Value is hidden in simplicity

Simplicity contains value

Opening our minds about Daoism over time we need to consider the implications of words and phrases in Daoist texts.

This is because Daoist texts, especially early ones like the Dao De Jing hide many implied ideas which require long term reflection to appreciate and use.

Today my Fengshui Shifu Mr.Song said that in the past he studied with a Daoist practitioner who told him there are three stages of learning something:

1: to recognize it,

2: to refine it,

3: the use it.

We can apply this approach to reading any old text, learning from a teacher, using the process of copying to build up our own good behaviors, it is a profound principle of Chinese civilization which is greatly beneficial.

Today let’s look at the phrase 抱朴 Baopu/Embrace Simplicity:

Embracing simplicity is a profound Daoist concept which means exactly what it sounds like. Do things with a sense of calm inner unity and do not try to attend to things which will pull you away from a state of grounding and harmony.

This surface interpretation is where you should start your practice and you shouldn’t think too much more about it until your practice reaches a certain stage of maturity.

Once you can maintain an internally simple environment you will notice aspects of nature you did not previously perceive. These aspects of nature can simply be called cause and effect since Daoism and Confucianism are deeply imbued with the quality of resonance of actions.

Confucian action is about creating a harmony of resonance similar to musical harmony in which one good action is followed by an appropriate harmonious response (isn’t that a gorgeous idea? More people should read and understand Confucius, it is truly beautiful). Daoism is about first being quiet and observing resonance, as though the music of nature plays within our experience. Read Zhuangzi inner chapters chapter two Adjustment of Controversies for the specific essay which describes this process from the point of meditation, it is brilliant.

Regarding adjustment of controversies, that chapter tells us something, that the hermit Nan Guo Zi Qi (one of those rare four character Chinese names) sits and loses himself, then he can hear the wind blowing through all the orifices of every part of nature. In other words, by abandoning his own will he is able to perceive the subtle harmony of the Qi that passes through all things. It is hard not to be shocked into profound reverence when thinking of the subtlety of these great masters.

My thesis today is that simplicity contains value and the meaning has been entirely explained in the above text so please go back and read it again, then reflect on it, when you understand it, put it into practice and later you will be able to use it. I will not tell you how to use it, that would ruin your future progress. The character 玄 Xuan is translated as mystery, but it really means black with red inside it. In other words something hidden within the darkness. Daoism is a mysterious school of thought, you need to find that which is hidden in the darkness. How many stupid people waste their time trying to use thoughts and actions to locate the Dao. You must not let yourself do such silly things, instead abide in darkness and lose yourself, then resonance will gradually become tangible and eventually after a few years you will master it and begin to see the hidden system that pervades all conscious reality. Once you understand it enough you can use the power of nature to achieve your goals without exhausting yourself. Learn to be like a thousand year old turtle and a ten thousand year old tree, these things take time, so be it.

Behind the paywall today is a random chapter of the Hui Ming Jing I translated in 2024 while I was teaching that text. It is about the beginning process of refining the amulet, the Buddhist terminology for the elixir that Liu Huayang liked to use. The Wu Liu School is not a normal Long Men approach, it is a Buddhist variation of Neidan which is profoundly steeped in Chan, Vajryana and Tian Tai Buddhism. It is well worth the read, especially for people with experience in Buddhism since they can use it as a transition to Neidan if they are so inclined: