Captain Michael: Taoism has an interesting way of describing progress.
It often looks like returning.
We usually imagine growth as a st
Taoism has an interesting way of describing progress.
It often looks like returning.
We usually imagine growth as a straight line.
Learn more.
Acquire more.
Become more.
Move forward.
But perhaps some of the most important journeys take us back toward something we knew before we became so busy.
Back toward simplicity.
Back toward wonder.
Back toward being comfortable with not knowing.
Back toward ourselves.
Lao Tzu wrote:
“Returning is the motion of the Tao.”
A sailor understands returning.
You can spend weeks underway.
New harbors.
New coastlines.
New weather.
New stories.
But there is something different about recognizing the entrance to your own anchorage.
You know the landmarks.
You know where the shoals are.
You know how the wind moves through the hills.
Nothing about it is new.
And yet you are not quite the same sailor who left.
Maybe that is what returning means.
Not going backward.
Coming back differently.
We began this week following water.
We talked about not forcing.
About yielding.
About knowing enough.
About leaving some of ourselves uncarved.
About making room for emptiness.
None of those things asked us to become something extraordinary.
If anything, they asked us to remove some of what was getting in the way.
Perhaps the Way was never somewhere ahead of us.
Perhaps we have been sailing toward something that has been here all along.
And maybe the final lesson of the watercourse is this:
The river travels a very long way…
only to return to the sea.
#Taoism, #LaoTzu, #TheWatercourseWay, #Returning, #TheTao, #Wisdom, #Simplicity, #SailingLife, #LifeAfloat, #LiveaboardLife, #Philosophy, #CaptainMichael
Captain Michael: Taoism has an interesting way of describing progress. It often looks like returning. We usually imagine growth as a stra
Taoism has an interesting way of describing progress. It often looks like returning. We usually imagine growth as a straight line. Learn more. Acquire more. Become more. Move forward. But perhaps some of the most important journeys take us back toward something we knew before we became so busy. Back toward simplicity. Back toward wonder. Back toward being comfortable with not knowing. Back toward ourselves. Lao Tzu wrote: “Returning is the motion of the Tao.” A sailor understands returning. You can spend weeks underway. New harbors. New coastlines. New weather. New stories. But there is something different about recognizing the entrance to your own anchorage. You know the landmarks. You know where the shoals are. You know how the wind moves through the hills. Nothing about it is new. And yet you are not quite the same sailor who left. Maybe that is what returning means. Not going backward. Coming back differently. We began this week following water. We talked about not forcing. About yielding. About knowing enough. About leaving some of ourselves uncarved. About making room for emptiness. None of those things asked us to become something extraordinary. If anything, they asked us to remove some of what was getting in the way. Perhaps the Way was never somewhere ahead of us. Perhaps we have been sailing toward something that has been here all along. And maybe the final lesson of the watercourse is this: The river travels a very long way… only to return to the sea. #Taoism, #LaoTzu, #TheWatercourseWay, #Returning, #TheTao, #Wisdom, #Simplicity, #SailingLife, #LifeAfloat, #LiveaboardLife, #Philosophy, #CaptainMichael
Taoism has an interesting way of describing progress. It often looks like returning. We usually imagine growth as a straight line. Learn more. Acquire more. Become more. Move forward. But perhaps some of the most important journeys take us back toward something we knew before we became so busy. Back toward simplicity. Back toward wonder. Back toward being comfortable with not knowing. Back toward ourselves. Lao Tzu wrote: “Returning is the motion of the Tao.” A sailor understands returning. You can spend weeks underway. New harbors. New coastlines. New weather. New stories. But there is something different about recognizing the entrance to your own anchorage. You know the landmarks. You know where the shoals are. You know how the wind moves through the hills. Nothing about it is new. And yet you are not quite the same sailor who left. Maybe that is what returning means. Not going backward. Coming back differently. We began this week following water. We talked about not forcing. About yielding. About knowing enough. About leaving some of ourselves uncarved. About making room for emptiness. None of those things asked us to become something extraordinary. If anything, they asked us to remove some of what was getting in the way. Perhaps the Way was never somewhere ahead of us. Perhaps we have been sailing toward something that has been here all along. And maybe the final lesson of the watercourse is this: The river travels a very long way… only to return to the sea. #Taoism, #LaoTzu, #TheWatercourseWay, #Returning, #TheTao, #Wisdom, #Simplicity, #SailingLife, #LifeAfloat, #LiveaboardLife, #Philosophy, #CaptainMichael
