What is the Way of Heaven?
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- The Way of Heaven (天之道, Tiān zhī Dào) is a Taoist doctrine on how to attain immortality, becoming an awakened one (聖人, shèng rén), and achieving transcendence. Four verses from the Tao Te Ching are instructive on what the Way of Heaven is, and is now considered canonical in Way of Heaven discourse. We’ll also take a look at what other classical Chinese texts have to say on the Way of Heaven (and cf. the Way of Humanity).
The doctrine is considered common core in many Taoist lineages and traditions. Consider what principles from this philosophy you might be able to build your spiritual foundation with.
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TIMESTAMPS:
References to the Way of Heaven (Tiān zhī Dào, 天之道) in the Tao Te Ching:
00:30 Verse 9
01:28 Verse 9 continued
02:09 Verse 73 - the archery metaphor
04:10 Verse 77 - cut where there is excess, fill where there is loss
10:18 Verse 81 - final instructive reference to the Way of Heaven
Classical Textual References to the Way of Heaven
15:04 Mencius 孟子 on Sincerity 誠
15:25 The Way of Heaven: Sincerity (& Authenticity) in Verse 22, Hexagram 54 (Gui Mei, Marrying Maiden), and the alchemical wedding
15:48 Doctrine of the Mean on Sincerity and the Way of Heaven
16:07 The Book of Rites on the sun, moon, and divination in the Way of Heaven
16:28 Commentaries of Zuo (Zuo Chuan, 左傳) on divination, the Way of Heaven, and how to interpret prophecy
17:17 Xunzi 荀子 and Confucianist discourse; the Way of the Junzi 君子
19:23 Wenzi 文子 (Book of Master Wen) on the Nine Shields
20:29 Way of Heaven discourse found in the Ten Wings of the I Ching Book of Changes
23:24 Jing Fang 京房’s Commentaries on the I Ching - the Way of Heaven and the 64 Hexagrams; Jing Fang’s discourse from Hexagram 54 (Gui Mei, Marrying Maiden)
24:06 Huangdi Neijing on the Way of Heaven - it is like gazing at the clouds; God
25:32 Huangdi Neijing; the Way of Heaven and Hexagram 1
Supplemental Discussions
00:59 Reviewing a definition for the Tao
02:32 ziran 自然
03:11 the atheistic and naturalist doctrine of Tiān Dào zìrán 天道自然
07:17 Way of Heaven and I Ching Hexagrams 41 (Sun, Debilitating) and 42 (Yi, Burgeoning) embedded in the Tao Te Ching, Verse 77
08:57 Way of Heaven (Huang-Lao) vs. Way of Humanity 人之道 (divide where there is no division)
17:57 distinction between Confucianist (Ru) interpretations of the Tao vs. Taoist interpretations of the Tao, Way of Heaven, and Junzi
20:13 Why study the Tao Te Ching passages on the Way of Heaven
22:30 Revisiting “the exchange of yin and yang is the Tao” and comparing it to the Tao (Way) of Heaven
25:53 The Numinous and the Middle Pillar (Note: I misspoke here. Ji is the Numinous; not the Numinous Void, which is Wuji)
26:12 Closing Remarks
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My takeaways are: you can intuit/contemplate the Tao but cannot fully understand it completely; do the right thing because it is the right thing to do, as desired outcomes do not excuse doing the wrong thing; and then once you have achieved your goal, leave things alone. Thank you SO so much for this illumination of the text and for these back-and-forth comparisons we otherwise would never know about. We are lucky to be living in your time ~ the available translations are truly riddles until I listen to your expanded versions!
I'm just now thinking that the inability to describe Tao may be our inability to actually live in complete accordance with it. That is, our behaviors and not our intellect. We can intellectualize it (as we do the world described in John Lennon's song, Imagine) but can not actually manifest it.
I will have to watch this over and over again... You are such a source of knowledge and inspiration. Thank you and hugs from Switzerland 🌹
Agree all of these videos are so wonderful to re watch for ongoing reflection
I consider Benebel's videos helpful supplements to the material that she introduces in her books.
JPB
The more of the Tao that reveals itself to me, the more I sense it's perfection, for the finite to gaze into the infinite, we may only get but a glimpse that is utterly indescribable.
Main takeaway is to not be afraid to follow this middle path when all life ever felt since being a child was an otherness. No matter how hard I tried and changed myself and my words to try and fit into the world of others, it had only brought forth more suffering. “Practice , do not preach… that’s how you inspire.” I cannot force others toward a knowledge they do not want to acknowledge. By practicing in my benevolence, those with curious minds can use me as gateway to their own path thereafter. And then, we can speak excitedly about these things. Geeking out if you will lol
In Sufism there’s a saying, „search for truth in Chin.“ The more I explore Daoism, the more it makes so sense 😃
Very few videos get saved to my personal “Wisdom” playlist. This is a dead ringer. Thank you. Your I Ching book is also fantastic.
The main thing I got was that taking extra steps after accomplishing the goal incurs negative karma, which made me reflect on other times in my life where this was true and made me have a paradigm shift.
Do you think that Karma is relevant ? I would tend to think that the extra steps give a jumping off point for the next phase of a continually changing system .
As I listen, I’m inspired by the realization that each person uses his own instrument to play the music. Where you are using archery to convey a message, I understood the message through the lens of writing specifically the ability to summarize complexity into a simple statement. It’s the ability to see where it’s all leading because you understand where it began.
I love the Tao Te Ching and I'm very grateful for the work you are doing to share it with others! Your insights, commentaries and cross references are very helpful! Thank you!
I grew up in a fundamentalist Christian household, and I’ve been having a hard time describing my relationship to God lately. I know it’s likely not the intention of the video, but I found your description at the end, of the clouds and the concept of the abyss, really helpful. Thank you.
The Tao is the Logos is the Word which is Christ
Really like the way you explain the Tao with physics and mathematics , brings universal concepts to a unbiased understanding without making my head hurt , more please !
The secret to success is knowing when to let go, I recommend actually learning archery if you are physically able to draw a string back, nothing feels more like the way of heaven then successfully hitting a bullseye with a quiet mind.
I very much appreciate your expounding on the correspondences in the texts you cite - this is extremely helpful for non native speakers or readers. The inclusion of the old characters is especially helpful to reflect upon. Thanks for all of your efforts.
You always bring the most cogent insight and information. It's always a crash course condensed with incredible knowledge in such a short amount of time. Though there is always, ALWAYS more to learn, you begin a conversation I know I appreciate.
Thanks for always being your authentic Unapologetic self, it's so beautiful to be witness to.
Your book I CHING / The Oracle is so good BTW, a deep dive indeed. I have to come up for air way to often! It's a brilliant tool to have in one's kit.
I'm so glad to hear. Thank you! 🙏
Wow! This is truly beautiful, thank you. Honestly, I will need to rewatch this at least a couple more times to take it all in. But as a buddhist, I feel there's so much instructive (and practical) wisdom here. And it strikes me that there are so many overlapping levels of wisdom for 'those who have ears'. I found it particularly poignant when you spoke of the instruction to know when not to impose one's insights/opinions/revelations on others. That's particularly difficult for those new to the field of spiritual experience. It can be quite tempting to tell others what they 'should' be feeling/thinking/doing. Cheers!
I stay completely away from shoulds as they impart an idea that my knowledge is flawless. I relate my experience, and why my understanding is enough for me, and then let go of the outcome. Hopefully that's instructive.
I've been needing this video for the past decade. Yet the timing is still perfect. I will do my best. Thank you for existing.
Thank you so much for doing this!!. It has been difficult for me to find this kind of information.
Absolutely excellent video, thank you.
Love listening to personal perspectives and opinions about these books. Wayne dyers interpretation of the “Tao Te Ching” is one of my favorites. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and opinions with us.
Super content. Thanks for sharing so many layers of these teachings. Warm greetings from Brazil. 💚
Beautiful video! This is my first introduction into the Way of Heaven and the I Ching. I have new respect for this wisdom, and I expect I'll be listening to this video again and again. Thank you for making it!
I just discovered yur channel and I find it so enlightening. The fact that you translate it and interpret it directly from the original language and context from the era is so valuable. Thank you for making these videos! ❤
Wow this is soooo informative. Thank you
I refer the abyss as the void because I've been there. Many of your explanations so closely match my experiences that I'm dumbstruck by them. Thank you for your efforts.
All of THIS is such a good reminder. I love the speaking of the text in Chinese, I think you said it was your father who read those. What resonated with me the most as I go into a difficult and stressful time in business is to remember my stance and comportment as I draw the bow and take aim on my goals.
The male voice is the Hubby, which I thought would be helpful to show his "proper" native Beijingnese pronunciation compared to my Americanized Taiwanese accented Mandarin. =)
My main takeaway is that you are an incredibly engaging teacher! I really like the way you integrate languages, I think I might be able to recognize a few written characters now
Agreed 💯❤️
I'm glad! That's why I include the wording, pin yin, and translation -- accessibility to the language. ❤
I really like the mention of Tao in Confucianism and Taoism which are not the same watching a few other videos and reading books by certain authors long ago did that contradiction and for the longest time I never knew why, when you mention this it clicked and made sense to me.
I definitely have to watch these last two videos a few more times because there is so much so soak in. I wanna say this is also pretty synchronistic for me. This year I have begun diving into the study of Daoism, qigong & neidan, Chan buddhism, yoga, qabalah, and nondual tantrik shaivism because I'm very interested in their cultivation techniques for the mind, body, breath and most importantly virtues: right speaking, action, and thought. It feels to me like it's very easy to glance over the fact that every spiritual tradition has ideas on virtuous living and look at them on a surface level and so many people do not believe their thoughts have any kind of power. But if you look at it deeper it feels like the focus on right living speaking and thinking is more of a guide on how to best avoid violating the metaphysical laws of karma and cause and effect by mistreating another living being. Unconscious people largely tend to think nothing of it especially when privately casting judgment, gossiping or lying etc but when you understand that everyone and everything is the divine spark or conscious awareness, or that they have a soul, then you understand why you shouldn't lie about another or speak ill of them, regardless of their actions or appearances; because whether you realize it or not you are speaking of the divine in another person. That's what I love about daoist wisdom on virtue and living in harmony with nature.
Oh and btw, Im taking your SKT and transcendental magick courses, and I gotta say the first reading I did with the order of the shaman deck I received left me awestruck and speechless, it definitely feels like it was meant for me. Working with Kuan Yin's mantra has already helped me in meditation. Thank you for all of your work!
Love You ❤ thanks
Thank you for your work👍 the middle path and the way to heaven...
Great sentiments on achievement of peace and sustainability
Thanks for this video lecture, very well presented and helpful. What resonates with me is the distinction between the Way of Heaven versus the Way of Human. You explain that so well by presenting the historical context which is so often missed. Truly blessed that you are guiding this deeper dive. It is a blessing of love.
Thank you❤. I study with Master Zhi Gang Sha. I love love love learning!
Mine was mercy n righteousness, yin n yang brilliant thanks
The metaphor of an archer was exactly what I needed in this very moment. I'm facing a lot of uncertainty and anxiety about finance.
Thank you for providing me with so many amazing insights!
Fascinating discourse and further inspiration for myself to learn Chinese and study the ancient Chinese philosophies.
Sometimes Confucius, confuses us (I’m a nerd too). While I do see Confucius philosophy importance of trying to harmonize society, I prefer Zhuangzi. Just my individual path on The Way to Heaven.
A bit of a synchronicity with I Ching readings as well as I recently received 41 and then later 42. Out of my five different I Ching books, I resonated best with the interpretation you provided.
The Way of Heaven from a Westernized Perspective requires a lot of unlearning and readjustment. Just observing Nature one can see the interplay of forces, etc. Yet too I see the importance of the individual Way of Heaven (finding one’s own path) and also that of Harmonizing with the World. I thank you for sharing and stringing together the Oracle, Chinese philosophy, and the Dao.
Auspicious Blessings to you and yours!
It reminds me of non-attachment from the yoga sutras, thank you for this video. I have been thinking about this concept of self practice today
Close, yet so far to Go! Who can Fathom it's Depths. The North Star, The Void i speak volumes into~🙏
Thanks for the share sister , very nice real nice 🌹 . In deed you are a rare gem in a world of darkness ….. thank you for your generosity …..
be well sister ✝️
I Really Like your Energy which i guess Come from the Heaven itself 🙏✨
This one was such a beautiful and enlightening watch! thank you for all your hard work in synthesizing such great info together for us!
Thank you for the explanation of characters into English. The nuance I found very helpful.
Love this! Thanks for making this! Your work has been so helpful in my own journey!
The juxtaposition of Sun and Mei, in my readings, has played out as 'palace intrigue'. Specifically, I used the I Ching daily during Covid, to ask if a boy of about 20 years was sleeping with his BF / roomate in a marriage type of way. If you see what I mean. The answers I got were extraordinarily interesting, occasionally satirical, probably rightly so. There is no way for the I Ching to answer yes or no on this topic, but I got some readings that were perplexing: the "house frau" characterisation was ambiguous. Over all: its hard to say for sure, they were certainly "playing house" ; is the connotation intercourse or not? There are no witnesses, which is why I was asking the I Ching.
Some of the frequent answers were: "sameness of people", "conformity", the separation of Heaven and Earth ~ or the absence of communion with Heaven, and also this theme of 2 women quarrelling in the same house, characterized by Sun / Mei. You could summarize by saying wisdom quarrels with youth, or that the separate POV implied, was leading to this outcome of schism, by way of materialistic narcissism. Whether all of that equals what it seems to be from the outside - there is no "proof", nobody knows. Not even the I Ching, definitively.
My over all takeaway ~ this is going to sound jaded, but I just think promiscuity is so pointless. Its like a cloud; one day its there, the next day its gone. But its so frustrating. And anti-thetical to the "Way of Heaven", in dozens of ways. Eventually I just gave up asking the oracle about it and more or less abandoned the friendship also. Covid was a tough time, Im still recovering ~ maybe I just got overly involved because of circumstance?
The dao slowly takes over as we understand and apply these principles effortlessly. Thank you for the wealth of knowledge and insight you give to the world. ❤
Thank you darlin' ~ blessed ✨🐝!
Thank you, that was a good lesson on Taoist virtue
What a wonderful video. It is just wonderful to see such a well-researched, elegantly presented documentary!! I particularly love the fond of the characters of the cited passages. They are just beautiful!! The video also articulates the concept of 天道 and its connection with the I Ching very well!! It is so wonderful to see your unique reading of I Ching and Tao Te Ching from a very different perspective from spirituality!!
It is a rather trivial issue regarding classification of Confucianism and Taoism. The two schools were branded much later during the Han Dynasty. From what I have read so far on the history and philosophy texts, I believe both Confucianism and Taoism draw substantially from I Ching to articulate their theories of politics, ethics, and cosmology.
Yes, re: the classification of Taoism and Confucianism! Personally just found comparing the texts to be interesting! And thank you for your kind words and support for my passion. ❤
You read this very well, thank you!!
Insightful presentation
I really like the part about bring forth your contribution and make your graceful exit. Let your contribution determine it’s function.
Not too long ago I was told by Iching heaven declares a change in mandate and align yourself with heaven and will over the people. This months message talked about catching three types of game.
I'm slow on uptake. I'll have to come back to this more than once.
Very cool! Thank you for sharing!
太棒了！ another great sharing! Truly gifted you are.
After listening to this, I’m reminded I am already in Heaven.
No strife = only present here.
so easy to say yet sometimes our 七情六欲 just gets in the way! lol
thank you for sharing again .
Thank you. My take away was to fovus on the aiming of the bow, not the target, though there were a lot of wonderful insights. This to me speaks to how we learn. I always get caught up on how and often did not qant to do a bizillion math problems, as an example. I had been wondering more about how heaven was viewed. This balance seems more realistic to our western understanding of heaven, yet almost unreachable too.
Thank you for this great video! This might be a me issue, but when I listen on my phone your voiceover audio can be a bit too quiet. It’s not a problem outside of the voiceovers. Anyway, thanks again, you’re such a big source of knowledge.
This is the best explanation of main principles I have heard in English, you are very learned in this material. But is there anything to attain ?
Attainment of the Way of Heaven, through our efforts, is the Confucian Way.
Congratulations for explaining these unusual connections between iChing and Tao de jing that are rarely discussed even in Chinese!
Brilliant thank you for sharing ❤
9:33 The Way of Heaven vs The Way of Humanity verses are very touching!
Also, I study a lot of Buddhist sutras, and I am very surprised with the overlapping concept of Tao and Buddhism, like the middle path or the concept of let it go. Your lecture is very informative indeed. Keep it up with good work! 😁
Your videos are amazing! It would be really cool if you can make a series dedicated to introducing Daoist pantheon of gods!
Sending love from 玄 修 宮 道 觀!
26:44 The journey is more important than the destination. Also - the process is more important than the product.
Thank you SO much for this video and all the others recently on the Tao. If I had to choose one take-away, as you requested, for me it would be a paraphrased blend of "walk my own path to do no harm". While I have many translations/interpretations, and have meditated upon them in the past, I sincerely hope that you do indeed find a way in the future to create and publish a book based upon your insights, wisdom, and deep knowledge of this profoundly spiritual subject. Blessings!
Very cool video Benebell!! Loved every minute of it. Thank you for sharing 💐
I absolutely enjoy your channel, I've been trying hard to find more content on historical Taoism apart from the purely philosophical discussions that seem to take place online. Thank you for the work you do and this is fantastic!
Very helpful ❤
New follower - wonderful works, thanks for sharing all this! The Tao Te Ching seems to have helped many to reach the level of Sotāpanna / Stream
Entry & happy to know more and more are learning from it - humanity is def. in need of it!
Beautiful lecture. Thank very much 🙏
Love this channel
Xie Xie Shifu and Sister... love and Dao An. Thank you..
I loved this so much! Thank you for sharing this with us!
Thank you so much
Very good. Making sure your tools in your toolkit are sharp i would like to point out that archery is technically known as a discipline, not sport or skill. Discipline becomes the depth, the way of the archer.
Thank you. I really liked this clip. Power with or without has to be to the benefit of others, otherwise it isn't real power (and this should make the algorithm gods satisfied). 😉
Another great presentation and interpretation.
Yo Benebell, you are an absolute gem. Thank you so much for your in depth research on eastern mysticism. You are loved and appreciated
A brilliant mind wish I could have you as a teacher to study eastern philosophy in greater depth yet for now It shall suffice I have your mind through this medium. Regarding the end justifying the means in line 21:00. There’s a small misconception/contradiction with what you said. The end does not justify the means, contradicts knowing the target before aiming with the bow. What I think this passage is saying truly which you hinted at already is; is “The end justifies the means, Yet the means employed to achieve the end is the most important. This is an entire branch of philosophy called teleology. Which I personally practice and it’s beautiful to see it’s the way of heaven . That is self determination not through force yet sincerity and applied wisdom. You have my sincere gratitude for your continuous efforts love your practice. Looking forward to learning more from you.
Thank you for translating, the text holds so much wisdom. I so enjoyed this visit.
Thank you for stopping by!
Thanks!
Thank you so much!
Thank you, for your teachings 👑💛👑🏵🪄🥰💖
This is amazing. Comparing and discussing the similarities and differences of the Tao with Stoic philosophy would be an incredible video.
What a gift - thank you! This is wonderful.
Absolutely brilliant ❤
Thank you!
To achieve the state of Wu Ji, one must constantly balance yin and yang, using the Taijitu as a map to develop the Virtue of the Tao of Heaven or Wuwei which is the ultimate root of the social virtues delineated by Confucius. Slow and steady like Tai Chi Chuan. Are Qi and Ji the same? How do they differ?
We should include the Lixue 理學 movement from the Song Dynasty. As you say, it can be confusing to newcomers since the Daoist and Confucian “Ways of Heaven” were from different perspectives.
However, history did not end there, and fortunately, these were synthesized by Zhu Xi: there is the Way of Heaven as in Nature’s operation (the general), and there is that Way of Heaven as imparted to man (the specific; our nature; sincerity, etc.). Then there is no contradiction, and easy for learners. As Zhu Xi said:
“Nature” refers to the principle of Heaven that humans receive; “the Way of Heaven” refers to the self-so fundamental essence of heavenly principle-they are essentially the same principle. [Lunyu jizhu 5.13]
性者，人所受之天理；天道者，天理自然之本體，其實一理也。
True words are not sweet, sweet words are not true - Lao Tse.
Sincere benevolence and virtue, appearance of benvolence and virtue.
Of course lao tse gets to the core of the issue here.
Sincerity, authenticity is the way of haven. I'll work on it. Thank you very much. Love from Brazil ❤
The ru perspective = Confucian Perspective.
So I like to translate TaiJi as transendental sometimes too. It is over and beyong Tai and Ji extreme. Beyond all limits is transcendental.
I love the final words on TaiJi and the road or north star. Always enjoy your layered and multidimensional explanations.
Wonderful break down. I really enjoyed this thank u 🙏
Yes Observed, the truth is what I saw and the truth is all I say!☯️🦇🌙🌎📚
Excellent. Thank You
Those who say they understand the way, do not know the way. -Tao Te Ching
Wow so well done 🐒🌈💕🌱🐒🌱🙏🌱👍🌱🎶💃🌱🎶
Excellent video, thank you so much. It is difficult to parse out Confucianism for me.
Amazing!
Revelation 21
King James Version
21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.