There’s an interesting Taoist concept called the “uncarved block”. It is the idea that in the beginning, as you emerge into personhood, you are nothing but pure potential. You are uncharted and you can be shaped into anything.
It’s interesting to periodically try to move yourself back to what that might feel like and look like. If you were an uncarved block, if you were pure essence, what would that feel like?
No right. No wrong No good. No bad. You simply are. That is your uncarved block, the presence within you that is pure and whole and complete. It is still there, although you have carved it into the shape you stand in now. Your beliefs and choices have shaped it. Your actions and responses have shaped it. You are who you are because you are living the life of a human. Yet the uncarved block is always present, always willing to be found.
What if you returned to the essence of this uncarved bock?
Our mind gets in our way. It is full of judgments and fears, beliefs and opinions. Is it possible to go within and feel that place of non-judgment? That place of such deep connection with others that there is no separation? I am you. You are me. Now what?
What if you resided in the purity within?
I don’t know what purity feels like because my life is pretty cluttered with human stuff. Nevertheless, I do create moments of silence. I do embrace stillness and simply wait to see what emerges. I have to practice, but I get glimpses of it. One of my goals is to reside in that pure place within more often. And to return there for clarity before I make a choice or take a particular action.
What if all your thoughts and actions came from that place of wholeness?
If I could see everything as one, I would take better care of everything. I would see people as one with me so I would embrace them as reflections of me. I would see animals as one with me and not harm them, even to eat. I would see nature as part of me and I would take very good care of her. How do you experience wholeness? How do you feel you are one with all?
What would your life look and feel like if All-Is-One?
I have to practice to feel this deep connection with everything. I have to meditate to make room for stillness to be present within me. I have to practice mindfulness. I have to keep learning to let life and circumstances unfold. I have to nurture and nourish that inner serenity that tells me there is only one all-encompassing energy. I call it Tao, because that is not a word in English that is colored by human interoperation.
Tao is a path of a person exploring their essence. I look at Tao as a feeling, an awareness. It is the serenity I can find within. It is the wonder I feel as I watch nature rant and rave and heal and nurture. It is the magnificent beauty of the clouds, the mountains, the animals that live here. Tao’s so much bigger than I am—and yet it is not. It is me. I’m part of all that is. I am Tao. Tao is me. Tao is you. To find Tao, simply look within. You are All-That-Is. As am I.
To Sing a Deeper Song consider:
How Do You Measure The Quiet Progress Of Inner Growth?
How Wide Do You Live Your Life?
06– Unfolding And The Art Of Wu Wei (podcast, 20 minutes)
14- How Strong is the Foundation You Build On (podcast, 20 minutes)
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