The Tao: What goodness creates, compassion protects.

On the surface, the Tao is impractical, illogical

Meditation, new original

The Tao is great because its truths are hidden
On the surface it is impractical, illogical
Indecipherable except by your inner being.
Its power evident only when lived.

The teachings of the Tao:
Simplicity, patience, compassion.
Moderation, humility.
From those things flow inner peace
From simplicity and moderation
Flow generosity
From patience, compassion and humilty
Flow goodness.
What goodness creates
Compassion protects.
- Heron Dance translation of Chapter 67, of the Tao te Ching.

. . .

Steven Mitchell translation:

Some say that my teaching is nonsense
Others call it lofty but impractical.
But to those who have looked inside themselves
this nonsense makes perfect sense.
And to those who put it into practice
This loftiness has roots that go very deep.

I have just three things to teach:
simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and in thoughts,
you return to the source of being.|
Patience with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world.
- Lao-Tzu, Tao te Ching

Red Pine translation

People say that the Tao is great
But not practical, even useless.
Because it’s great it’s improbable, not practical or useful.
What’s probable is conventional and petty.
If it were useful,
It would never have become great.
Because it’s great, it seems like folly.
When truths become solid,
They transform into clichés.

Only three qualities are worth treasuring and following closely:
Compassion, moderation, and humility.
From compassion comes bravery,
From moderation comes generosity,
From humility comes authentic leadership.
But bravery without compassion,
Generosity without self-restraint,
Leadership without humility
All lead to disaster.
Compassion wins every battle
And outlasts every attack.
What goodness creates,
Compassion protects.
. . .

• For more on the post above, visit the Heron Dance website here.

• Yesterday’s Substack, Surviving Cancer/Emerging Cures, The State of the Art in Cancer Research (As of July 2025).

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