Forty-Eight

"Do you wish to free yourself of mental and emotional
knots and become one with the Tao?
If so, there are two paths available to you.

The first is the path of acceptance.
Affirm everyone and everything.
Freely extend your goodwill and virtue in every
direction, regardless of circumstances.
Embrace all things as part of the Harmonious
Oneness, and then you will begin to perceive it.

The second path is that of denial.
Recognize that everything you see and think is a
falsehood, an illusion, a veil over the truth.
Peel all the veils away, and you will arrive at the
Oneness.

Though these paths are entirely different, they will
deliver you to the same place: spontaneous
awareness of the Great Oneness.
Once you arrive there, remember: it isn't necessary to
struggle to maintain unity with it.

All you have to do is participate in it."

I am learning to move in the middle way by being willing to consider everything--neither denying nor affirming anything at first. Just being willing to behold, consider, and entertain. If I open myself thus, I can move through the rest of the process--to denial or acceptance--without confusion or fear. I am grateful for a thoughtful mind and a compassionate heart.