Episodes
Monday Apr 26, 2021
LAO TZU 36
Monday Apr 26, 2021
Monday Apr 26, 2021
This episode of our Lao Tzu series deals with Chapter 50 of The Tao Te Ching. The chapter outlines Lao Tzu's strategy for living well, particularly when it comes to preserving life in the face of the world's dangers. [Free. 19 minutes.]
Saturday Apr 03, 2021
LAO TZU 35
Saturday Apr 03, 2021
Saturday Apr 03, 2021
In this podcast we engage with Chapters 48 and 49 of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching. These chapters clarify the nature of wu wei or non-doing. [Free. 20 minutes.]
Wednesday Mar 24, 2021
LAO TZU 34
Wednesday Mar 24, 2021
Wednesday Mar 24, 2021
This podcast engages with Chapter 47 of The Tao Te Ching which deals with solitude and meditation. The style of meditation alluded to is a letting be rather than a cultivation and gives rise to an intuitive knowledge, a sense of the bigger picture. We suggest how acquaintance with this wonderful meditation can produce social goods and is sorely needed in these interesting times. [Free. 16 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.]
Sunday Oct 11, 2020
LAO TZU 28
Sunday Oct 11, 2020
Sunday Oct 11, 2020
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.]
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.]