Inhabit the Heart

“Therefore, to see beyond boundaries

to the subtle heart of things,

dispense with names,

with concepts,

with expectations, ambitions, differences…”

– Tao Te Ching

As you read, do you notice any unnecessary tension…

in your body,
in your breath,
in your thoughts?

I invite you to let what is unnecessary fall away.

Perhaps right now you are sitting somewhere busy or noisy. What is it like to simply let that be part of what is happening? If you would prefer to be sitting somewhere quiet and restful, perhaps you can simply notice that preference too. I say ‘simply’ because this is the only thing you are asked to ‘do’: to let go of the ‘doing’.

Is there truly a non-doing way of being that is beyond an idea or a philosophy? It is tempting to try to figure that out despite knowing that trying itself is another effort, another doing.

If we are not doing anything, then what are we practicing?