| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | 5. Emotional: Quality music as well as vivid stories, |
| "Tao is obscured when men understand only one of | | | | myths and parables can help develop our emotional |
| a pair of opposites, or concentrate only on a partial | | | | power. Higher emotions are vertical. They already |
| aspect of being. Then clear expression also becomes | | | | exist. Insights connect us. |
| muddled by mere wordplay, affirming this one aspect | | | | It is also wise to keep an eye on harmful influences |
| and denying all the rest." (The Way of Chuang Tzu) | | | | circulating in the media. There's no doubt the media |
| Inner development is multi-dimensional. Many | | | | dwells on negative images to further its own power |
| resources are present within us waiting to be tapped | | | | and influence. Never underestimate the power of |
| and developed. When utilized, these resources further | | | | pictures to poison your emotions. Refuse to give |
| our quest for wisdom and vitality. | | | | these power hungry people the the time and energy |
| Examples of these dimensions: | | | | they demand. Moments with beautiful music, or with |
| 1. Speech: It is no accident that the Bible's Book of | | | | a good book rich in vivid mental pictures, is time that |
| John begins with, "In the beginning was the word . . ." | | | | nourishes your soul. |
| Speech can be silent or audible. It is our power to | | | | 6. Detachment: This spiritual power allows us to view |
| claim what is true. We declare our independence | | | | without claiming; see without grabbing, notice without |
| before we live it. | | | | commenting. It takes away anchors so what is not |
| Here is an example of an extremely effective use of | | | | essentially ourselves slowly drifts away. |
| speech. When the mind wants to chatter about | | | | Detachment teaches us to let go. It leads us upward |
| unimportant, resentful or wasteful things, say to | | | | to a place where we no longer have to let go |
| yourself either silently or audibly, "There are higher | | | | because we refused to pick up the problem in the |
| things to think about." Yes, right in the middle of the | | | | first place! Negative people, and our own negative |
| chatter, stand up and use your power of speech. | | | | thoughts, toss ropes at us hoping we'll comply. These |
| Say these words with feeling and focus. There are | | | | negative factors have no power at all over us until |
| far higher things to think about! It is extremely | | | | we catch the rope. With the Tao, as taught by |
| beneficial to remind yourself NOW, right when the | | | | Chuang Tzu, we can develop the inner light to |
| mind wants to take a detour to a nearby swamp. | | | | recognize a foreign element the moment it |
| 2. Silence: Silence is LISTENING and receptivity. It | | | | approaches. Our new HIGH wants nothing to do with |
| tunes into flowing currents of wisdom already | | | | society's painful LOW. |
| present. | | | | 7. Relationships: Here is a dimension that teaches us |
| Of all the things we resist, silent quiet time is at the | | | | many things about ourselves. Relationships, when |
| top of the list. Yet, ten or twenty minutes of sitting | | | | used for spiritual growth and insight, are doorways to |
| quietly everyday recharges our batteries like nothing | | | | discovery. It is much more challenging (and far more |
| else can. | | | | rewarding) to remember our spiritual aims in the |
| 3. Intellect: Author Vernon Howard said once, "An | | | | midst of personal and business relationships, than it is |
| orderly mind is a powerful tool." So often wisdom | | | | on a mountain in Tibet. |
| seekers neglect the development of the mind. This is | | | | Relationships also develop our power of empathy -- |
| why reading and absorbing spiritual information is so | | | | the ability to sense things outside our own circle of |
| important - it develops the mind! | | | | self. Empathy is magical. It opens up our inner world |
| One way to energize your reading is to take note of | | | | to Tao. |
| ideas that strike your emotions with exceptional | | | | The main point for us to grasp is that inner |
| clarity. The act of writing plants the seeds deeper | | | | development is multi-dimensional. Rotation and |
| than would have been the case otherwise. Why pass | | | | flexibility are crucial. Work in a given area runs its |
| by an idea that speaks so clearly to you, without | | | | course after awhile and a change is indicated. Do we |
| taking a moment to capture it? | | | | heed the change? Do we learn to move? If so, we |
| 4. Kinesthetic Awareness: This is the wondrous | | | | grow. |
| dimension of ourselves that connects mind to body | | | | Chuang Tzu also tells us, "If you follow human |
| as we traverse the events of our daily life. | | | | methods, you get away with deception. In the way |
| One way to develop this power is be more aware of | | | | of Tao, no deception is possible." |
| your breathing. It is always with you. Breath has a | | | | We are surrounded by human methods. The unwise |
| natural rhythm, with pauses at both the exhale and | | | | fool the unwise all the time. Real wisdom, the Tao, |
| the inhale. Stress first grabs our breath. We can | | | | reminds us that our energy is for a higher purpose. It |
| reclaim our awareness by first reclaiming our breath. | | | | can serve true life instead of the deceptions of |
| Notice it and let it flow like it wants to flow, without | | | | society. Everything is within the Tao, but we must |
| unnecessary, tense involvement! Not everything | | | | stand up and dare to claim what is our natural right. |
| needs our help! Knowing this is Tao. | | | | |