Compassion: The Combination of Virtues
Taoists believe our true and original nature is one where our body is at peace and we are full of positive virtues. Each of these virtues relate to the major organs of the body. Taoist healing philosophy believes emotions are generated and stored in the organs. (And, when the organs overflow with emotions, the excess energy is stored in the bones, muscles, tendons, and anywhere else in the body).
The positive emotions and virtues can categorized generally, as love (the heart), gentleness (the kidneys), kindness (the liver), honesty (the lungs), and trust (the spleen). These can be created in the body by practicing them in real life to our family, friends, neighbors, and strangers. They can also be created in the body through meditation, where we focus on feeling those qualities in the organs—for instance, saying the words while we flood the organ with awareness.
We can find our way back to our original nature, again, through conscious practice, through life beating us down until we surrender, through old age and realizing our time is limited, or some form of cosmic accident that causes sudden enlightenment. (Mayne don’t bank on hitting the lottery with the last option). Taoists believe that the result of the combination of all the positive virtues is compassion. This can be a feeling of true love for, and connectedness with, all things. Practicing virtues over time can lead to this state in a predictable and lasting way—rather than an accident that we don’t know how to re-create.
Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love one another right now.
Learn more:
The Alchemist’s Tao Te Ching:
Transforming Your Lead Into Gold