paycheck to paycheck and never getting ahead? Wealth doesn’t have to be financial, it can also mean friendship, peace of mind, a happy family, employment, or even the physical locality of where you live.
The Myriad of Things and Life is a reflection for all living things on earth and their life vitality. Oneness with the Tao, to have clarity and tranquility promotes wellbeing and robust life energy, Qi. This energy is what makes life so good from both a health perspective, but also mood, outlook, and a positive perspective. Enjoyment of life is what all creatures seek. Without oneness which is to be without clarity and tranquility is to have low energy, low outlook, dark thoughts, and emotions, and too much suffering. Without Oneness life becomes stressful, dull, and filled with apathy and depression.
The Rulers and the World Standard. Rulers is a metaphor for leadership. When you have oneness, it is reflected in your life and people notice. They want to know the secret and by your example, you become a leader in the sense that people look up to you. You become an example of how good life can be. This verse is not so much about actual rulers, and it is about those who rule their life with clarity and tranquility. It pays off in so many positive ways that people will want to follow the example so their life will be good too.
Use Clarity of mind and spirit to attain oneness
Use Tranquility of heart and home to attain oneness
Use divinity (your spiritual discipline) to attain oneness
Use abundance to attain oneness
Use your robust life energy to attain oneness
Be an example for others (world standard) to attain oneness
There is a great story that gives a good example of how clarity brings about oneness to solve a difficult problem.
Now apply this to reflect your current longevity path.
Clarity: are you clear and committed to changing course away from what is damaging your health and well-being. Is it clear to you how you created your current situation?
Tranquility of heart: is your emotional heart filled with negative emotions such as anger, anxiety, worry, fear, aggression, etc.? Or is your heart calm and tranquil and able to have clarity?
“The Tao that is true and constant.
Those who realize it will attain it by themselves.
Those who realize and attain the Tao, will possess constant clarity and tranquility.
Chapter 12: Qingjing Jing [Chingjing Jing], also known as the Clarity and Tranquility Classic.
Divinity (Spirituality): Are you awakened as the true self and able to maintain the determination to stay on the path or is the ego controlling your life through choices that undermine longevity? Spirituality is the work of cultivating attainment of clarity and tranquility. “Those who realize it will attain it by themselves” means that seeking, the cultivation can only be done by you. Enlightenment or attainment is the result of one’s personal refinement that is the personal true path that they follow; they life that they live. No one can do for you. No one can give it to you. You must seek, find and cultivate clarity and tranquility for yourself. Spiritual teachers can only point the way, it is up to you to understand it, use it, and refine your attainment.
Abundance: Is your life filled everything you need to live a long healthy life? Or has a lack of clarity, tranquility and Spiritual power allowed the ego to deplete the things you need to live comfortably?
Life: The myriad of things: within your life, your body, your mind, are the elements that make up your life. Are they reflecting wellbeing prosperity and heath? Or are they tired, sick, weak, and low on resources?
The Rulers of the World: The most successful rulers/leaders are those who have been promoted by their peers. Because they reflect the Tao, people notice the success and life skills. They want to seek to learn and associate with success from those who have attainment. People will naturally follow them. This is what Lao Tzu means by The Rulers of the World”. Those who rise to true leadership through attaining the Tao.
Are you being viewed as someone who is at the top of their Longevity practice?
How likely are your peers to recognize the virtue of Clarity and Tranquility within you?
How likely is it that others will notice your fitness level, your health, happiness, and wellbeing and want to know what you are doing? Or are you an example of what not to do.
The Tao of Longevity 