Tao Art Thou

TAO

ART

THOU

When you read at the start 'The Tao that can be
expressed is not the real eternal TAO', you wonder if the
text is about anything at all.

In the Christian heritage we have a word similar to Tao
(pronounced DOW rhyming with bough) which means
other - THOU. We are part of that other.

ART was the work of the alchemists and the expression
of the mystic craft.

When they asked the Buddha questions about God and
the meaning of existence he remained silent. When
Taoists are asked about the ineffable they will utter only
apparent nonsense because that is the Way . . .

TAO
ART
THOU
but not senses

nor sense

not given thought

not fact
not fiction
TAO
ART

THOU
Let us give way

to immensity without size

Let us imagine the unsought thought

Let us live
in a moment
fully

dead to that moment
for TAO THOU ART

Tao sees through Thou

ART THOU TAO
No
Yes
Silence

Familiar as the back

of the hand unseen
till the moment of experience

TAO
THOU
Smile

Chuckle

Laugh

THOU TAO
THOU TAO

the old slow beggar
tree falling skyward from the autumn leaf
living fire dancing with the water
Reflect

All ART TAO
All ART THOU

You the most precious
important thing

Nothing!

Beyond nothing?
nothing more
than the most important precious
Free of emptiness
or thoughts of thinking

Wandering in the wind
that does not hear

no one sees
the invisible

not there
TAO
THOU

Form will dissipate
is it ceaseless

the bowers
ripple

and scatter
astonishment

THOU THE TAO

Ed Jason

1997