The Tao of Non-Doing: A Carefree Commentary on the Natural Effortless Way of the Master Lao Tzu

For this book, I have taken some liberties.

To start off with, the "Tao Te Ching" is a sacred text within the Taoist tradition of China, not the Advaita or non-dualistic tradition of India. But I was struck by how eloquently Lao Tzu describes the state of non-doership that is a prominent marker in Advaita of awakening.

Classic Advaita, including the contemporary non-dual offerings, tends to be on the dry side. I very much enjoyed Lao Tzu's lively and poetic approach.

Working from the brilliant and still authoritative translation of the "Tao Te Ching" by James Legge (1891), I extracted those sections which speak directly about the realized sage and how the sage lives a carefree spontaneous life day after day as he drinks from the joyful cup of non-dual awareness.

You will find that some chapters of the "Tao Te Ching" are missing. This is on purpose.

I have included only those portions of the "Tao Te Ching" that spoke directly on the topic of non-doership and living spontaneously as the non-dual Self.

My reason for taking this approach is threefold.

First, the Tao Te Ching talks about all kinds of stuff, some of it very political. I think this can get very confusing.

Second, the biggest issue that people seem to deal with nowadays is doing vs. non-doing (or "cosmic doing"). The burden of "being the doer" creates stress, agitation, confusion, discouragement and depression. The true nature of so-called "non-doership" or non-doing ("cosmic doing") is not very clear for people.

Teaching about "non-doing" is something the "Tao Te Ching" excels at - but this excellence gets lost amid the wealth of so many other great insights into so many other interesting topics.

Third and finally, I am approaching it from the perspective of Advaita (non-duality). By doing this, I hope to illuminate Advaita by way of the Tao, and illuminate the Tao by way of Advaita.

So, here it is... The TAO of your true Self and the art of effortless living via the sage's truth of non-doing. Here are some excerpts. Enjoy.

In Search of Mr. Tao's Autograph...

It's sound so exotic - the TAO!

We can imagine Hollywood spotlights. Mr. Tao steps out of the gold-plated limousine. After all, is he not ruler of the world? Is he not the source supreme?

But instead nothing appears. The spotlights go dim and blink off. The shoulders of the people slump. Another disappointment. That Mr. Tao... just who does he think he is?

Meanwhile, across the street in a funky bar, Mr. Tao hangs with some friends. One of the fans, thirsty from a long night of waiting, crosses the street and goes into the bar for a drink. He spies Mr. Tao and rushes up to get his autograph.

Surprising everyone, Mr. Tao agrees to sign the fan's T-shirt. Thanking Mr. Tao profusely, he forgets his thirst and walks out into the night.

Suddenly, without warning, rain tumbles from the sky, drenching everything. When he gets home, his shirt is clean, but Mr. Tao's signature is gone.

The rain gives life yet fails to take credit. If it took credit, it could not give life.

To find out who you really are, write your name in water. The rain is coming, so wear your dirty clothes. Dance in the rain until you drop.

When you stand up, look into the heart of the sun. If you are lucky, you will go blind and never see the world again.

One thing you know for sure: Your clothes are clean.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

If there was more, nobody would get it.

Chapter 1 - Tao Te Ching

The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name.

Commentary on Chapter 1 - Tao Te Ching

We are walking the "pathless path." How exactly do you do that?

When you were born, you were given a name.

So you must ask yourself two questions:

Is this body who I really am?

Is my name really my name?

Answer those questions and the rest will be a cinch.