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. . . the mind is desperate to fix the river {of events} in place: Possessed by ideas of the past, preoccupied with images of the future, it overlooks the plain truth of the moment.

Laozi

Empty your mind of all thoughts. Let your heart be at peace. Watch the turmoil of beings, but contemplate their return.
LAOZI

Contemplate Heart Mind Peace
The transformation toward eternal life is gradual. The heavy gross energy of body, mind, and spirit must first be purified and uplifted. When the energy ascends… then self mastery can be sought.
LAOZI

Energy Mind Purify Self
From caring comes courage.
LAOZI

Being Inspirational Inspiring Strong
In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don’t try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.
LAOZI

Family Inspirational Motivational
Take [preventive] action before things happen. Establish order before disorder has begun.
LAOZI

Action Begun Establish Happen Order
What resists, persists.
LAOZI

Emotions Feel Persist Resist
The sage acts by doing nothing.
LAOZI

Done Nothing Sage Taoism
A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving. A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants. A good scientist has freed himself of concepts and keeps his mind open to what is.
LAOZI

Arrive Artist Change Good Intuition
In ancient times, those who followed the Way did not try to give people knowledge thereof, but kept them ignorant.
LAOZI

Give Knowledge Ignorant People
Nature is not human hearted.
LAOZI

Enlightening Hearted Nature
I have the mind of a fool, understanding nothing.
LAOZI

Knowledge Mind Understanding
He who loves does not dispute: He who disputes does not love.
LAOZI

Dispute Emotion Feelings Love
The great image lacks shape.
LAOZI

Condition Great Image Look Shape Taoism
Softness triumphs over hardness, feebleness over strength. What is more malleable is always superior over that which is immoveable. This is the principle of controlling things by going along with them, of mastery through adaptation.
LAOZI

Mastery Principles Superior Triumph
When the highest type of people hear Tao (Truth), they diligently practice it. When the average type of people hear Tao, they half believe in it. When the lowest type of people hear Tao, they laugh at it. If they did not laugh, it would not be Tao.
LAOZI

Average Believe Diligently Practice
The world’s big things only can be done by paying attention to their humble beginnings.
LAOZI

Attention Country Done Emotion Humble People

. . . the mind is desperate to fix the river {of events} in place: Possessed by ideas of the past, preoccupied with images of the future, it overlooks the plain truth of the moment.

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. . . the mind is desperate to fix the river {of events} in place: Possessed by ideas of the past, preoccupied with images of the future, it overlooks the plain truth of the moment.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Laozi Quotes