Episodes
Tuesday Dec 29, 2020
LAO TZU 33
Tuesday Dec 29, 2020
Tuesday Dec 29, 2020
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.]
Monday Dec 14, 2020
LAO TZU 32
Monday Dec 14, 2020
Monday Dec 14, 2020
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.]
Wednesday Dec 02, 2020
LAO TZU 31
Wednesday Dec 02, 2020
Wednesday Dec 02, 2020
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.]
Friday Nov 27, 2020
LAO TZU 30
Friday Nov 27, 2020
Friday Nov 27, 2020
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.]
Tuesday Oct 20, 2020
LAO TZU 29
Tuesday Oct 20, 2020
Tuesday Oct 20, 2020
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.]
Monday Aug 10, 2020
LAO TZU 26
Monday Aug 10, 2020
Monday Aug 10, 2020
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.]
Thursday Jul 23, 2020
LAO TZU 25
Thursday Jul 23, 2020
Thursday Jul 23, 2020
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.]
Tuesday Jul 21, 2020
LAO TZU 24
Tuesday Jul 21, 2020
Tuesday Jul 21, 2020
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.]
Wednesday Jul 15, 2020
LAO TZU 23
Wednesday Jul 15, 2020
Wednesday Jul 15, 2020
In this podcast, we discuss Chapter 36 of The Tao Te Ching. In this chapter, Lao Tzu offers a strategy based on the interactive dynamics of opposites which he recommends to the sagacious leader. The strategy is also employable by individuals to negotiate the conflictual aspects of life and the terrain of meditative experience. Since this chapter seemed more opaque than usual, we consulted three different translation of the Tao Te Ching. [Free. 25 minutes.]
Friday Jul 10, 2020
LAO TZU 22
Friday Jul 10, 2020
Friday Jul 10, 2020
This podcast offers a reading of Chapter 35 of the Tao Te Ching. It deals with the character of Lao Tzu's ideal leader who is a sage with connection to the Tao. We tease this out and relate it to modern leaders of the 'strong man' type and ideals of social organisation. [Free. 19 minutes.]