Monday, August 18, 2008

Modest Way of Living by Dr. Andre Muhammad

There have been several weeks since my last posting, but I must admit that life has continued to teach me more about the importantance of the Tao and how ignoring the wisdom of such can be life-changing and even possibly lead one to a life of despair. To be less cryptic, I was personally given the chance to realize the awesomeness of the Tao, as each and every day its wisdom became even more apparent to me, even as I veered off of its course temporarily. While veering off of its course, it caused me to experience the opposite of what I was experiencing while previously immersing myself within the confines of its principles.

Therefore, I find myself picking up where I left off---that being verse 61 of the Tao Te Ching, a verse which maybe we all can glean some inspiration and wisdom.

Verse 61 of the Tao Te Ching focuses the individual on living a life dedicated to modesty. It takes the opposing view of today's world which encourages all to be at the top, the pinnacle, the champion, the one who must, by all means, stand out in the crowd.

The verse employs us to refrain from a focus of fixed plans and rather allowing the universe to bring into our lives what it so chooses. The verse, particularly at first glance, reminds me of that old Christian adage which says, "Let go, and Let God."

Regardless of whether we realize it or not, the universe is in control. All of our plans amount to a hill of beans, particularly if in fact the universe is not in agreement. Therefore, we should learn to let the universe guide our paths, and we should attempt to live the lives of modest individuals who realize the importance of longevity and inconspicuousness.