The Way and the Power of Virtue

  As we care about people and bring order to our nations,  can we still practice unmediated action? As the gates of Heaven swing open and shut, can we stand still as a bird? Understanding clearly the Four Attainments, can we be free of outsmarting? In caring for others, governing ourselves , bringing order to our communities and countries, the first question to ask ourselves is are we continuing to practice unmediated action – free from the failures and successes of the past as well as any expected outcomes in the future?   The more successful we are in our endeavors, the more prestigious the past, the harder it can be sometimes to manage and not elevate our expectations .   In caring about others and improving our communities and nations, we must be cautious of letting our successes go to our heads, of attaching our worth and our identity to our performance, and drinking our own Kool-Aid a little too much.   As the Proverb goes, “pride goeth before the...

  In speech, excel in being honest and trustworthy; in governance, excel in bringing order; in human affairs, excel in skill; in action, excel in timing.   In all cases, it is only because they don’t contend – this is why they are above reproach.   4. Honesty: Wise people excel in saying what they mean and meaning what they say.   They are honest and trustworthy.   They know when to say something publicly, when to say something in private, and when to hold their tongues.   So can we.   In today’s interconnected cyber community, we can’t take back anything that we say, so we are best served by measuring our words and being honest and truthful in everything we say. 5. Governance: Wise people excel in bringing order to chaos, finding solutions to problems, and regulating themselves first and foremost.   We can do likewise, practicing moderation and mediating the extreme views that surround us.   We can see both sides of any issue, un...