I made this post for class but thought that it would be appropriate for sharing here.
I've been a spiritual seeker for some years immersing myself in experiences and texts to try and "find peace" or "know God". I used to read a vast amount of inspirational material from various religious traditions as well as the works of gurus and guides from Krishnamurti and Gangaji to Eckert Tolle and Carlos Castenada. At the time I loved these inner and outer explorations carried by the words of the blessed, beloved and magical. After a while though I got burnt out. Too much of a good thing as they say...But one text I keep around is the Tao Te Ching, specifically the translation by Stephen Mitchell.
Here I can get a taste of the essence without all of the hullabaloo and nonsense that accompany religions and spiritual teachers. (My opinion of course!) The Tao speaks of a style of living that strips away the extraneous and returns you to the core. Mitchell's translation transforms the writings of a long ago Asian mystic (though little is known of Lao-tzu) into simple poetry that can be digested by today's readers. Let me share a small sampling of the verse:
Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
mastering yourself is true power.
If you realize that you have enough,
you are truly rich.
If you stay in the center
and embrace death with your whole heart,
you will endure forever.
