moderation 
Alternate
between the solitary and the social.
Whether alone or with others, keep
serenity.
Some people argue that Tao can be known only through bitter asceticism.
Others prefer massive congregations. But those who follow Tao are
neither too solitary nor too gregarious. They have regular times of
privacy. And they equally enjoy being with others.
Privacy is good. But an overly monastic life can lead to unhappiness,
delusion, and even insanity. In the same way, relationships are good.
But too much social intercourse can lead to conformity, conflict, and
stress. Therefore, the way of Tao aims to maximize the good and
minimize the bad.
We should have regular times to be alone, meditate alone, even sleep
alone. This gives us clarity. Then we can bring this understanding to
our relationships. Friendships will be all the more wonderful. Once we
understand moderation, we move between the solitary and the social
without any mistake.
moderation
365 Tao
daily meditations
Deng Ming-Dao (author)
ISBN 0-06-250223-9
.
The
four seasons: Winter 1954
by Fu Bao Shi
*
*Suggested
reading of daoist texts ancient poetry and contemporary
Chinese literature is available at the site.
receive a full HTML copy of the daily meditation sent directly to your
inbox, please send a note with the words "subscribe tao" in the subject
line to duckdaotsu
