Dr Wayne W Dyer`s book on practicing the wisdom of Tao "Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life"

Daodejing consists of the words Dao, or Tao, which is a procession or course, but de is a form or power (or how Tao manifests), and ching is a book.

Tao is the so-called Great Course, the ultimate reality, the pervasive Source of all phenomena, it is named and unnamed at the same time, an unknown, invisible dimension from which everything originates, it does not begin or end, does nothing, yet animates everything in the world of forms and limitations. Each chapter of the book teaches, how to live in harmony with nature and inspires us to live a more joyful and balanced life.

Dr. Wayne W Dyer is an internationally renowned writer and self-development speaker, and has produced audio and video courses, and has performed in numerous television and radio programs, including "Oprah."

The writer spent years researching Daodejing - the chinese book of wisdom, the world's most translated text after the Bible. Less than a hundred short paragraphs, it describes a lifestyle, that is balanced, moral, and spiritual and applicable to all aspects of life on earth. According to legend, Daodejing has been written by prophet Laozi, who was the keeper of the imperial archive in the ancient capital of China.

However, these verses also seemed to contain much valuable wisdom in the 21st century, and the author of this book wrote a short essay on each of these verses. Of the ten translations, that he studied, he compiled 81 passages, according to what seemed particularly meaningful to him.

The book explains the philosophy of life in China, and gives valuable advice, such as: if the assumptions break, practice dealing with it peacefully. Relax, let go, and feel that certain desires are associated with the desired worldview, not the actual situation. Become a smart observer, who does not evaluate everything and is more often ready to listen, what other people have to say. Practice releasing the habit of continuous naming and labeling.

For example, one way to practice Tao on a daily basis: try to notice a few moments during the day, when someone or something irritated you. Decide, that you will be practicing Tao at that very moment, looking with interest into yourself, where you stand between lust and release. Allow the paradox of wanting the irritant to disappear while letting it go, observe what you feel during the irritation. Sometimes you feel it in the stomach or makes your back stiff or scratches your throat. Let it be an enigmatic messenger within yourself and pay attention to it without judgment.

One more verse that the writer is going to explain, verse 2:

Under the sky, everyone sees beauty as beauty,

because there is ugliness.

Everyone understands the good,

because there is evil.

Existence and non-existence create each other.

Hard is born of mild.

Short sets long, low sets high.

Before and after follow

each other.

The saint lives in an open state

in duality,

in paradoxical unity.

The saint works effortlessly,

teaches without words.

Creates but does not appropriate,

works and doesn't want a reward,

makes an effort, but does not expect results.

The work will be done and forgotten.

So it will last forever.

Each verse is followed by the explanations of the author of this book and his vision of the verses. The book is well written, interesting, and easy to understand, but it is worth taking the time to study it. I have read it myself once, but I definitely plan on reading it again, or actually listening because I usually run at the same time.