10 – Tao Te Ching

Embracing body and spirit as Oneness,

can they be separated?



Cultivate Qi to make it soft and gentle,



can you be like a new born baby?



The vision would be unhindered after purification,



will it have no flaws?



Love people and govern the country,



can it be non-doing?



Open and close the gate of heaven,



can you be feminine (quiet and gentle)?



Brightened and clear in all directions,



will you understand all things?



Give birth and nurture,



but without possessing;

Accomplishing without taking credit,



Leading without controlling,



This is called supreme virtue.

Translated by Chiyan Wang

Edited by Robert H. Smitheram

Chapter 10 of the Tao Te Ching discusses the importance of maintaining unity between body and spirit, cultivating softness and simplicity, and purifying one’s vision. It emphasizes leading and loving without imposing one’s will, achieving without taking credit, and nurturing without controlling. The chapter highlights the Taoist principles of harmony with the natural order and practicing non-action (wu wei), where actions are in alignment with the natural flow of life, resulting in true virtue and effortless accomplishment.

Qi is the connector between body and spirit. Only when we allow Qi to be as soft and gentle as a baby are we the most connected.

Tao Te Ching - 9

Fill a bowl to the brim,

it will spill.

Over-sharpen a blade,

it will be dull.

Gold and jade fill a room,

But no one can protect them.

Boast about wealth and status,

And calamity will follow.

As one achieve success and fame,

then step back.

This is the way of the Tao.

Chapter 9 of the Tao Te Ching focuses on the principle of moderation and the pitfalls of excess. It teaches that overreaching and accumulation can lead to loss and harm, emphasizing the importance of knowing when to stop and contenting oneself with what one has. This chapter reflects the Taoist principles of balance, simplicity, and the natural flow of life.

Translated by Chiyan Wang

Edited by Robert Smitheram

Tao Te Ching – 8

The highest good is like water.

Water benefits all things and does not compete.

It stays in lowly places, which others disdain.

Therefore, it is closest to the Tao.

In dwelling, be close to the land.

In contemplation, go deep in the heart.

In relationships, be gentle and kind.

In speech, be true.

In ruling, be just.

In work, be competent.

In action, watch the timing.

No fight; no blame.

This passage highlights the qualities of water as a metaphor for living in harmony with the Tao (the Way). It suggests that just as water benefits all things without striving, a person can live humbly and harmoniously, adapting to circumstances and avoiding unnecessary conflict.

There is a saying: "The wise love mountains; the benevolent love water."  Which one do you love?

Tao Te Ching - 7

Heaven is long-lasting and Earth endures.

They can be long-lasting and enduring

Because they do not live for themselves.

Thus, they can last long.

The Taoist puts himself last, so he is ahead.

He is detached and remains secure.

Is it not because he is selfless

That he can achieve his goals?

Translated by Chiyan Wang

Edited by Robert Smitheram Ph.D

This chapter emphasizes the concept of selflessness and the paradox that by not putting oneself first, one can achieve lasting presence and success. A cultivator's goal is to benefit all sentient beings, which aligns with the Tao. When one follows the Tao, everything else follows effortlessly.

Tao Te Ching - 6

The spirit of the Tao never dies;

It is called the Mysterious Mother.

The gateway of the Mysterious Mother

Is the root of heaven and earth.

Everlasting existence,

Its function is limitless.

Translated by Chiyan Wang

Edited by Robert H. Smitheram

The Tao is timeless and eternal, unchanging before heaven and earth and throughout the present time. The mysterious mother is creative, nurturing, and receptive—qualities essential and powerful to the functioning of the universe. Taoist cultivators trust in the unlimited source of energy provided by the Tao and the boundless potential of life it offers. Furthermore, by trusting in our own pure essence to provide nurturing energy for others, we connect to this endless source.

Taoist Light Qigong Training Q&A

Q: Can I attend training online?

A: Yes, you can participate in all Taoist Light training sessions, retreats, and private healing sessions via Zoom.

Q: How can private healing session work long distance via Zoom?

A: Energy isn't limited by physical distance, so it can transmit over long distances. A trained healer can read a client's energy just as effectively on screen as they can in person.

Q: What kind of Qigong style is most efficient and powerful?

A: Usually, the lineage style is most effective because it has been practiced unchanged for thousands of years. If it didn't work, people would have abandoned it long ago. It's like an ancient remedy; adding new elements changes its essence and effectiveness; or it is like when you change the key, you can not open the gate.

Q: How can a student learn and practice well?

A: First, students should choose qualified teachers who have been diligent in their practice and have many years of teaching and healing experience. Second, the student's intention, commitment, and readiness are crucial factors.

Tao Te Ching - 5

Heaven and Earth are seemingly not merciful,

They treat everything like straw dogs.

The Taoist is seemingly not merciful,

He sees everyone like straw dogs.

The space between Heaven and Earth is like a bellows:

Empty yet infinitely capable.

The more you use it, the more it produces.

Too much knowledge leads to exhaustion,

Therefore, it is better to remain centered in heart.

There is a natural way heaven and earth function: creation, utility, decline, and dying. All beings undergo this equal process, so there is no need to feel merciful.

If our minds are occupied with too much information, we will lose our truth. If we debate using our learned knowledge, we can become exhausted. Between heaven and earth is a vast, open bellows that produces the beautiful world. We can keep our minds empty so they can create infinite possibilities.

Tao Te Ching - 4

Once a cultivator told his teacher that he was so humble in his mind, he saw himself as a tiny speck of dust. His teacher replied, "Until your mind is not filled with even a tiny speck of dust but is completely empty and void, you will have the capabilities beyond time/space and functions to create without limit."

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Tao Te Ching

The Tao is like an empty vessel:

Used but never used up.

It is like the eternal void:

Filled with infinite possibilities.

The Tao:

Smoothes out the sharp edges,

Harmonizes the conflicts,

Softens the glare,

Merges with the dust.

It is hidden but always present.

I don't know who gave birth to it.

It is older than Heaven and Earth.

Translated by Chiyan Wang

Edited by Robert H. Smitheram