August 10, 2023 – B

Dharma and Tao mean the same thing:
"The way things ought to be."

Hinduism attempts to adhere to the Dharma
through custom and law,
imposing the ought-to-be-ness of things
inorganically, 
corporately, 
from the top down
and the outside in.

Taoism achieves the same outcome
through a "felt-sense" of balance and harmony,
sincerity/integrity/grace/
spirit/energy/vitality
organically,
personally-individually,
from the bottom up
and the inside out.

Hinduism would say,
"Do what we tell you--
when/where/how!"

Taoism would say, 
"Live in accord with the Tao,
align yourself with the flow
of life and being!
And do not do what anyone tells you to do,
because "the path that can be discerned
as the path
is not a reliable path!"

When we "follow our bliss,"
in Joseph Campbell's words--
our sense of vitality/enthusiasm/urgency
in aligning ourselves with and doing
what we know to be called for here/now,
we are in sync with the Tao,
"on the beam"
(Campbell also said, "We know 
when we are on the beam
and when we are off it")
and in the center of our life's will for us.

There is no better place to be.

Listen to your body,
to your heart,
and do what you know/feel to be right for you
here/now,
and let the outcome be the outcome.

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