A Personal Tao Casey Kochmer Raven: Julie Alessio – 2005 A Personal Tao Print Edition http://www.personaltao.com Casey Kochmer PO Box 12690 Olympia WA, 98508 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Kochmer, Casey, 1964- A Personal Tao / Casey Kochmer Library of Congress Control Number: 2005905211 Print Copy ISBN: 0-9769674-2-1 E-Book ISBN: 0-9769674-0-5 © 2005 Casey Kochmer Version History: First Print Release January 2006 Online 4th Edition Release January 2006 Online 3rd Edition Release December 2005 Online 2nd Edition Release September 2005 Online 1st Public Release July 2005 First Draft April 2005 Conceptual Notes May 2001-March 2005 Editors: Julie Alessio & Kristopher Hicks-Green Amberjack Software LLC Olympia, WA Photo by Brandi Eide 2005 Dedication Julie for pure love and acceptance, ever the morning star Erica for the kick into dreams Kendall and Clay growing Bob for being bob Jonathon as someone to look up to Dad, because of your true heart Mom letting me be free Jennifer within first love Rhonda’s cascading friendship Jayson for balance Mars and Joseph in spoken word Clifford and Gerald opening worlds Bonnie (and yes Regina) for wit Jay embracing an inner child Shari for painting a sun on the wall and my life TLar for the sword battles Vicky the bestest neighbor Sky for hope awakening Bryan as a wise ass Chris & Lynne as family Sequoia and Susan reflections upon still water Buddy for the monkey poetry Wren for wisdom John for his laughter Brisamina as my dancing ninja evening star And an unknown stranger long long ago for a smile So many threads loving in and out of what we each become Fraying, reweaving, experiencing daily renewal Ever living Truth and Peace to all Please note: The Personal Tao Online Edition is free. Download at: http://www.personaltao.com Please pass it on! To support offering the free online version of the book, I am counting on your recommendations to help distribute the book. I believe we can make a difference by reaching out. The goal is to improve society, not by changing the world, but simply in helping people discover their own nature. For readers interested in printed material I do sell several hand bound limited editions of this work. These books are sold as handcrafted works of art. The price varies on each order due to the hand customization within each copy. The print edition strives to recreate older traditions of making each printed book unique. Purchase requests can be sent to: Casey Kochmer PO Box 12690 Olympia, WA 98508 I can be contacted at A PERSONAL TAO..................................................................................................................................... 3 REFLECTIONS ............................................................................................................................................. 8 LAYOUT...................................................................................................................................................... 9 TAO .......................................................................................................................................................... 12 CONNECTIONS .......................................................................................................................................... 14 Notes from my journal…..................................................................................................................... 15 THE WAY ................................................................................................................................................. 21 TIDES........................................................................................................................................................ 23 NATURE.................................................................................................................................................... 25 ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE .......................................................................................................................... 27 WU-WEI................................................................................................................................................... 32 p.s........................................................................................................................................................ 32 SMILES ..................................................................................................................................................... 34 SNAPSHOTS .............................................................................................................................................. 36 LAND, WELLSPRINGS, LAYERS................................................................................................................. 37 RULES ...................................................................................................................................................... 39 PRACTICES ............................................................................................................................................... 40 DANCE...................................................................................................................................................... 42 WAKING ................................................................................................................................................... 43 POETS, MADMEN AND FEAR..................................................................................................................... 46 WORK....................................................................................................................................................... 47 PAPER AIRPLANES.................................................................................................................................... 52 ZEN GARDENS .......................................................................................................................................... 54 SWIRLING ................................................................................................................................................. 60 A JOB TO BE DONE ................................................................................................................................... 61 A PAPER SPITTOON .................................................................................................................................. 63 THE SAGE................................................................................................................................................. 67 Mid-Life Revelations........................................................................................................................... 68 MOVEMENT OF WATER ............................................................................................................................ 70 DEATH...................................................................................................................................................... 71 IMMORTALITY .......................................................................................................................................... 76 SPIRIT AND SOUL...................................................................................................................................... 79 DEFINITIONS............................................................................................................................................. 85 HUMAN WAVES........................................................................................................................................ 86 FLOW........................................................................................................................................................ 89 RELIGION.................................................................................................................................................. 90 LIVING GUIDELINES ................................................................................................................................. 95 JASMINE ................................................................................................................................................. 100 ???.......................................................................................................................................................... 102 ANIMALS ................................................................................................................................................ 103 EXPECTATIONS....................................................................................................................................... 104 CUTTINGS............................................................................................................................................... 109 SPEAKING OUT ....................................................................................................................................... 110 MANTRA................................................................................................................................................. 112 ENDINGS................................................................................................................................................. 114 PERSONAL CLOSINGS ............................................................................................................................. 115 Reflections In the days We find time Time like clouds moving on by In ourselves We find life Life as a river f l o w i n g t o t h e s e a But time and life on their own have no measure In others we find noitcelfer | reflection reflection like ourselves gives us m-e-a-s-u-r-e From each other we find our poems. Poems like our souls, holding secrets only a few may share. I have known many people perhaps your smiles can become poems to share I have seen many reflections maybe yours will become clear to me Time moves, measured in heart beats. Within this rhythm, discovering the mysteries of the world. Layout This work purposely breaks rules. So follow suit, meandering to whatever calls. This will allow for a more natural form of exploration. Reveal this work at the pace of your own life, rather than the metered speed of the written words. Each section limits itself as a small self-contained topic. While it would be possible to write an entire book on each topic, the goal is simplicity. Long, detailed writings would actually hinder the process of learning, as it would introduce too many tangents to the central theme: Taoism is simply the process of living to one’s own nature. To illustrate the Tao, the text mirrors human nature by becoming a mixture of Poetry, Art, Literature and Spoken Word. =========================== Paths ============================ The Tao isn’t a path; the path is our lives meandered. In life I have discovered finding my way has at times been a difficult undertaking. The path sections are lessons learned from my own wanderings as a Taoist. I also contradict myself at times. This is part of the process of understanding ourselves and the Tao. Contradictions are often found when looking at something from a different perspective. Experience is based purely on perspective. Contradictions within a person are an indicator that he or she has traveled several distinct paths within life, incorporating different viewpoints and truths. A contradiction is the starting point to a more complete understanding. =========================== Thoughts ========================== To help make this a living book you are encouraged to add feedback. Write down what comes to mind. No self restrictions. All too often while reading, something important comes to mind, only to slip past as we continue to read. Let ideas run freely; mix the moisture of your own inspiration to this work. Everything here is meant to inspire self expression. Write, draw, paint, splash out some of your own spirit and release something new onto these pages. This in turn releases you from the bindings of traditional books so that this becomes a more personal learning experience. Simply put: Write openly of yourself to be yourself. Let loose spirit to reveal soul. Freedom is rooted within sharing expression…