Living Tao Quotes

“A tree does not complain
That the earth is too dry or too rough
That the rains do not come often
With patience, forgiveness and harmony
It does its best... fulfilling its mission.”
― Ilchi Lee, Living Tao: Timeless Principles for Everyday Enlightenment

“No matter how much people recognize you, or how popular you are with them, you will be unhappy unless you acknowledge yourself. True recognition does not only come from those around you or the world. It comes when you recognize and love yourself”
― Ilchi Lee, Living Tao: Timeless Principles for Everyday Enlightenment

“In reality, we don’t die, but merely change. Energy reveals and hides itself repeatedly as it flows along. The flame of life flickers on and off, again and again. How could the flame going out for a brief time signify extinction? There is no life and death separate from the infinite life energy of the cosmos. The phenomena of life energy merely change and cycle in accordance with the law of infinite energy.”
― Ilchi Lee, Living Tao: Timeless Principles for Everyday Enlightenment

“Understanding is very different from knowing. Understanding is a psychological process of perceiving an object through reason. It is, in a sense, conceptualizing an object. But an object cannot be fully comprehended by conceptual understanding alone. Knowing is not thinking artificially or mobilizing rational logic. It is a state in which you come to obviously and plainly know, without trying to get it right.”
― Ilchi Lee, Living Tao: Timeless Principles for Everyday Enlightenment

“Emotions are like waves rising on the ocean of the ind. Waves are part of the ocean, but not the ocean itself. Even an ocean whose surface is wracked by fierce wind and rain contains great calm in its depth. In the same way, a deep,bright seat of the mind lies beyond our stormy emotions.”
― Ilchi Lee, Living Tao: Timeless Principles for Everyday Enlightenment

“Honesty is proportional to clarity of soul and brightness of consciousness. Being honest allows your soul to be clear and your consciousness to be bright. Genuine honesty, therefore, is not for winning recognition from others, but for getting recognition from ourselves and for recognizing our conscience within. Honesty makes us honorable in our own eyes.”
― Ilchi Lee, Living Tao: Timeless Principles for Everyday Enlightenment

“Although it can hurt to experience painful relationships with others, it is through these struggles that we grow more rapidly. By reflecting on those relationships, we can observe our habits and motivations, both positive and negative. We can set clear goals about the kind of person we want to be and slowly work to change our habits, and our relationships as a result. In this process, we develop a virtuous character that acts harmoniously with others.”
― Ilchi Lee, Living Tao: Timeless Principles for Everyday Enlightenment

“First, you must remain true to your values and priorities. Never violate your personal values or principles simply in order to get money. This may involve adopting such traits as always acting with honesty, integrity, and compassion in how you make your money; not doing harm to others; and being transparent in your goals and objectives.”
― Ilchi Lee, Living Tao: Timeless Principles for Everyday Enlightenment

“True communion with nature becomes possible when the energy sense is turned on and heightened. You’re moved by the sounds of a bird singing in the morning, and you can feel the principles of nature even in a single leaf falling with its back to the setting sun. You come to realize that you were never alone, that you have always been breathing surrounded by the massive energy of life.”
― Ilchi Lee, Living Tao: Timeless Principles for Everyday Enlightenment

“No matter how good your eyesight, if you don’t open your eyes, you will not see anything. So too with the Tao. Everyone has eyes to see the Tao, but opening those eyes is a separate issue. The Tao is there, in that place beyond the limits of rational logic, judgment, ideas, and ego. To see the Tao, we must take away the blindfold of judgment, ideas, and ego that blinds our eyes.”
― Ilchi Lee, Living Tao: Timeless Principles for Everyday Enlightenment

“Consider precious your fundamental questions about life. Love that heart that holds doubt: Is this really all there is? Continue to dig into that mind. When your thirst for the Tao grows sharper and sharper and, like an arrow, pierces your soul, your eyes for seeing the Tao will start to open, like a chick breaking through its shell to emerge from its egg.”
― Ilchi Lee, Living Tao: Timeless Principles for Everyday Enlightenment

“If you awaken to this moment, the here and now, then you will know that great peace is generated from a sense of being, and from a connection with the Tao. When you clearly understand and experience the Now, you can create your own happiness through your connection with the divine, your True Self.”
― Ilchi Lee, Living Tao: Timeless Principles for Everyday Enlightenment

“Love from your heart. Allow love to flow from your heart, like the pure, clear waters of a rushing stream. Standing water putrefies and gives off a foul odor. In the same way, selective, closed love fills your heart with frustration. Love from the heart is unconditional love, an open thing that is offered widely and freely.”
― Ilchi Lee, Living Tao: Timeless Principles for Everyday Enlightenment

“Humanity is part of the cosmic family. All creation is within heaven and earth, but humanity has been given the added responsibility of protecting and caring for our cosmic parents. Humanity suffers when we destroy heaven and earth. Only when we show respect and courtesy toward our cosmic parents can we truly walk the path of the Tao.”
― Ilchi Lee, Living Tao: Timeless Principles for Everyday Enlightenment

“A good basic character should be developed even before discussing enlightenment or the growth of your soul. That’s why Zen initiates developed their basic character traits through nine years of study—three years of cleaning, three years of firewood collecting and cutting, and three years of cooking. Teachings on the Tao were transmitted only to those who had successfully cultivated such character in themselves.”
― Ilchi Lee, Living Tao: Timeless Principles for Everyday Enlightenment

“The Tao is the ultimate truth and substance of life. It is what all of humanity’s spiritual seekers have
been pursuing, and it is complete oneness. It is the principle of life energy flowing behind all things in the cosmos, and it is the ultimate wholeness to which all things, on becoming one, return. Although it is all things in existence, the Tao is also the source and background that causes them to exist.”
― Ilchi Lee, Living Tao: Timeless Principles for Everyday Enlightenment