The Wise Ones of Old

The wise ones of old had subtle wisdom and depth of understanding,
So profound that they could not be understood.
And because they could not be understood,
Perforce must they be so described:
   Cautious, like crossing a wintry stream,
   Irresolute, like one fearing danger all around,
   Grave, like one acting as guest,
   Self-effacing, like ice beginning to melt,
Genuine, like a piece of undressed wood,
   Open-minded, like a valley,
   And mixing freely, like murky water.

Who can find repose in a muddy world?
   By lying still, it becomes clear.
Who can maintain his calm for long?
   By activity, it comes back to life.

He who embraces this Tao
   Guards against being over-full.
Because he guards against being over-full,
   He is beyond wearing out and renewal. (Chapter 14, Tao Te Ching, Lin Yu Tan trans.)

In my last blog post, I discussed finding and maintaining one’s center and some changes that happen once you find and maintain your center. In this post, I will discuss these changes in more detail.

Once you begin to awaken your true self, it will start to actively “take over.” It has always been there, but only in your subconscious. Now, you will experience it consciously.

It will begin to take control of your mind and ego. That is what is supposed to happen. Your mind and ego are part of the “package” your true self got when it incarnated. They are supposed to support your true self, not dominate it.

When you are centered, you will be at peace. You will have fewer emotional extremes in your life.  That’s what the line “He who embraces this Tao Guards against being over-full” means in the quote.

You will be calmer and more relaxed in your dealings with others. Some may interpret this as being aloof or distant. You will be quieter and more thoughtful. These things won’t just happen overnight but gradually as you continue to meditate and awaken your true self.

This is what I meant in my last blog when I said you may want to change jobs or locations.

You may lose friends or make new friends.

But, one of the biggest challenges will be your own emotional experiences. Once your true self is active and you maintain your center, as I said before, you will end (or at least slow down) the emotional roller coaster that may be your life.

For many, this can be upsetting. They have lived lives full of emotions, positive and negative. Having this stop or slow down may leave them bored.

Why is that? Their minds and emotions have controlled them for most of their lives. By themselves, the mind and emotions live for excitement and turmoil. They do not have much control either. Your true self does not need that emotional roller coaster, so you will be primarily contented and peaceful once you are centered.

Your mind and emotions will get control occasionally, especially when you are just beginning the process. However, these will fade as your true self becomes more assertive.

Your emotions may flare at any time. Remember, when they do, let them pass without lingering.

Once you have awakened your true self and grown stronger, you may find yourself looking to relocate and, perhaps, change jobs or even careers. That is normal. Some may view it as a way of maintaining their center by moving to a more peaceful place. It may also mean the true self is looking to gain experiences it came for in the first place.

I will write another post on how your true self and the Tao work together to guide you to that decision and then help you make it happen.

This may all sound unnerving and maybe even a little scary, but it is what happens when you are on the path. It’s best not to worry about it. Worrying does nothing anyway; just let the Tao and your true self guide you. As long as you are open to these changes, things will come to you.

Remember, these changes may bring difficulties for some. They may be things your true self wants to experience while here. The trick is maintaining your center and letting things happen without fighting them.

As I said in my post about Wu Wei, you will act when necessary. This is not just going with the flow like a leaf in a breeze. You will act, and you should act from your true self and not your ego.

That is hard, especially for beginners on the path. For those beginners, I recommend meditating to maintain contact with your true self and practicing using the Tao to make things happen. Start small. Remember, you must be patient. This is not ego-driven, so don’t try to impress people.

Also, remember that as a beginner, you have a long way to go before you relocate or change jobs because of your true self. Your true self brought you to the place you are now. Know that and reflect on how you got there. You will find that your true self subconsciously suggested ideas.

As you progress on the path, you will find it easier to make these changes. Remember, too, that many other true selves may be working to get you further on your path while you help them on theirs. You may not realize that until you have enough energy to become a teacher. Until then, the things that happen are under the radar. They happen, and you may not even be aware of them.

Stay focused and centered. Be aware of things happening around you. Be alert to teachers who might appear. Be ready to act when the time is right.

As your true self becomes more dominant and you find more peace and serenity, your mind and ego (personality) will still be there. You will use them as you move through the world. Only now, they will no longer be dominant.

Namaste,

Michael Tavella, author of

“Break Through To Your True Self”

Yourtrueself.blog