Heart Yoga Radio

In this podcast, we give a reading of Chapter 33 of the Tao Te Ching in which Lao Tzu traces the consequences of wide-spread greed on social harmony and peace. [Free. 24 minutes.]

This episode of our Lao Tzu series deals with Chapter 45 of the Tao Te Ching. Here we find Lao Tzu in teacher mode. He gently points us towards the Tao, counsels against perfectionism, and recommends tranquillity. [Free. 18 Minutes.]

This episode of our Lao Tzu series deals with Chapter 44 of the Tao Te Ching. This chapter urges us not to be too caught up the pursuit of wealth and status but to find peace in alignment with the Tao. [Free. 18 minutes.]

This episode of our Lao Tzu series considers Chapter 43 of the Tao Te Ching. It deals with non-doing and the power of water-like softness. [Free. 18 minutes.]

In this episode we consider Chapter 42 of The Tao Te Ching. This chapter explicates with the way in which the Tao gives rise to all things through a metaphor of the sequence of numbers. Not only does this metaphor illuminate evolution but also the involutionary approach to meditation designed for encountering the Tao within oneself. [Free. 11 minutes.]

In this episode of our Lao Tzu series, we give a reading of Chapter 41 of The Tao Te Ching. This chapter deals with the ways in which students of varying ability understand and practice the Tao. [Free. 25 minutes.]

This podcast offers a reading of Chapter 40 of the Tao Te Ching. This short chapter deals with the nature of the Tao itself and how it creates all things from nothing. I consider the nature of the Tao as process based rather than thing based. I also draw out resonances between this chapter, particularly with regard to nothingness,  and insights into particle physics as suggested by Fritjof Capra in his book, The Tao of Physics (1975). [Free. 20 minutes.]

In this podcast, we consider Chapter 39 of the Tao Te Ching. Once again, we see Lao Tzu moving from cosmology to the character of the ideal leader who has qualities arising out of meditation. Lao Tzu discerns forces of both disintegration and integration as aspects of 'the One', or the whole. Out of this discernment, we draw a characterisation of our own times. [Free. 37 minutes.]

In this podcast, we discuss Chapter 38 of the Tao Te Ching. This chapter offers a picture of the sage who has a mastery of wu wei, non-doing, which transcends conscience, rule following and adhering to the status quo as a source of goodness and the ability to rule. We relate this picture to current events and our political culture. [Free. 25 minutes.] 

In this podcast, we reflect on Chapter 37 of the Tao Te Ching. In this chapter, Lao Tzu once again attempts to characterise the Tao. From a fresh perspective, he describes the Tao as the ultimate exemplar of wu-wei, (non-doing), and recommends that people, including leaders, emulate it in this respect. He then describes the character of a person who has managed this elusive meditative task. We relate this to a criticism of consumerism which, though careful with desire, nevertheless eschews asceticism. [Free. 12 minutes.]