“Row, Row, Row your boat” and Tao Philosophy

By Wayne O’Toole, Northside Changemaker

A little realization moment I thought may be valuable to some: something I learned today that simplified my thought on “Tao” philosophy on flow, or a part.

I’ll start with what the realization was by sharing the statement and what it is in reference to:

‘Row, row, row your boat “GENTLY DOWN” the stream.’

Simple, right? Now think of the following Tao piece: can you see how simple we can break things down by quieting the overactive brain?

Some of the biggest things in life are found in moments of “nothing”.

This may be a little long, so perhaps Mindful Moments Episode 2 is in order. So a little on Tao: I am no expert either, just a student who is always learning and sharing. We all need to find ways to Peace, and it can be flighting at times.

“That which offers no resistance, overcomes the hardest substances. That which offers no resistance can enter where there is no space. Few in the world can comprehend the teachings without words, or understand the value of non-action”

Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 43.

“Knowing others is Intelligence, Knowing Yourself is true wisdom, Mastering others is Strength, Mastering Yourself is true Power.”

Lao Tzu

And the story of flow always brings me back in hard moments, some longer than others, but there are lessons that sometimes just need to be learned.  

“Taoism compares life with a river. The river already has a course or several courses, and once we find ourselves in that river, we can swim against the current, we can hold on to a branch or we can let go and go along with stream. Most of our lives we swim against the current and we don’t even realize it. Our mind believes that it can and should control the environment, in order to survive, which is kind of egocentric because the vast majority of processes within as well as outside ourselves are not in our control. Taoist way is rather navigating through the river instead of trying to control it. Another aspect of the river that characterizes Taoism is the water itself. The characterization of water are softness and humility that basically symbolize Taoist virtue.”

If you are interested this article the last quote came from, it is here: https://medium.com/…/the-philosophy-of-flow-taoism…