the Master can keep giving because there is no end to her wealth

Keeping with the Wealth theme, I'm sharing some food for thought soul to set the stage from Byron Katie's new book, A Thousand Names for Joy: Living in Harmony with the Ways Things Are without my own two cents commentary.  (Plenty of time for that.)

Her book is divided into the 81 teachings from the Tao Te Ching in Katie's modern lexicon and her everyday examples. This post headline "The Master can keep giving because there is no end to her wealth" is from the teaching numbered 77 (as translated from Chinese by her husband, Stephen Mitchell). I also like this other translation of 77:

"The way of the ordinary person,
is not the way of the Tao,
for such people take from those who are poor
and give to those who are rich.
The sage knows that his possessions are none,
therefore he gives to the world;
without recognition, doing his work.
In this way he accomplishes
that which is required of him;
without dwelling upon it in any way,
he gives of his wisdom without display."
- Tao Te Ching, as translated by Stan Rosenthal

While I'm at it, pssssst, Bryon Katie now has a blog (and this is her post about The Secret in "The Difference between The Work and The Secret" ). And now on to the snippet I wanted to share (complete excerpt from chapter 77 here):

"The story “I need more money” is what keeps you from realizing your wealth. Whenever you think that your needs are not being met, you're telling the story of a future. Right now, you're supposed to have exactly as much money as you have right now. This is not a theory; this is reality. How much money do you have? That's it - you're supposed to have exactly that amount. If you don't believe it, look at your checkbook. How do you know when you're supposed to have more? When you do. How do you know when you're supposed to have less? When you do. Realizing this is true abundance. It leaves you without a care in the world, as you look for a job, go to work, take a walk, or notice that the cupboard is bare.

The heart can sing, can't it! That's why you wanted money in the first place. Well, you can skip the money part, and just sing. It doesn't mean you won't have money too. Can you do it for richer or poorer, as the world sees it?

I love having money, and I love not having it. To me, spending money is nothing more than passing on what didn't belong to me in the first place. There's nothing I can do to keep it away, as long as it needs to be passed on. If it doesn't need to be passed on, there's no need for it to come. I love that it comes in, and I love that it goes out.

When I receive money, I am thrilled, because I'm fully aware that it's not mine. I'm just a channel, I'm not even the caretaker. I get to be an observer of it, to see what it's for. The moment I get it from over there, a need for it pops up over here. I love giving money. I never lend people money; I give them money, and they call it a loan. If they repay it, that's when I know it was a loan." - Byron Katie, A Thousand Names for Joy: Living in Harmony with the Ways Things Are

images Susan Berns - 1970, by Mati Klarwein - amazing sacredly luscious art, a must see!!; and this photo? well, I'm fiercely missing Nawlins is all, & that's a crawfish boil

Comments

[donna]

For some real fun, try giving money away, and watch how fast it comes back to you. ;^)

[Evelyn Rodriguez]

I wholeheartedly agree. My Wealth started turning around (but this isn't about quid pro quo) when I gave without strings attached to (a) whatever/whoever spiritually fed me whether that was a trio belting their harmonica and voices on the streets the French Quarter from their soul this Easter Sunday or whether it's the owners of a magical synchronicity community hub/cafe etc etc or (b) and those who walk up to me out of the blue - especially when there is a crowd and they single me out - You need $3 for the washing machine at the shelter, sure. I figure there is no accident they've asked me for help. I try to make sure to give to those that also have similar philosophy of flow & sharing, and refrain from buying or giving to those whom would cut this flow and hoard it for their own sense of "security".

This philosophy is clearly illustrated in the true story inspired book, The Diamond Cutter.