I often advise new students to seek an approach that will give them "Food for the Soul"; a life without a spiritual compass will cause one to get lost in life very similar like a ship at sea. Myself I always utilize the teachings of Lao Tsu & the Tao Teh Ching. The teachings of Lao Tsu provides much wisdom in this regard.
Energy exercises will only go so far; and we are not talking about following a "Guru" or God like system. The teachings of Lao Tsu is filled with many teachings, it stands apart from many; for its absent of blind faith but actually statements of natural truth. Most practicing Taoist will adhere to a steady daily "Centering Meditation Tradition" and use the Tao Teh Ching as their compass in their busy daily life. A perfect meditation guide to say the least!
One of the foundation teachings in Tao Teh Ching is that of "contentment". The teachings of Lao Tsu believe that you should use contentment to gauge the pain or pleasure into relation to our experiences in life. To experience contentment on any level is a blessing. It represents a state of perfect balance, appearing as a still-point in the eternally changing world we live in. These periods of harmony mark that delicate period of transition between yin/yang, the moments of night and day when one feels right with the world. Anyone has had moments in life like this I believe even in the worst of times.
Contentment gives one a sense of well being and personal freedom. Such moments are luminous to the receiver a glimpse into heaven on earth; a manifestation of the Tao. Lao Tsu teaches us that when one is content, our outlook is clear and positive. It's for many experiencing a fresh start, free from the previous problems of our muddy world.
For many although a loss of faith in our hyper paced world happens often. People tend to lose the contentment states and experiences when life gets rough. They tend to descend into the "Emotional Mud" of our modern Society. They find this to be very discouraging since they believe it should last forever and it to be effortless. Nothing great comes without toil especially in East Asian Wisdom. For sure we say nothing last forever; life is an ongoing journey. We experience the good, bad and the ugly; and our experience is a fleeting reflection of those moments not the source of it.
Lao Tsu reminds us in the teachings that we are part of the "Flow of the Tao" and learn to move in sync with it rather than against it. There is a time of fruition and a time for dissolution. These aspects are not in opposition to each other. One is not good or bad; rather they actually flow into one another and are interdependent. We can hear in Lao Tsu's writings the wisdom of his teachers to forget about worrying on nonsense we cannot control. Focus on contentment and you will develop personal freedom.
In the Tao Teh Ching chapter #15 entitled "The Wise Ones of Old". He eludes to contentment towards end of the passage "Who can find tranquility in a muddy world". Lao Tsu teaches us that we can be certain that the present conditions will not last indefinitely. The historical Buddha did as well "Suffering will not Last Forever".
The power of "Choosing Contentment is within each ourselves power. If you are not content in your life eliminate all that is and all those whom cause you dis-content. In life we all have to stand on our two feet and everyone has to find themselves. Offer a good ear but develop boundaries with elements of peoples emotional mud and a society that is muddy. Contentment is easy but will take work and a learning experience. Each of us have to manage our own affairs although. Release the Monkeys off your back and be happy and content!
GWA
