The TOA of Water

Snake River at Twin Falls, Idaho  photo by: b.dowd

During recent readings I came across a description of water as percieved by Taoist... DENG MING-DAO,paraphrased it goes something like this. Water is flowing.  Every drop is made of the same substance. Water never fears being divided, because it knows it will flow back together in time. It is eternal. Water is powerful. Although it can be soothing, comforting, and cleansing, it can also be enormous, mighty and overpowering. Its nature is constant. It is true to itself at any extreme...Water is unafraid.  From any height, it will plunge fearlessly down. It will fall and not be injured.  Water is balanced. No matter what the situation is, water will seek its own level as soon as it is left alone. Water will always flow downward to the most stable level. It conforms to any situation in a balanced way. Water is nourishing. Without water, no plant and no living creature could survive.  Water is still. Water can be completely still, and in its stillness, mirror heaven perfectly.  Water is pure.  It is transparent, clear, needing neither adornment nor augmentation. For all of these features-to be flowing, powerful, profound, unafraid, balanced, nourishing, still and pure-one who would follow Toa only need emulate water in every way.  Deng Ming-Dao, Everyday TAO