Just Follow the Tao

You probably are going to ask us “What exactly do you mean by following the Tao?”  As you connect with the Way you basically follow your own energy; you are in tune with your inner voice and read the divine signs in all your daily encounters and disregard what you have learned and what your mind may think.  You cooperate with the Tao in every divine moment with trust. You explore the life with courage and are willing to follow the Tao into the unknown.  Taoism says that there is your idiosyncratic path out there that you can connect with; one that applies only to you. The spiritual insights and rules of others may not apply along your Way, or at least for stretches of your journey.

 Most of us were introduced to the laws of the big religions; the 10 Commandments; the meditation and compassion lessons of Buddhism; Christ's mandate to love your neighbor as yourself. Even the New Age has its sets of universal insights like the distrust of the ego and the faith in the True Self and the holy Now. All these methodologies are helpful in bringing you closer to the Force that we all aspire to be in contact with. Pick the one that speaks to you most, but your spiritual path only starts in earnest when this Force starts connecting with you. In our experience, this is the time when the Tao speaks to you. Follow your heart, go after whatever it is that drives you and be open to disregard whatever you have learned.  It is basically a process of uninstalling all the limitations and conditionings. You let go of the pain, all the psychological baggage and open up to a pure state - the Self. The Tao is essentially an invite to fall in love with life again. Observe yourself and your interaction with others during this period and discover your own unique way of proceeding. You will certainly make mistakes along the way but never for long. Once this Force has connected with you there is no turning back. Delay is possible, retreat is not.

 Apparently we are all different and one practice doesn't suit all of us, and one practice may not be useful for the whole journey.  We may have a road map in the beginning, but in the middle of journey, we need to have the courage to let go of the map and find our own path.  The Way is always next to us, just as the quiet voice inside is always at our disposal. So it is not that we are not guided, it is just that we have to learn to cut out interferences.

The transition period is designed for you to connect with our inner guide and strength, but that doesn't mean you are walking the path in isolation. As we wander along our idiosyncratic way we still get a glimpse of what everyone else goes through. As we approach the Source the spiritual language suddenly becomes universal: stillness, joy, pure energy and love. We also discover the incredible power of our networks of minds. There are so many ways to connect with others. Some of us will participate in church communities; others will establish meditation and healing centers. Also, the Force will speak to us in a language that is meaningful to each of us individually. Everyone has special ways of connection.

 Just because you are walking a spiritual path doesn't mean that you are already all set. You will still encounter problems just like everyone else. Honor these – obstacles are there to face your inner demons. If you tackle them with courage, you find that between you and your Self there is only hot air. Chances are you have to find your own idiosyncratic methods to find peace within. Your way may seem in conflicts with existing traditions or what you have learned and you will probably get confused. This is the time to follow the Way. Listen to your heart and mind and follow the signs. You are in for an exciting adventure. You will learn to listen closely to all the voices along the Way - every voice matters.

 Chances are you will be exposed to all kind of styles and methodologies. There is a time for stillness, there is a time for meditation, there is a time for being in touch with nature, and there is a time for being connected with others. Solitude and connection balance and complete each other.  You cannot have one without the other and Tao will guide you the way to make you whole. Following the Tao makes you complete and inclusive.

 So what exactly does it mean to "follow your heart and mind"?  It is basically some voice inside of you which is getting louder and louder. You may be hesitant to follow in the beginning because it may contradict what you have learned in the past and also it may not look very kosher to you. But than, what choice to you have but to face it if all the signs point in the same direction. Then you get more trust and confidence to follow the Tao. You are walking on a path which is alive, full of variation, and creative. You learn that the Way is beyond good or evil, uniquely designed to help you let go of the old.

Stillness and action are in constant interaction along the Way.  And you act in tune with the Tao.  There is a time to act a time to rest, a time to go inside and a time to connect with others. Accept and embrace every mood and every sign. Follow your own energy and intuition. Soon you realize that everything that comes your way has the purpose to connect you with your Self. That is the Tao at work. You are about to be infused with divine love, wisdom and energy. It seems that this universe is just tailored to bring you back to the Source. The good news is once you are connected you can't miss it.  Have fun along the Way!

By Christian and Su Zhen