Tao: The Pathless Path, Vol 1

Voluntary death 11 February 1977

Ego must die for awakening: through voluntary inner death and wakeful awareness one knows 'never born, never die'—who then is truly happy and free?

Sublime laziness 12 February 1977

Tao is spontaneous, not discipline; undo repression to regain undivided consciousness — educating the subconscious conflicts with Tao's sublime laziness.

Joy has no cause 13 February 1977

Joy has no cause; it is uncaused and non-comparative. Confucius asks why; Tao answers: relax, drop consolation, comparison and be, then contentment arises.

No bargain with reality 14 February 1977

Only the witness is real; the world is maya-temporary illusion. Drop activity and consolations, observe the inner watcher; no bargain with reality brings truth.

There can be no regret 15 February 1977

Happiness is uncaused and immediate: live, don't intellectualize; be free, unambitious, unattached to family or death—why regret when life is presence.

I am a cross to you 16 February 1977

Celebrate life: eat, love and sense with mindful awareness; reject masochistic fasting and rigid rules—inner discipline, not denial, leads to joy.

Choose the new 17 February 1977

Rest is found in present awareness and authentic living, not in future promises or a tomb; reject wordy philosophies, choose direct experience and the new.

Putting shoes on a snake 18 February 1977

Tao is not belief but immediate trust; stop interfering in your own life and others'. A Taoist therapist heals by loving, non-interfering presence (wu wei).

Only forgotten 19 February 1977

Emptiness is invaluable: be still, drop desires and past selves to become a hollow vessel for Tao; remember who you are—only forgotten. Lieh Tzu's paradox.

You are blessed 20 February 1977

Every person is told 'You are my favourite'—a reminder of unique blessing; live playfully, drop judgment, and blend spiritual fragrances into a universal blessing.

Reality... That which works 21 February 1977

True freedom comes from 'knowing'—living, trust, unknowing—rather than borrowed knowledge; drop labels, flow with life, and the pathless path reveals reality.

This is not Kaaba 22 February 1977

Belief without lived truth is empty; the Way is arrival—no halfway stations. Drop knowledge and habits, witness without judgment, and choose radical freedom.

Inner integrity 23 February 1977

Non-being dissolves ego across body, mind and self; true presence heals rather than pressures - avoid charismatic leakage that enslaves and creates trouble.

Just give way 24 February 1977

Nothing is esoteric or separate; God is everywhere. Drop sacred-secular and ego distinctions, surrender like water, be whole, own yourself in the present.