William Martin's Blog

Retreat Reflections

My Friends,

I am still on an extended retreat, however I don’t want to lose touch with my broader community – my friends from around the world. Although I am living in a somewhat isolated mountain cabin with my beloved Nancy, I am nonetheless part of the Real World.

By, “Real World,” of course I do not mean the world presented by media, social or otherwise. I mean the world of earth, sky, water, air, wood, fire, and all living beings, seen and unseen, spirits, guides, energies – and most of all the Light that shines without a shadow; that lies beyond the dualities of yin and yang and is the Cosmic Love in which all life unfolds.

I have come to understand that, although I have followed, metaphorically, Lao-Tzu over the Hangu pass into the western mountains, I am still part to the Flow of Life that connects everything together. From that perspective, I want to share with you in a new manner for the coming years – not as a teacher or author, but as a friend who is exploring new territory. Everything I thought I knew is up for grabs and I am hoping to find my way, a step at a time, into a New World, (Which is actually the Real World that has been here waiting throughout the ages of humanity).

I would enjoy being in community with you through an on-line journal that will be available at this link: A Taoist Mountain Journal I’m going to write and share on that site as directly and honestly as I am able. It is all I have left to give. I hope it is of some “butterfly effect” benefit to the Whole.

Again, my new journal site will be: A Taoist Mountain Journal

Blessings,

Bill

(The site you are on now, Freedom Simplicity and Joy will continue to carry my older essays and books.)

Confirmation Bias

When we forget who we truly are, we turn to external rules to define goodness and morality. When we no longer live from our heart, we search for clever strategies to guide our actions. This is only a pretense of life Duty and loyalty become substitutes for our inability to love ourselves and others. Then…

Longest Time

I just can’t help myself. I had to share this with my followers. Blessings to all of us! Bill This link should take you to a wonderful social distancing choral group singing to new lyrics to a Billy Joel song – For the Longest Time. https://enchantmentathamilton.org/202...

We Are Her/She Is Us

Everything that exists was born of the feminine principle within the Tao. This mysterious principle can be called, “the mother of All.” There is no need to weary ourselves in an effort to find her. She is ever with us because she is us. From The Tao Te Ching, Chapter 6, interpretation by William Martin…

Open Heart

Chapter 10 – According to Our Nature – Tao Te Ching, interpretation by William Martin Can we embrace both the acceptable and unacceptable parts of ourselves? Can we breathe as easily as innocent babies? Can we see the world clearly and without judgment? Can we act with loving-kindness yet remain unknown and unsung? Can we…

Energy From the Void

Walking this path, we experience inexhaustible energy. From what appears an empty void, we find the bounty of life. Our edginess, tension, anger, and turmoil begin to settle down. In their place we find a deep tranquility, that has been here waiting since before the beginning of beginning-less time.     Chapter 4 of The Tao Te…

July 15, 2020 – Tao Chapter 2

Today I am working with the second chapter of The Tao Te Ching (from A Path and a Practice by William Martin) Chapter 2 – Opposites Beauty cannot exist without ugliness. Virtue cannot exist without vice. Living, we know death. Struggling, we know ease. Rising high, we know the depths. Being quiet, we understand noise.…

No Longer an Option

Circumstances beyond my control (as are all circumstances!) have led me to modify the parameters of my “retreat.” The Tipping Point which many have warned was approaching is no longer theoretical. It has come. And we must all find ways to return to the deeper and wiser angels of our souls in order to navigate…

Cloud-Hidden

Hello friends, I have always enjoyed the title of one of Alan Watts’ books – Cloud Hidden, Whereabouts Unknown. It speaks to me of the peace and rest that anonymity can bring. Public life holds a certain kind of helpfulness, however for an older person, public life can work contrary to the essences of that…

Connected

During this time of health concerns most of us are more physically isolated than ever before in our experience, yet I notice an amazing paradox. In a deeper, more mysterious manner, we seem to be connecting at a deeper level with everything and everyone. Relationships we took for granted are now precious and we are…