CC Licence Image by JanBrzezinski on Pixabay
dissolving in spruce and snow -
the wood and path one.
The title image really struck me as representative of the first chapter of the Tao Te Ching, and the elusive meaning behind the duality of The Way.
In the image all is covered in snow, both the woodland and the path through the forest. As the observer stares into the distance it seems a dark silhouette (perhaps a human?) walks onwards, while in the foreground a single small tree grows in the middle of the path. I tried to reflect this shifting of perception that the Tao teaches us in the haiku through engaging with the imagery in the photograph.
The way that can be spoken of
Is not the constant way;
The name that can be named
Is not the constant name.
The nameless was the beginning of heaven and earth;
The named was the mother of the myriad creatures.
Chptr 1, Tao Te Ching D.C. Lau’s Translation
The paradox, or duality, of the path and the woods being one, is the nameless at the centre of all. This is something impossible to really explain fully; rather it can only be experienced through the stillness at the heart of meditation.
Hence always rid yourself of desires in order to observe its secrets;
But always allow yourself to have desires in order to observe its manifestations.
These two are the same
But diverge in name as they issue forth.
Being the same they are called mysteries,
Mystery upon mystery –
The gateway of the manifold secrets.
Chptr 1, Tao Te Ching D.C. Lau’s Translation
This duality is reflected further as it is essential to both be rid of desires (for me through meditative practice) while allowing desires to manifest naturally when they arise from conditioning. In meditation it is taught simply to observe the thoughts and let them go. In this first chapter of the Tao I feel the word 'desires' is also meant to mean 'thought' as it often manifests in a torrent of unconscious reactions to the world, taking over, and obscuring the clarity at the centre of nature.
For me, this first chapter of the Tao Te Ching is the foundation for all that comes after. The illusion of constancy, or desire, we mentally perpetuate is cracked open. The insight of duality - the connection between the nameless and the named, or thought and stillness, or the wood and the path in my haiku - is expressed as a universal truth.
As to breath is both action and stillness.
Existence is both life and death.
The way is both the named and the nameless.
Thanks for reading 🌿
This is the first in an on-going series of poetry/spirituality posts reflecting on the chapters of the Tao Te Ching, as translated by D.C. Lau. Each post will include a Haiku and blog exploring my interpretation of the Tao.
The image used in this post is creative commons licence, linked to credit beneath the picture. If you have enjoyed this Haiku, please check out my other work on my homepage @raj808.
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