Cultivation is of no use for the attainment of Tao. The…
““Cultivation is of no use for the attainment of Tao. The only thing that one can do is to be free of defilement. When one's mind is stained with thoughts of life and death, or deliberate action, that is defilement. The grasping of the Truth is the function of everyday-mindedness. Everyday-mindedness is free from intentional action, free from concepts of right and wrong, taking and giving, the finite or the infinite. . . . All our daily activities—walking, standing, sitting, lying down—all response to situations, our dealings with circumstances as they arise: all this is Tao.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The Tao is realized by letting go of deliberate actions and concepts, living naturally in each moment.
In simple terms: Live naturally, without clinging to thoughts or actions.
Key Takeaway
Release intentional striving.
Themes
spirituality
philosophy
mindfulness
non-action
Mood
calm
reflective
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- daily routines
- meditation
- stressful situations
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
Taoism
emptiness
non-duality
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you notice when you are acting out of habit?
- What does “free from defilement” feel like in daily life?
A Different Perspective
It may be hard to fully abandon ingrained habits of judgment.