Hiking in Virginia (Summer)

I read Chapter 26 of the Tao te Ching (translated by William Martin – A Path and a Practice). I walk for five days, leaving Rockfish Gap and walking over Humback Mountain and to the top of Three Ridges Mountain. Then I return.

”Because this path is deeply rooted,

it allows us to be light hearted

and not take ourselves too seriously.”

[it is raining….hard]

“Because this path is stable,

it allows us to act without rashness.”

“So, whatever we do,

we do not abandon ourselves.”

“Even though the world provides

endless worries and distractions,

we remain unconcerned and content.”

“We have everything we could want “

“Why should we scurry about?”

Why…

[i am hiking up Three Ridges Mountain….south of Rockfish Gap]

”Why would we scurry about”

[top of Three Ridges]

”looking for something else.”

”Only if we lose touch with our true nature”

[i am on Cedar Cliffs…..the rain, which continued all day and night and also the next day….has ended]

”Only if we have lost tough with our true nature,

are we trapped in agitation and hurry.”

[A guy told me that two rattlesnakes were here about ten minutes ago]

”Only if we lose touch. with our true nature

are we trapped in agitation and hurry.”

How do you find your true nature?

The  path is long and rocky. I pass a graveyard, left by the people who lived in these mountains many years before. They lived simple, rugged lives.

How do you find your true nature? Look within.

I reach Rockfish Gap.

Puyo, Ecuador (2)-chapter 23

We are in Puyo, Ecuador, in the Amazon Rain Forest. I read Chapter 23 of the Tao te Ching, translated by Steven Mitchell. We visit Zoorefugio Tarqui, a place that aids injured and sick wild animals.

“Express yourself completely,
then keep quiet.”

“Be like the forces of nature:
when it blows, there is only wind;”

“When it rains, there is only rain;
when the clouds pass, the sun shines through.”

“If you open yourself to the Tao,
you are at one with the Tao.”

“and you can embody it completely.”

“If you open yourself to insight,”

“You are at one with insight”

“and you can use it completely.”

“If you open yourself to loss,”

“You are at one with loss”

“and you can accept it completely.”

“Open yourself to the Tao,
then trust your natural responses;
and everything will fall into place.”

Puyo, Ecuador (1) – Chapter 22

We are in Puyo, Ecuador, in the Amazon Rain Forest. I read Chapter 22 of the Tao te Ching, tranlated by Steven Mitchell.

“If you want to become whole,
let yourself be partial.”

We are at the Etnobotánico Omaere Parque, a place dedicated to preserving the medicinal plants of the Amazon Rain Forest. We watch a presentation about the Schuar and the Waorani.

“If you want to become straight,
let yourself be crooked.”

Making fire

“f you want to become full,
let yourself be empty.”

Hand washing

“If you want to be reborn,
let yourself die.”

“If you want to be given everything,
give everything up.”

Some Waorani people came to the center. They offered to provide an authentic presentation about their culture, dressed as they dress typically. Our host warned us that typically they wear no clothes and asked us if this would be okay. We explained that we would not be able to post such a presentation on-line. Our host suggested that the Waorani merely sing some of their songs.

They remained dressed in their “tourist” clothes. Our host explained that some Waorani, in the past, had been curious regarding what people with clothes wanted to hide. In a rain forest environment, clothes do not dry.

“The Master, by residing in the Tao,
sets an example for all beings.”

‘Because he doesn’t display himself,
can see his light.”

‘Because he has nothing to prove,
people can trust his words.”

“Becsuse he doesn’t know who he is,
people recognize themselves in him.”

“Because he has no goal in mind,
everything he does succeeds.”

“When the ancient Masters said, ‘If you want to be given everything,
give everything up,’
they weren’t using empty phrases.”

“Only in being lived by the Tao can you be truly yourself.”

The Waorani want to show us a wedding ceremony but the students do not want to get married. Our host suggests that Karen and I get re-married. We look at each other and say, “Okay.” Our host takes wedding photos.

We are married.

Baños, Ecuador (1) Chapter 24

We take the bus to Baños.

We are in Baños, Ecuador. I read Chaptet 24 of the Tao te Ching, translated by Steven Mitchell.

We are in the market on Sunday.

We walk around the town.

‘He who stands on tiptoe
doesn’t stand firm.”

walking

“He who rushes ahead
doesn’t go far.”

We take a bus to the Casa del Arbol (tree house) where Karen swings at the earth’s end.

“He who tries to shine
dims his own light.”

view from the Casa de Arbol

We look out from the tree house windows.

“He who defines himself
can’t know who he really is.”

“He who has power over others
can’t empower himself.”

“He who clings to his work
will create nothing that endures.”

“If you want to accord with the Tao,
just do your job, then let go.”

We try the zip line.

back to swinging

Iyarina Research Station (3) Chapter 21

Rio Napo

We are at the Iyarina Research Station in the Ecuadorian Amazon Rain Forest. I read Chapter 21 of the Tao te Ching, translated by Steven Mitchell.

“The master keeps her mind
always at one with the Tao;
that is what gives her her radiance.”

We follow a little girl who shows us the way to the view.

“The Tao is ungraspable.”

“How can her mind be at one with it?
Because she doesn’t cling to ideas.”

climbing

climbing

view

I walk in the jungle.

“Tao is dark and unfathomable.
How can it make her radiant?”

“Because she lets it.”

“Since before time and space were,
the Tao is.”

returning to the station

“It is beyond is and is not.”

“How do I know this is true?”

“I look inside myself and see.”

Iyarina Resesrch Station (2) Chapter 20

We are at the Iyarina Research Station in the Amazon Rain Forest of Ecuador. We visit the town of Misahualli and the women’s community center, Shiripuno.

Napo River – out our window.

We walk to the shaman’s house and see ants.

shaman’s house

Iyarina Research Station, Ecuador (1) – Chapter 19

We are by the Napo River at the Estación Cientifica Iyarina (Iyarina Research Station).

We look out of our room at the Napo River

I read Chapter 19 of the Tao te Ching, translated by Steven Mitchell.

(1) We watch a butterfly in the jungle.

A graduate student shows us a poisonous frog and a non-poisonous frog which has evolved to look like the poisonous frog. A frog gets away but she re-catches it.

It is not poisonous.

The local people use the poison from the poisonous frog on the tips of their blow gun darts.

demonstration of the blow dart gun

The chapter:

Throw away holiness and wisdom,
and people will be a hundred times happier.

(4) https://youtu.be/moFXY-3JE8s

Throw away morality and justice,
and people will do the right thing.

(4) We take shelter during the rain.

Throw away industry and profit,
and there won’t be any thieves.

Napo River

We look at the web of the community spiders, a species studied at the center. I touch the web with my pole to see how the spiders move.

(16) A graduate student conducts an experiment. Using a special devise, he vibrates the community spider web and documents how long it takes for the spiders to react and how many react.

“If these three aren’t enough,
just stay at the center of the circle
and let all things take their course.”

Napo River

We watch a shaman prepare for a ritual.

He stands before the sacred rocks.

xxx

The shaman blows tobacco smoke over the sacred rocks.

Drinking ayahuasca.

He drinks ayahuasca.

preparing the stones

whistling in the darkness.

singing

blessing

Tena, Ecuador – Chapter 18

We are in Tena, Ecuador, in the Amazon Rain Forest. I read Chapter 18 of the Tao te Ching, translated by Steven Mitchell.

When the great Tao is forgotten,
goodness and piety appear.

When the body’s intelligence declines,
cleverness and knowledge step forth.

“Are tapirs dangerous?” Karen askes. “Don’t get too close!”

When there is no peace in the family,
filial piety begins.

When the country falls into chaos,
patriotism is born.

We hike in the Amazon Park by the river in Tina.

A monkey jumps on the roof while Karen is inside.

walking

walking

by the river

walking home

in the hotel

hotel

unfinished path in park

quito (2) , Chapter 17

We are in Quito, Ecuador. I read Chapter 17 of the Tao te Ching, translated by Steven Mitchell.

When the Master governs, the people
are hardly aware that he exists.

Next best is a leader who is loved.

Next, one who is feared.

The worst is one who is despised.

If you don’t trust the people,
you make them untrustworthy.

miracles

quito, ecuador (1)- Chapter 16

We are in Quito, Ecuador.

I read Chapter 16 of the Tao te Ching, translated by Steven Mitchell.

We are walking in the Historic District…visiting churches. We visit the Quito Cathedral.

“Empty your mind of all thoughts.
Let your heart be at peace.”

The gargoyles on the Cathedral were made to represent the local animals of Ecuador rather than the imaginary figures of Europe.

Watch the turmoil of beings,
but contemplate their return.

Each separate being in the universe
returns to the common source.
Returning to the source is serenity.

If you don’t realize the source,
you stumble in confusion and sorrow.

When you realize where you come from,
you naturally become tolerant,

disinterested, amused,

kindhearted as a grandmother,

(we climb the hill to the largest aluminum statue in the world…the Virgin Mary with wings…the Virgin de el Panecillo)

dignified as a king.

Immersed in the wonder of the Tao,
you can deal with whatever life brings you,

and when death comes, you are ready.

church alter

levitation of the saint