Find all episodes @ http://www.OpenandClear.com
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Join me in an unusual but deeply fulfilling journey as I work my way through the Tao te Ching, that ancient Chinese book of wisdom and spirituality that didn't draw me away from a Christ-centered faith, but actually helped me hold onto it.
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Email the podcast: DailyTaoLife@gmail.com Welcome to the Tao Te Ching for Everyday Living. I’m your host, Dan Casas-Murray. This podcast is for the Tao Curious, those looking for a random bit of wisdom once in awhile, or for those who want to dive into this wonderful teaching.I’ve been studying the Tao Te Ching for just short of a year now, and have reconnected with a natural feeling of inner peace and contentment. I don’t hold a doctorate, nor am I qualified to teach anything about the Tao ...
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Additional Eye-Opening Programs @ www.OpenandClear.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Tao Te Ching" Originally by Lao-Tzu - Best Interpreted as "A Book on Purpose" - Reinterpreted by eyes that have experienced beyond the veil of death. Since our host Rev. Devan Jesse Byrne's return from a long deliberate quest to "transcend the world" he brings back inspiring new insights, recognizing this ancient text speaks of the age old questions regarding the purpose of existence, and ...
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Want to help? Support my ministry (and cover hosting fees) at Buy Me a Coffee! :)
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Since the show is "finished" (for now), the Patreon site is no longer active. However, there are still hosting costs, and I still have expenses! If you would like to show gratitude with a small donation in a very easy way, you can do so at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crttc. No account creation required! Support the show…
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After two and a half years, we've reached the very last episode of the Tao te Ching! I'm not sure what's next for me, but at least for now, I'll stop regular posting here as I focus on some other pressing things in life and brainstorm possible future ideas. This chapter is a nice summary of three of the key themes of the Tao te Ching that we've foc…
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Minimalism and the Taoist utopia (chapter 80)
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Chapter 80 presents Lao Tzu's vision of the ideal society, the "Taoist utopia". Although it is not a "realistic" picture at first glance, writing it off would be a big mistake. The chapter not only praises minimalism and simple living, but also contains a thinly veiled but cutting cultural critique that is just as relevant today as it was 2600 year…
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Peace is worth the risk (chapter 79)
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We're skipping chapter 78 since we looked at it all the way back in episode 6! Chapter 79 is focused on the complex repercussions of human conflict. This is a shorter episode, and I'll split it into just two pieces: 1. "Just let it go" - conflict resolution the Taoist way 2. Peace is worth the risk - Christ as the ultimate example See more at www.c…
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Chapter 77 describes the Tao as being like the drawing of a bow, where the top is brought down and the bottom is brought up. It is a cultural critique about how the way of man tends to upset the natural balance of things. The episode will have three general thematic movements: 1. Equilibrium and balance in the universe and in our lives 2. The "Robi…
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Chapter 76 takes us back to the familiar territory of "weakness" that is actually strength. Living things are soft, supple, flexible, and "weak". Dead things are hard, brittle, rigid, and "strong". I'll start this episode by sharing about one of the most influential - and meek - men I've ever known. Then we'll break it up into two basic sections: 1…
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Greed - the "uniquely human problem"
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In this episode, we look at chapter 75, which critiques the greedy leadership of Lao Tzu's China or any government in general. I'll start with reading from Jesus's parable of the foolish rich man as well as his famous words on "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." The rest of the episode is pretty simply divided into two parts: 1…
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Doruk Cansev is a life coach and author of the book Balanced: Unleashing the Power of your Personality, which I used as the inspiration for the structure of episode 59. I also covered my notes on his book much more in-depth on the most recent Patreon members exclusive episode. Today we discuss Taoism a bit, but we dive deep into his books and discu…
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Judgment and the death penalty (chapter 74)
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In this episode, we look at chapter 74, which is a bit different in tone and content than other chapters around it. The central focus is the fear of death, and the central metaphor is the "Master Executioner" - whose job we should not try to take. We'll look at a literal interpretation first, followed by a more spiritualized/metaphorical one. 1. Th…
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The seven spectra of a balanced life
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Here's an outline to help follow this complex episode! Today we'll look at chapter 73, which seems a bit disconnected and confusing at first (which is why it took me two extra weeks to prepare). We'll touch on a few side topics, then we'll spend the majority of the book relating this chapter's idea of perfect wu wei to the seven areas of balance id…
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"Fear not" - the danger of fear as a motivator
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Chapter 72 doesn't really offer an obvious interpretation at the first reading. The variations between translations and the disjunctions between the sections makes it a bit complex. Fortunately, there is a common theme that the most traditional interpretations tend to agree on, and then as always we will take a bit of liberty and move in a more cre…
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Know that you don't know! / Ecclesiastes as Taoist confession (chapter 71)
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Chapter 71 is cryptic, obscure, and one of my absolute favorites. This chapter continues the theme on knowledge from the previous chapter, but focuses especially on ignorance - the fact that we are all ignorant in so many ways, and that not knowing that we don't really know is not just bad, it's a spiritual sickness. I open with a confession of my …
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Too smart to understand (chapter 70)
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In this episode, we look at chapter 70, which is one of the most depressing and least didactic/informative chapters in the Tao te Ching (which is why it took me an extra week to prepare this). Here we have Lao Tzu break into a quasi-lament on how no one understands him or follows his teachings, despite how simple they are to understand. With some c…
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Lao Tzu's war advice - and honoring the image of God in others (chapter 69)
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In this episode, we look at chapter 69, which is incredibly tough to deal with since it is primarily focused on giving advice to military generals. As a Jesus-follower committed to nonviolence, I didn't know what to do with it at first, but with some clever maneuvering and use of paraphrases, I was able to bring it around to something more Christli…
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Compassion conquers all (chapter 67)
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In this episode, we look at the famous chapter 67, where Lao Tzu presents the "Three Jewels" - the entire Taoist ethics summed up in three words: compassion, moderation, and humility. I'll start by sharing about how Christ's compassion demonstrates the compassion that God built into the way the universe works and the way people work. Then we'll loo…
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Leading from behind (chapters 66 and 68)
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In this episode, we look at chapters 66 and 68, which continue the train of thought of non-contention and wu wei that we started last week, but this time in relation to leadership. I'll start with talking about the characteristics of servant leadership, then focus on the chapters one by one: 1. Chapter 66 - the best leaders take the attitudes of se…
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Sorry for no episode this week. I was down for the count with the flu last week. (Not COVID!) Head on over and subscribe at the Patreon page to get early access to the next episode. :) Support the showOleh Corey Farr
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The path of least resistance - the "great secret" to an effective life
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In this episode, we look at chapter 63, which is all about tasks and problems. I'll start by talking about how learning how to break big tasks into small pieces has radically transformed my life, then we'll break down the chapter into two main sections: 1. A "mini-sermon" on wu wei (action without action) through a series of paradoxes 2. The active…
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The good, the bad, and the sinful (chapter 62)
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In this episode, we look at chapter 62, which is one of the only chapters where Lao Tzu compares good and bad people and the ONLY chapter where he uses a word often translated as "sin". I'll start by talking about how radically countercultural and even offensive Jesus's teachings of enemy-love are in the Middle Eastern culture I work in, then we'll…
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Support the showOleh Corey Farr
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Exclusive: What is the ultimate question? The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Buddha, and the Cross
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As I'm away for the summer, I'll be sharing some episodes from my Patreon exclusive feed, which are available to all subscribers at the $5/month level or higher. Here are the original show notes: A wild journey prompted by a ridiculous plot line from one of my favorite book series of all time. How much divine revelation is embedded in creation? Is …
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Exclusive: Compare and contrast - the empty bowl/childlike faith in the TTC and the Gospels
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As I'm away for the summer, I'll be sharing some episodes from my Patreon exclusive feed, which are available to all subscribers at the $5/month level or higher. This was the very first ever exclusive, and I hope you enjoy! Here are the original show notes: Thanks Bob (not Brian like I said in the episode!) for this profound insight. Both the Tao t…
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Exclusive: The (misguided) pursuit of happiness
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As I'm away for the summer, I'll be sharing some episodes from my Patreon exclusive feed, which are available to all subscribers at the $5/month level or higher. This was the very first ever exclusive, and I hope you enjoy! Here are the original show notes: It's finally here! The first Patreon exclusive episode will continue to dig into the theme o…
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I'm flying home to the US for the next eight weeks! I most likely won't be able to continue putting out regular episodes, but I will share some of the past exclusive episodes I've done for Patreon subscribers. If you aren't a subscriber and you like what you hear, head on over to the Patreon page to get access for only $5/month. Support the show…
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"Educated" or life-long learner? (chapter 65)
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In this episode, we look at chapter 65, which is yet another "political" chapter. I'll start with sharing a little of my journey from deciding to go to seminary to wrestling with the idea of what it means to "do theology". Then we'll look at the chapter from two very different angles: 1. Avoiding "cleverness" - simplicity and integrity in leadershi…
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Getting in touch with our "masculine" side (chapter 64)
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This is, of course, the followup to last week's episode on our "feminine" side. Today, we'll look at the masculine - the yang to match last week's yin. Keep in mind these have almost nothing to do with normative gender roles. Today we'll follow last week's structure by looking at three sets of virtue characteristics aiming towards three goals/ideal…
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Getting in touch with our "feminine" side (chapter 61)
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Episode 5 was called "Getting in touch with God's feminine side" and it has been a really popular episode. Today, we'll do the first of two episodes on our "feminine" and "masculine" sides, or our yin and yang virtues. Keep in mind these have almost nothing to do with normative gender roles. Lao Tzu shows us quite clearly that all people need a bal…
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Verse Forty Four - Tao Te Ching - Living
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Oleh Open and Clear, Broadcasting
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Oleh therapyofthesoul
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As Monty Python would say, "And now for something completely different!" This week I'll give some insight and explanation into what is, next to Taoism, probably the most important and influential foundational belief system in my life: Christian Anarchism. It sounds a lot more edgy than it is in some ways, though. Christian Anarchism is not about tr…
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A Taoist Fish Fry - and the nature of good, evil, and the “ghosts” of our past that haunt us (chapter 60)
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In this episode, we look at chapter 60, which has several very different ideas all smashed into one. I'll start with a meditation on the nature of our relationship to the "ghosts" in our lives - the people who try to bring us down. The rest of the episode is divided into a few parts: 1. "Ruling a nation is like cooking a small fish" - the importanc…
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The myth of scarcity and the liturgy of abundance (chapters 58-59)
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In this episode, we look at chapters 58-59, which (in my estimation) offer two very different narratives for approaching life and leadership, with two very different results. I'll bring in two core concepts from theologian Walter Brueggemann (link below) to flesh out the discussion. I start with a meditation on Ecclesiastes 11 and the nature of int…
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Tao Te Ching Verse 81: Staying Connected with Truth
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Send us a text Tao Te Ching Verse 81 translated by Isabella Mears Faithful words may not be beautiful, Beautiful words may not be faithful. Those who love do not quarrel, Those who quarrel do not love. Those who know are not learned, Those who are learned do not know. The riches of the self-controlled person are in the Inner Life. When one spends f…
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Skipping a week (we'll be back to normal next Sunday)
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Support the showOleh Corey Farr
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Tao Te Ching Verse 80: Accessing the Utopia Within
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Send us a text Tao Te Ching Verse 80 translated by Hua-Ching Ni Let there be small communities with few inhabitants. The supply of vessels may be more than enough, yet no one would use them. The inhabitants would love living there so dearly that they would never wish to move to another place. They may have every kind of vehicle, but they would not …
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Tao Te Ching Verse 79: Staying Forgiving
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Send us a text Tao Te Ching Verse 79 translated by Keith H. Seddon When a bad grudge is settled, Some enmity is bound to remain. How can this be considered acceptable? Therefore the Sage keeps to her side of the contract But does not hold the other party to their promise. One who has Virtue will honour the contract, Whilst one who is without Virtue…
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In this episode, we look at chapter 56, one of the most directive and imperative chapters in the Tao te Ching. The first half of the episode sets the stage for the chapter, then I break down four of the central commands in the chapter and how we see them exemplified in the life of Jesus: 1. Blunt your sharpness - the sharp edge of arrogance 2. Unti…
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Tao Te Ching Verse 78: Staying Humble
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Send us a text Tao Te Ching Verse 78 translated by The Tao of Rivenrock There is nothing more flexible and yielding than water. And yet there is nothing better for attacking the hard and rigid, there is nothing that can do what it can do. So it is that the rigid can be overcome by the flexible, and the haughty by the humble. Yet even knowing this; …
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Tao Te Ching Verse 77: Staying Content
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Send us a text Tao Te Ching Verse 77 translated by Anonymous The natural order is like stretching a bow The low bow gets pushed up high And the high tendon pulled downwards Where there is too much, it takes away Where there is not enough, it fills Nature strives for harmony all the time Decreases where there is too much And increases where there is…
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A conversation with Protect Your Noggin podcast
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Back in December, I had a conversation with two Christian-Taoist "kindred spirits", Jeff and Stacie from the Protect Your Noggin podcast. Since I haven't been able to finish prep for this week's regularly scheduled episode, I figured I would share (part of) that interview with you here, since I had a great time doing it! This will give you a lot mo…
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Tao Te Ching Verse 76: Staying Compassionate
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Send us a text Tao Te Ching Verse 76 translated by Xiaolin Yang When people are alive, they are soft; when dead, they are hard. When every living thing is alive, it is soft; when dead, it is hard. So, the strong and hard have no vitality; the soft and weak have vitality. Therefore, when an army is too strong and rigid, it will be extinguished; when…
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Send us a text Tao Te Ching Verse 75 translated by Shi Fu Hwang The people suffer from hunger because their superior agencies have imposed a heavy tax, thus they are hungry. The people are difficult to govern because their superior agencies are too fond of meddling, thus they are difficult to govern. The people make lightly of dying because of the …
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"Prolonging life" - four ways we try to maintain false balance (chapter 55)
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In this episode, we finish chapter 55, talking about the danger of resisting decay and trying to "prolong the life" of things that are in decline. I start the episode by sharing my own discomfort with the word "evangelical" and my great struggle with trying to hold onto it and now my honest desire to reject it entirely due to the current situation …
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Tao Te Ching Verse 74: Disqualifying Ourselves from Managing
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Send us a text Tao Te Ching Verse 74 translated by Frederic Henry Balfour If people do not fear death why attempt to frighten them by capital punishment? Supposing the people are made constantly afraid of death, so that when they commit unlawful acts I arrest them and have them killed, who will dare [afterwards to misbehave]? For then there will al…
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Tao Te Ching Verse 73: The Tao's Perfect Outcome
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Send us a text Tao Te Ching Verse 73 translated by Isabella Mears A person with courage and daring is slain, A person with courage and self-restraint lives. Of these two, the one has benefit, the other has injury. Who can tell why one of them should incur Heaven's Wrath? Because of this the self-controlled person has doubt and difficulty. Heavenly …
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Platonic or Taoist? The nature of the eternal and unchanging (chapter 55)
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In this episode, we start looking at chapter 55. We'll cover it from another angle this week, but today I want to dig into the word "constancy", also translated as the eternal and unchanging. I start the episode by sharing a few poems, most of which I've shared on the show before, to prime the pump for thinking about how we think about God. The res…
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Send us a text Tao Te Ching Verse 72 translated by Charles Johnston When the people fear not what should be feared, then what is most to be feared descends upon them. Beware of thinking your dwelling too narrow; beware of resentment over your lot. I resent not my lot, therefore I find no cause for resentment in it. Hence the Saint knows herself and…
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Tao Te Ching Verse 71: Working Toward Conscious Awareness
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Send us a text Tao Te Ching Verse 71 translated by Hua-Ching Ni One who regards one’s intellectual knowledge as ignorance has deep insight. One who overrates one’s intellectual achievement as definite truth is deeply sick. Only when one is sick of this sickness can one cease to be sick. One who returns one’s mind to the simplicity of the subtle tru…
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Virtue in community: The Bonhoeffer Principle (chapter 54)
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In this episode, we look at the second part of chapter 54, which encourages us to be rooted in Te (virtue). I start the episode by introducing what I call the "Bonhoeffer principle" - that loving your vision/dream of community more than the community itself will ultimately destroy it. The rest of the episode explores the dynamics of virtue in commu…
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Tao Te Ching Verse 70: Paying Attention
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Send us a text Tao Te Ching Verse 70 translated by Bruce R. Linnell My words are very easy to understand, Very easy to practice. But there is no one in the world who can understand them, There is no one who can practice them. My words possess a lineage, My duties possess a ruler. Now : only because I am without-knowledge, Thus I am not understood. …
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