Heaven, Earth and Man
Chinese martial art folklore records The Heaven and Earth Society, Tien Di Hui, as an 18th century secret organization founded by five monks who survived the burning of the Shaolin Temple by the Manchus invaders. The underground society was so named in accordance with the ancient triad principle. In commemorating Earth Day, it is relevant to look at the principle and Chinese philosophy. According to ancient Chinese thought there are three major forces: heaven, earth and humanity. When these three are in accord there is peace, prosperity and harmony. In contrast, there is conflict, confusion and chaos when the three forces are not aligned. Ecological awareness, balance and understanding the interrelationship between heaven and earth, with man in the middle, are essential. The point? All life is interdependent.
Dao De Ching
The forces of nature, and our own alignment with them, is present in the ancient text, The Dao De Ching. It is an active, holistic conception of the world, with everything moving in cycles. Its laconic style and subsequent western translations leaves it open to many interpretations – or even confusion, but the canon is a straightforward, clear-eyed approach to life. “Dao” is a way to live life, a path. “De” is virtue, it is our inner power, character, integrity. “Ching” is an important book. It is a classic guide to the way of power and virtue.
What does it mean? We cannot control the natural forces of heaven and earth, we can only work within their cycles. Developed as an agricultural guide, Daoism examines plant cycles – sun, night, growing seasons, harvest, beginnings and ends. There is a constant movement of energy, complimentary yin and yang forces, seeking balance and moving in accordance with the nature. Integration with the environment allows our intuition to develop. It may sound odd, but developing an awareness of the world around you is a way to discover who you are, and how you interact with the world. You are after all, a part of it all. Look within yourself. There is a green garden waiting to unfold.
Ego
“In order to change the world, it is best to start with the self.” A Daoist perspective encourages us to move beyond the culprit, our ego. Learn to step back and observe life and its situations, in a calm and unattached way. Attitude, first – not action, influences others by guiding instead of over powering. What structures are building in your life? Are you acting in a beneficial way? Or, are you motivated by your own desires? Do you see the bigger, complete picture?
Collective Awareness
A spiritual path is born from knowing that everything is connected. Internal martial arts and spiritual traditions ask us to do the self development and work with the energy, which gives way to a collective awareness of the world. We are in a global ecological (and financial) crisis. It is also a spiritual crisis. We have moved away from the natural flow of all things.We cannot change the choices we have made, many with their disastrous results. A Daoist view would look at our reality. Here we are. The greenest garden resides within us. From the simple wisdom of the ancients: “We can attain the highest openness, maintain the deepest harmony. Become a part of all things: in this way we perceive the cycles…” The secret lies the triad and its harmonious fusion of heaven, earth and man in the middle.
Lawrence Tan & Toni Josephson
Tags: dao de ching, earth day, Martial Arts, tao de ching
