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When you study the Tao Te Ching, you have to use your heart to try to imagine what Tao really is.
Once you open your heart, you will start to absorb many things that come from the source - from Tao itself.
Tao is so important because it is connected to all the life forms - it's related to the whole universe. Nobody can say, "Tao has nothing to do with me. Why should I try to understand it?" because actually, Tao has everything to do with us.
Tao can be used by anybody, but it does not beling to anyone. It is just like air; everyone can breathe the air, but no one can claim ownership of the air.
When humans understand Tao, we understand the Tao within ourselves, not the true Tao. Tao doesn't belong to any one or any place; Tao is natural. It doesn't matter where you go, it will always be there. No one can claim ownership of it.
The intersection of the macro universe and the micro universe will create a gate, or a door. Lao Tzu called this "the door to all wonders". This is where yin and yang merge harmoniously. This is also called the Middle Way.
The only reason we try to have no thought is to understand the universe, but how often do you want to understand the universe in your everyday life? The majority of the time you are dealing with your everyday life, so be careful not to go to the extreme.
We need to transcend our thoughts and desires to truly understand philosophy and the universe as a whole. However, in our everyday life, we deal with the micro universe and with our own affairs. Therefore we need to use our brain. To practice Tao is not to rid yourself of all thoughts. There are actually more occasions when you would use your true intention instead of non-desire.
In our lives, when we do not create something out of total honesty, it cannot last long.
Anything created with fake intention or pretense cannot last long.
