IMAGINE a world without acquisition for ego's sake.

We know how the aim of the unchecked ego is EVER to gain, acquire, and surround itself with trophies of its accomplishments. Can this be reversed? Can we live for others instead of living only to feed our desire for more accomplishments, more acquisitions, more ego-assisted schemes?

The answer is a resounding YES, WE CAN! My translation of this verse aims to show how "taxing" it is to live for, serve, and purchase for only for one's Self. We can "UN-Self".

Here’s an important announcement: Next week, I will have a bonus episode, that addresses some of the main and neglected themes of this Tao Te Ching text. Hopefully it’ll be enriching. The following week, we'll turn to Verse 11.

This podcast is an original labor of love, designed, written, and co-produced by many, whose central idea is that Tao te Ching is good news for today. Tao still speaks. Audrey Davis is our artist. Molly Hartwell sings her song, “Put Your Roots Down.” Fortress Press holds the copyright for quotations from my Tao Te Ching translation. Thanks to you for your attendance in this class on Taoism.

May your days begin in peace, and become wombs for radical hope.