Power for the Peaceful: A Course in Tao

Verse 72 has been translated several ways through the centuries. We look at these differing translations, and then focus on the power of fear to dampen our experience of Tao’s adjacent, fecund wisdom. We conclude that there is a “right fear” – such as fear of not preventing an injustice – that can influence us to act, and help us to overcome any inertia not to act.Reminder! Along with Chandler Schroeder, I am beginning a new series of podcasts called “The Technicolor Dreamcoat of Religion“ to which you can subscribe now for updates and our first semester of classes on how religions get made. (https://www.youtube.com/@TechnicolorDreamcoatofReligion)

Strongly-worded verse this time! Lao Tzu teaches about the subtle conspiracies of ignorance to dumb us down, weigh us down, & bring us down. But who anymore thinks of ignorance is an illness? Verse 71 teaches how Ignorance is not bliss; it is brutal, and can make us into the walking dead. How to work with or overcome ignorance? We offer several ways to deal with the silent killer disease of ignorance. If you want my collection of family- or kid-friendly Tao te Ching verses mentioned in this episode, use this email: marc.mullinax@gmail.com. Reminder! Along with Chandler Schroeder, I am beginning a new series of podcasts called “The Technicolor Dreamcoat of Religion“ to which you can subscribe now for updates and our first semester of classes on how religions get made.

What’sthe difference between knowing something, and understanding it? Maybe to know something is a mark of achievement and pride we saturate with our words, while to *understand* something or someone is a wordless condition, a state where we are VERY close to our original birthright status in Tao. I mention in the pod today a daily Buddhist wisdom email I urge you to subscribe to. Here is the link.Reminder! Along with Chandler Schroeder, I am beginning a new series of podcasts called “The Technicolor Dreamcoat of Religion” to which you can subscribe now for updates and our first semester of classes on how religions get made. (https://www.youtube.com/@TechnicolorDreamcoatofReligion)

Today, Verse 69. The centerpiece of today’s verse is captured in a story I tell about being in the presence of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It’s a story that anyone who has an enemy may want to consider. Today’s awesome guest is Chad Smith, and his contact info is here: https://houseofmercyavl.com/connectReminder! Along with Chandler Schroeder, I am beginning a new series of podcasts called “The Technicolor Dreamcoat of Religion” to which you can subscribe now for updates and our first semester of classes on how religions get made. (https://www.youtube.com/@TechnicolorDreamcoatofReligion)

: This verse 68 is a work-out from verse 67’s three treasures: unconditional mercy, simplicity of wants, and humility. A personoperating from this strong triad of foundational virtues is not lured by the hell of violence, and encourages others to see the heavenly, peaceful way. Reminder! Along with Chander Schroeder, I ambeginning a new series of podcasts called “The Technicolor Dreamcoat of Religion” to which you can subscribe now for updates and our first semester of classes on how religions get made. (https://www.youtube.com/@TechnicolorDreamcoatofReligion)

Subscribe for the episodes when they come out at Please subscribe!! Stay in touch by pressing “Subscribe” at “The Technicolor Dreamcoat of Religion” where you can subscribe now for updates and our first semester of classes on how religions get made. (https://www.youtube.com/@TechnicolorDreamcoatofReligion)

Chandler Schroeder returns as my associate today to help us figure out how the triple treasures of kindness, simplicity, and humility are part of our very being, or as Oko Yono said, “We’ve been filled with great treasure for one purpose: to bespilled.” For the Buddhist listener, these three treasures are our guides to counter the Three Poisons (Hatred, Greed, and Delusion) you already know about. This verse is a fantastic reminder of who we are. Reminder! Chander and I are soon beginning a series ofpodcasts called “The Technicolor Dreamcoat of Religion” to which you can subscribe NOW for updates and our first semester of classes on how religions get made. (https://www.youtube.com/@TechnicolorDreamcoatofReligion)

Leadership, whether in nations, schools and homes today is usually of a style that preaches, however subtly, “You need me to save, teach or parent you.” But the truth is that the leader is the paragon of being a follower. So once again, Tao overturns our expectations, turning our norms upside-down, where leadership is following, teaching is a return to being a learner, and parenting is a back and forth dialogue where parent and child each matters. NEWS!! Chandler Schroeder and I are beginning a new set of podcasts, on religon and how it, or they, get made. Don’t miss the preview trailer or these shows! Stay in touch by pressing “Subscribe” at “The Technicolor Dreamcoat of Religion” to which you can subscribe now for updates and our first semester of classes on how religions get made. (https://www.youtube.com/@TechnicolorDreamcoatofReligion)

What a treat this time! I have a local Taoist Reading Club joining me for Verse 65, a community within this magical Christian church in Asheville called “House of Mercy”. We look at a most-timely topic: How government leaders hoodwink the people with confusing, "clever" information that passes for knowledge, and colonizing citizens into settling for less than they actually are.Also referenced here is a localanti-poverty initiative this church is heavily involved in, called “12 Baskets” in Asheville.

Today’s verse 64 we return to consider how things begin, and how we can understand wisely how to (i) let them begin and then grow without my meddling, and (ii) how to live attentively to the entire processes range of Tao’s wisdom for living. Chandler Schroeder, who has been on our show twice already, is our voice today. Today, Chandler and I announced there will be more podcast classes in the near future, in the YouTube channel, “The Technicolor Dreamcoat of Religion”. Hope you can stay tuned!