Home > Author > Ming-Dao Deng

Ming-Dao Deng QUOTES

Ming-Dao Deng QUOTES

1 " All teachings are mere references. The true experience is living your own life. Then, even the holiest of words are only words. "

― Ming-Dao Deng

2 " If you have a good idea, use it so that you will not only accomplish something, but so that you can make room for new ones to flow into you. "

― Ming-Dao Deng , Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony

3 " The idea that each of us can be directly spiritual is radical. Most religions are based not on teaching adherents to be directly spiritual, but in persuading them to trust in the intercession of ministers or priests. The problem with this approach is that we cannot gain access to spirituality except through the medium of a fallible human being. If we want to see Tao, we need only open our eyes and trust what we see. "

― Ming-Dao Deng

4 " Who you are is always right. "

― Ming-Dao Deng , Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony

5 " Markings in dry clay disappear
Only when the clay is soft again.
Scars upon the self disappear
Only when one becomes soft within. "

― Ming-Dao Deng

6 " Those who don't know how to suffer are the worst off. There are times when the only correct thing we can do is to bear out troubles until a better day. "

― Ming-Dao Deng , Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony

7 " Grappling with fate is like meeting an expert wrestler: to escape, you have to accept the fall when you are thrown. The only thing that counts is whether you get back up. "

― Ming-Dao Deng , Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony

8 " We may be floating on Tao, but there is nothing wrong with steering. If Tao is like a river, it is certainly good to know where the rocks are. "

― Ming-Dao Deng , Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony

9 " It is too facile to say that the way to follow Tao is to simply go along with the flow of life. Sometimes, like the carp, we must know when to go it alone. "

― Ming-Dao Deng , Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony

10 " The moon does not fight. It attacks no one. It does not worry. It does not try to crush others. It keeps to its course, but by its very nature, it gently influences. What other body could pull an entire ocean from shore to shore? The moon is faithful to its nature and its power is never diminished. "

― Ming-Dao Deng , Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony

11 " What is it like to feel Tao? It is an effortless flowing, a sweeping momentum. It is like bird song soaring and gliding over a vast landscape. You can feel this in your life: Events will take on a perfect momentum, a glorious cadence. You can feel it in your body: The energy will rise up in you in a thrilling crescendo, setting your very nerves aglow. You can feel it in your spirit: You will enter a state of such perfect grace that you will resound over the landscape of reality like ephemeral bird song.

When Tao comes to you in this way, ride it for all that you are worth. Don't interfere. Don't stop - that brings failure, alienation, and regret. Don't try to direct it. Let it flow and follow it. When the Tao is with you, put aside all other concerns. As long as the song lasts, follow. Just follow. "

― Ming-Dao Deng , 365 Tao: Daily Meditations

12 " Expression is never helped by suppression. "

― Ming-Dao Deng , Everyday Tao: Living with Balance and Harmony

13 " Whether we remain the ash or become the phoenix is up to us. "

― Ming-Dao Deng

14 " Those truly linked don't need correspondence. When they meet again after many years apart, Their friendship is as true as ever. "

― Ming-Dao Deng

15 " You may be capable of great things,
But life consists of small things. "

― Ming-Dao Deng

16 " Reject labels. Reject identities. Reject conformity. Reject convention. Reject definitions. Reject names. "

― Ming-Dao Deng , 365 Tao: Daily Meditations

17 " Every day passes whether you participate or not. "

― Ming-Dao Deng , 365 Tao: Daily Meditations

18 " Keep life simple… turn toward the divine. It satisfies, it brings knowledge, and it brings joy. "

― Ming-Dao Deng

19 " Whatever comes to you, you must engage it somehow. You receive it, you may alter the circumstance and let it go, you may interject something of your own into it, or you may knowingly let it pass. Whatever you do, there is no need to be apathetic toward life. Instead, full participation in all things is the surest way to happiness, vitality, success, and a deep knowledge of Tao. "

― Ming-Dao Deng , 365 Tao: Daily Meditations

20 " Life is a constant series of opportunities. If we don’t reach out for things, if we don’t take advantage of what comes our way, then we cannot be in harmony with the essential nature of life. "

― Ming-Dao Deng , 365 Tao: Daily Meditations