Tao Te Ching 22

Dear Taoist Light Cultivators,

We’re stepping into the second week of practice in 2025!

Time waits for no one, but we must rise to meet it. Let’s keep moving forward!

The Tao Te Ching 22 highlights Taoist principles of resilience, humility, and balance. It teaches that flexibility brings renewal, emptiness leads to fullness, and excessive desire causes delusion. A Taoist cultivator avoids contention, arrogance, and self-promotion, achieving lasting strength and shining quietly. The saying "to be resilient is to remain whole" reflects a timeless truth grounded in life experience.

Warm regards,

Chiyan

22 – Tao Te Ching

To be resilient is to remain whole.

To bend is to become straight.

To empty oneself is to be full.

To shatter is to be renewed.

Taking less leads to gaining more,

While excessive desire brings delusion.

Thus, the Taoist cultivator embraces the one principle that governs all.

By not seeking attention, she shines.

By not boasting of her deeds, she gains.

By not exalting herself, she endures.

Because she does not contend,

None in the world can contend with her.

This ancient wisdom—

"To be resilient is to remain whole"—

Are not empty words.

It is a truth that can be realized.

Translated by Chiyan wang and Robert Smitheram Ph.D

18 – Tao Te Ching

When the great Tao is forgotten,


Morality arises.

When wisdom fades,

Hypocrisy emerges.

When the family falls into disorder,

Filial piety (family devotion) begins.


When a country falls into chaos,


Patriots arrive.

(Translated by Chiyan Wang)

Lao Tzu’s message is a caution against losing connection with the Tao, as it results in rigid, superficial replacements for natural, harmonious living. Instead, he advocates for returning to simplicity, balance, and alignment with the Tao, which would reduce the need for these artificial and external structures.

Intensive Practice for Self-Healing Abilities

Taoist Light Qigong: Cultivating the Power of Self-Healing

You can lose everything, but never your ability to heal yourself. The ability to self-heal is one of the most vital inner strengths a person can develop. It not only aids in overcoming physical ailments but also supports emotional and mental recovery, allowing for the restoration of joy, self-love, and resilience. Taoist Light Qigong, rooted in ancient Chinese practice, teaches us how to tap into this innate healing power.

Intention: The First Step in Healing

Self-healing begins by setting a clear intention to recover. Facing the problem, whether a physical ailment like a headache or an emotional issue such as grief, is essential. Without acknowledging the issue, healing cannot begin. During Qigong practice, the focus should not be on the illness itself but on releasing it and letting it go.

Beginning the Practice of Qigong

For beginners, it’s crucial to practice enough to develop a genuine appreciation for the practice. Consistent sessions should bring enjoyment, and missing a practice will feel noticeable. After each session, feelings of being cleansed, energized, and lighter are signs that the body's energy is being restored.

Intensive Practice for Accelerated Healing

For those seeking greater progress, practicing twice daily for an hour over two weeks can significantly enhance healing. By setting specific healing intentions, energy is directed to the affected areas, leading to noticeable improvements in health and emotional well-being. As conditions improve, self-confidence in the ability to heal strengthens, fostering further progress.

Building Confidence and Preventing Illness

As healing unfolds, experiencing positive results boosts confidence in one's capacity to recover, unlocking greater self-healing abilities. Through consistent Qigong practice, both the body and mind become more resilient, reducing the likelihood of future illness or emotional distress. This proactive approach cultivates a balanced, peaceful life.

In summary, Taoist Light Qigong offers a powerful pathway to self-healing, leading to renewed energy, happiness, and inner strength. Through intention, consistent practice, and an open mind, one can heal not only the body but also the spirit, achieving lasting well-being and harmony.

Autumn Wellness: Balancing Body and Mind for the Season of Harvest

Autumn is the season of harvest, with cooler weather gradually setting in. The dry climate can have some effects on the body, so it’s essential to focus on wellness during this time, maintaining both physical balance and inner harmony.

1. Nourishing the Lungs and Moisturizing Dryness

Autumn’s dry air can cause skin dryness, a parched throat, and coughing. In traditional Chinese medicine, autumn is associated with “dryness,” and the lungs are closely connected to this season. Therefore, nourishing the lungs and preventing dryness are key to autumn wellness. Foods such as pears, white radish, snow fungus, and lily bulbs can help moisturize the lungs and generate body fluids to combat dryness.

2. Emphasizing Warmth and Nourishment

As the weather cools, the body’s yang energy begins to recede. During autumn, it’s important to focus on warm and nourishing foods to strengthen the body’s immunity. Foods like yam, chestnuts, red dates, glutinous rice, and longan are beneficial for improving immunity.

3. Staying Warm to Prevent Cold

Autumn brings significant temperature fluctuations, especially between morning and evening. It’s important to dress warmly when the weather cools to prevent colds. Pay special attention to keeping the abdomen and feet warm, as these areas are more prone to cold invasion. Drinking ginger tea or red date and longan tea in the mornings and evenings can help keep the body warm.

4. Moderate Exercise to Strengthen the Body

Autumn is a great time for outdoor activities, as moderate exercise not only strengthens the body but also boosts immunity. Activities like hiking, jogging, and practicing Taoist Light Qigong in the cool, crisp air can enhance lung function and improve mood. However, avoid excessive sweating to prevent cold from entering the body.

5. Regulating Emotions and Maintaining Peace of Mind

As the seasons change, some people may feel emotionally low, experiencing what is often referred to as "autumn blues." Therefore, during autumn, it’s not only important to care for the body but also to focus on emotional well-being. Activities like moderate exercise, listening to music, or practicing Qigong can help relax the body and mind, keeping your mood positive and stable.

Conclusion

Autumn is a season of harvest and renewal. During this time, we should follow nature’s rhythm by adjusting our diet, keeping warm, and paying attention to our emotional state. With the right approach to wellness, we can store energy in the body throughout autumn, preparing for the winter ahead.

Tao Te Ching - 12

Colors blind the eye.


Sounds deafen the ear.


Flavors numb the taste.


Thoughts weaken the mind.


Desires wither the heart.

The Master observes the surroundings,


But trusts his inner vision.


He chooses to let go of the outer world,


And come back to the inner core.

Translated by Chiyan Wang

Our five senses can distract us, and indulgence can mislead us. Are you practicing correctly? The only measure is whether you experience more desire and chaos or simplicity and harmony.

Tao Te Ching- 11

Thirty spokes share a single hub;

it is the empty space in the center that makes the wheel useful.

Clay is shaped into a vessel;

it is the empty space inside that makes the vessel useful.

Doors and windows are cut to make a room;

it is the empty space within that makes the room useful.

Thus, being is what we work with,

non-being makes it useful.

Considering the physical body and shen (soul/consciousness), the physical body represents existence and being. It is like a wheel, vessel, or room. In contrast, shen is like air, empty space, and non-being. The physical body is what we work with when we feel and do, but shen (our mental state) is the most useful. In other words, we cultivate shen through our body.

Translated by Chiyan Wang

10 – Tao Te Ching

Embracing body and spirit as Oneness,

can they be separated?



Cultivate Qi to make it soft and gentle,



can you be like a new born baby?



The vision would be unhindered after purification,



will it have no flaws?



Love people and govern the country,



can it be non-doing?



Open and close the gate of heaven,



can you be feminine (quiet and gentle)?



Brightened and clear in all directions,



will you understand all things?



Give birth and nurture,



but without possessing;

Accomplishing without taking credit,



Leading without controlling,



This is called supreme virtue.

Translated by Chiyan Wang

Edited by Robert H. Smitheram

Chapter 10 of the Tao Te Ching discusses the importance of maintaining unity between body and spirit, cultivating softness and simplicity, and purifying one’s vision. It emphasizes leading and loving without imposing one’s will, achieving without taking credit, and nurturing without controlling. The chapter highlights the Taoist principles of harmony with the natural order and practicing non-action (wu wei), where actions are in alignment with the natural flow of life, resulting in true virtue and effortless accomplishment.

Qi is the connector between body and spirit. Only when we allow Qi to be as soft and gentle as a baby are we the most connected.

Tao Te Ching - 9

Fill a bowl to the brim,

it will spill.

Over-sharpen a blade,

it will be dull.

Gold and jade fill a room,

But no one can protect them.

Boast about wealth and status,

And calamity will follow.

As one achieve success and fame,

then step back.

This is the way of the Tao.

Chapter 9 of the Tao Te Ching focuses on the principle of moderation and the pitfalls of excess. It teaches that overreaching and accumulation can lead to loss and harm, emphasizing the importance of knowing when to stop and contenting oneself with what one has. This chapter reflects the Taoist principles of balance, simplicity, and the natural flow of life.

Translated by Chiyan Wang

Edited by Robert Smitheram