Living in Harmony with Lao Tzu's wisdom

 

The Tao-Te-Ching, by the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, gives us timeless lessons on living wisely and peacefully. His lessons shows Humility, Tranquility, Patience, and the close connection between humans and the natural environment. Although his ideas belong to the past, they still strike us very strongly today.

He taught that genuine strength is found in Humility rather than in force or pride. Rising is made possible by grounded behavior. When we bend, we stay whole. Accepting our restrictions helps to strengthen us really. Release of the need for validation or control unlocks inner Peace. While someone who always yearns more may never be genuinely happy, a person who wants little finds fulfillment. The wise person stays out of the appearance. Avoiding rivalry makes them seem not threatening and their subdued presence motivates others. Because they don't brag, their influence persists and glows more brilliantly in the hearts of those nearby.

Advocate for Peace, Lao Tzu is against violence. He noted that armies create only misery, poverty, and hardship. Though a conflict produces success, it should never call for celebration. A great leader never acts out of a need to dominate, supports without pride, and helps others without expecting recognition. Warfare and weapons show that something has gone wrong. A sensible man stays away from them and uses them only as a last resort, even then with a heavy heart rather than with delight.

Lao Tzu claims that the ultimate knowledge comes from self-awareness. Knowing others might make you smart, but understanding your own heart is what really makes you wise. Although overpowering others could show your authority, winning over yourself exposes actual power. The genuinely rich are those who take pleasure in what they possess. Those who do not pursue recognition or popularity live in quiet. Those who live simply and are true to their principles will have a fulfilling and significant life.

Lao Tzu made a great observation: one basic principle guides everything in our world and this is the Tao. Because they are connected with this invisible force, the heavens, the earth, rivers, animals, and even kings all exist. Should the heavens lose their tranquility, it could break. The earth might split if it is not stable. Once we cut this link, we lose our balance. To keep their strength, leaders need to be humble. What is elevated should be supported by what is low. Emerging from the deepest valleys are the highest peaks. Being grounded is the basis of actual greatness.

Each person determines the beginning of a harmonious world. We become more powerful when we feed our inner selves. This force spreads to our families, our surroundings, and ultimately the whole planet. Leading by example rather than coercion is what a good person does. Their actions rather than lectures provide instruction. According to Lao Tzu, people find their own paths when they are let to grow naturally; but, kings who try to control too much or in a dictatorial way sow only disorder.

Early action he said would prevent problems from growing. Beginning as a small seed, a tree opens its branches. Every great voyage starts with a little step. Many people quit right before they become successful since they lose interest at the end. But if we treat the last step with the same care as the first, we'll witness our efforts through to completion. The wise man acts without pursuing honours. They observe things that others missed. They review forgotten material. They seek what most don't wish for, so they live with clarity.

Real leaders become their masters by positioning themselves under the waterways, much like the seas. Likewise, you need to position yourself behind those you hope to lead. You must be willing to listen if you want to lead. Since the intelligent stay away from conflict, nobody fights against them. Others follow willingly because they don't push.

Ultimately, Lao Tzu reminds us that the natural way is both straightforward and soft. Simple words ring true. Elaborate words frequently lack veracity. Someone who is good communicates straight and honestly. Remember, actions speak louder than words!

Leaders and their choice between Light and darkness

Throughout history, people have often faced times of confusion, lies, and crisis. In these moments, good government becomes not just a sort of ideal but something we urgently need. Ancient philosophers and poets like Plato, Solon, and Theognis gave us wisdom that still makes sense today. Even though they wrote long ago, their words help us understand what makes a government just or unjust, especially now when Truth is often twisted, fear is used to control, and technology can dominate instead of help.

In The Republic (Book 6), Plato explains that only true philosophers should rule. He says philosophers are those who understand what is always true and unchanging. They love Truth and hate lies. "The true lover of knowledge must, from childhood, desire Truth above all things." Plato says that only these kinds of people can create fair and good laws. But if leaders are blind to the Truth, if they only chase power and lies, they can never guide a country in the right way. Today, we see a world where many leaders are more interested in money, control, or popularity than in Truth or Justice. Plato's warning seems very real in our time.

Plato also says that these philosopher-rulers should not care much for physical pleasures. Instead, they should care about the soul and about learning. He believes that unless philosophers become rulers, or rulers become philosophers, our world will never be free from problems: "Until philosophers rule as kings... cities will have no rest from evils." This idea fits today, where many in power seem to care more about fame or supremacy than about deep Wisdom.

In another work, Laws (Book 1), Plato says the greatest good is wisdom, and that others which are materialistic, such as wealth, are less important. "He who has the divine has the human added to him; but he who has lost the greater is deprived of both." Morevoer, a wise and fair leader must put Truth, Courage, and Justice first. If not, the laws and the people will suffer. In today's world, we often see the opposite: those with power focus on money or control, and forget higher values.

Besides, In Laws (Book 10), Plato tells us that the Ruler of the Universe has arranged everything to ensure the preservation and perfection of the whole. Every part has a specific role and state of action or experience, and even the smallest action is governed by a guiding principle. Each part of the Universe, no matter how small, exists for the benefit of the entire system. It is emphasised that creations are made for the good of the whole, not for the benefit of any single part. Just as a doctor or an artist works for the good of the whole body or work, each element functions for the common good. Therefore, what is best for one part is also, within the laws of creation, best for the entire Universe. This reminds us that good leaders must think of the common good, not just of themselves or their group. When selfishness rules, society falls apart. Today, when many governments focus on winning or staying in power rather than serving everyone, Plato's words ring true.

Furthermore, the poet Theognis also gives wise advice. In his verses (27-38), he urges his friend Cyrnus to be wise, not to seek glory, honours, or wealth through shameful and unjust actions, to stay close to good people and to avoid the wicked: "If you mix with the bad, you will lose the mind you already have." In our time, where the lines between good and bad are often unclear, and where lies are common, this warning is crucial. Being close to dishonest people can destroy us.

To say nothing of Solon, the famous lawgiver of Athens, gives a strong warning in Fragment 4. He says that bad leadership destroys a city from the inside. He blames greedy leaders who do not know when to stop or how to share fairly. He writes: "The leaders of the people think unjustly... and this causes great pain." Solon describes how injustice spreads like a fire or a disease, touching every home and every person, even those who try to hide. His words remind us of how modern problems, like inequality and corruption, affect all levels of society. "Even if a man should flee into the corner of his inner chamber, it finds him."

However, Solon also praises good government. He says it brings Peace, Fairness, and Balance: "Sound governance shows everything orderly and suitable... straightens crooked judgments, makes prideful deeds, to be mild, arrests the works of dissension, stops the bile of torturous strife, and so it is that through it everything concerning humans is made wise and harmonious." A just system brings harmony, controls greed, and fixes unfairness. These ideas are still true. When laws are fair, people trust each other more. When leaders are honest, people feel safe. But when lies and selfishness take over, trouble grows quickly.

Therefore, taken together, Plato, Theognis, and Solon show us what good and bad government looks like. Together, these voices from antiquity create a composite image of just and unjust governance. The good state is one where leaders are philosophers, guided by Wisdom and an Incorruptible Love of Truth. It is a place where Justice is not merely a legal system but a harmony of soul and society. The bad state, by contrast, is one where leaders are blind, self-serving, or worse, consciously deceiving. It is marked by fear, manipulation, planned wars, planned catastrophes, and an absence of Virtues. Such a state breeds inequality, spiritual degradation, and, as Solon saw, ultimately its own ruin.

Today, as technology expands its grasp over our bodies and thoughts, and as division and fear are amplified for political convenience, we had better remember these ancient guides. Their words caution against the path of tyranny masquerading as progress, of surveillance dressed as safety, and of governance devoid of soul. Perhaps, as Plato suggested, the wise may yet find shelter, waiting for the storm to pass, content only to live rightly in a world gone astray. But even they, as Theognis advised, must cleave to the Good, lest the corruption outside seep silently within.

In this reflective mirror of governance, what we see depends on what we seek: illusion or Truth, tyranny or Wisdom, ruin or Justice.

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https://www.perseus.tufts.edu

https://classicalanthology.theclassicslibrary.com/2019/07/26/justice-and-the-city-solon-fr-4/

Antigone the Heroine of Love

In Sophocles’ tragedies, Antigone shines as a heroine of deep love and unwavering loyalty, even though her fate is marked by sorrow and a dark family history. Born from the tragic union of Oedipus and Jocasta—both her parents—Antigone’s life is shadowed by incest and death. Yet, from this pain rises a woman whose nature is to love, not to hate. In Antigone, line 523, she declares with clarity:

“It is not my nature to join in hate, but in love.”

This short but powerful line reveals Antigone’s deepest truth: she exists to care, to serve, and to give. Her love is not abstract; it is lived out in every action, especially in her devotion to her blind and exiled father, Oedipus, in Oedipus at Colonus. While others turn away from him, she remains by his side, guiding him, speaking for him, comforting him. When he dies, she expresses grief not only for his passing but for the pain of not being there at the final moment:

“One laments the loss of even painful things.

That life for which I felt no love at all

I did love when I held him in my arms.

O my beloved father, now wrapped in the underworld’s eternal darkness,

even though you are no longer here,

my sister and I will love you always.” (Oedipus at Colonus, 1697–1703)

These lines express the paradox of human love, how one can love even despite suffering, especially due to that terrible curse. Antigone’s compassion grows deeper through grief. She does not hide her sorrow; she voices it with aching honesty:

“With tear-filled eyes I still grieve for you,

my father, and in my unhappy state

I do not know how I should relieve

the grief I feel with such intensity.

Alas! You wished to die in a strange land,

but when you died I was not with you.” (Oedipus at Colonus, 1709–1714)

This profound tenderness is also the force behind her most famous act of love: in Antigone, giving a proper burial to her brother Polynices, even though he is considered a traitor by his birthplace. By doing so, Antigone chooses to follow the eternal laws of nature and Divine Justice, not the laws of man. Her gesture is not political, but it is emotional, moral, and sacred. She is moved by love, not by ideology. In this courageous defiance, she honours what she believes is right, that is to say to care for the departed, to respect the bonds of blood, to act out of love.

These words and deeds paint Antigone as a figure of rare emotional depth, filled with tenderness and a desire to serve others through love. Her actions are never selfish. Whether burying her brother in defiance of the law or taking care of and mourning her father in solitude, Antigone gives all of herself, sacrificing her own life.

However, what makes this even more powerful is how Sophocles, a man and a dramatist of ancient Greece, lived during the 5th century BCE, manages to portray such rich inner life in a female character. His writing reveals not only poetic elegance and tragic intensity, but also a rare sensitivity and psychological insight. Antigone’s strength lies not in rebellion alone, but in her heart's immense capacity for love, making her not only a tragic heroine, but a timeless symbol of compassion.

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https://www.perseus.tufts.edu

Vessel of Inestimable Treasures

 

Oh my Marvellous God, You have desired that I strip myself of all that is superfluous. I am human, clothed in this form upon this Earth... Little by little, I free myself from those burdens that bring inconsistent joy, to fully embrace Your True Joy—loving You, serving You, doing Your Will, now and always.

Like a vessel completely emptied of all that belongs to this earthly experience—materialism, fleeting pleasures, and even what we cherish, such as study, work, pastimes, etc.—ready to be filled with what is worthy of Heaven, of Your Eternal Dwelling.

My thoughts soar toward You, in the Hope that I may one day bring this vessel filled with what pleases You.

(11/06/25. 22:25–30)

 

The Cosmic Eden we cannot enter

The Love which moves the Sun and the other stars” (Dante - Paradiso, XXXIII)

Humanity is confined here, on this Earth. Despite our dreams of reaching the stars and other dimensions, of stepping on distant worlds and becoming a cosmic species, we remain trapped on this small blue planet, not by technology, but by our own hearts. The Earth is not our prison, but our mirror. As long as we still bring war to our neighbors, we are not ready to go beyond. If we cannot love those close to us, how could we be entrusted with contact with other civilizations, that is to say those living in Peace, far ahead in Spiritual Evolution?

The book Angels in Starships by Giorgio Dibitonto tells us of a journey to a higher world (chapter 15), a planet of Immense Beauty, Harmony, and Peace, inhabited by beings who live in Total Union with nature and with Divine Laws. The description is simple yet breathtaking: a vibrant world with golden light, lush vegetation, joyful animals, and advanced beings who have chosen Love over hatred. Unlike Earth, no cities dominate the land. Instead, people live immersed in nature, in communities that respect life and the will of our Creator.

Reading this chapter, we are faced with a deep question: What would humanity bring to such a world? Would we bring our love, our peace, our wisdom, our knowledge, our culture, or… our pride, our divisions, our wars? The Truth is painful but clear: we are not ready. As the beings in the story say, these advanced civilizations follow the Universal Law of Love. This law is not only spiritual; it is practical. It is the foundation of their technology, their society, their way of life.

And yet, these beings do not reject us. In the amazing gathering described at the end of the chapter, a shining figure—one who many may recognise as Christ in Celestial Form—speaks of Love, Forgiveness, and the Transformation of Earth. He adds: “Soon I will make all things new.” He declares that the time will come when humanity, purified and reborn, that will have pursued the Love Path, will join the Big Universal Family.

But first, we must learn. We must give up hatred and violence. The Earth, as it is now, is a test. It is here that we must prove ourselves capable of choosing Peace. Until then, the other dimensions and stars will remain out of reach. Not because of distance, but because of our choices and their consequences.

This is why, as the Celestial Spirit says, even the Angels stand guard. The Cherubim, the watchers, will not allow us to spread destruction across the Universe. God and His Messengers will not let us colonise, exploit, or corrupt other worlds as we have our own.

Therefore, the final message is clear: the other worlds and stars are not for the evil, the proud, and those who are against Love, but for the virtuous, the humble, the peaceful, those who are full of Love, Lights in a world full of darkness. Only when Earth becomes again a Garden of Eden—not through escape, but through transformation—will humanity be free to travel beyond, welcomed as brothers and sisters among the stars.

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https://avalonlibrary.net/ebooks/Giorgio%20Dibitonto%20-%20Angels%20in%20Starships%20(1951).pdf

Toward True Freedom

In the face of such atrocities, which are still being carried out in various parts of the world, many would be driven by hatred, aggression, and violence when faced with such injustices. However, this would only play into the hands of the forces of evil, which are built on hatred, division, violence, destruction, and so on. They want us divided, blind, and ignorant, as the fault does not lie with populations, rather with those who actively take part in this evil plan!

It would be better to help and to speak out, to act without violence, and who knows, may God intervene in a drastic and decisive way! Then, we must rise above all that dehumanizes us, all that corrodes our souls and spirits. We think we are truly free when we enjoy things that have low vibrations — like vices, sins, harmful addictions, corruption, and so on — but in reality, we are more enslaved than we think.

True Freedom lies in going beyond the veil of Maya — that veil that clouds our senses, our reason, our heart, our soul, and our spirit — and in grasping the True Truth. The more we gain this higher awareness, the closer we come to this Truth, and the more we become truly free. We will be free to love unconditionally, in soul and spirit; we will be free to live beyond time, in Eternal Joy, in Harmony, Righteousness, and Peace. We will be free to access amazing realities that humanity has never known, and we will be free to love all that has been created.

After all, Creation is an act of Love. God is Love, and all His creatures are a reflection and symbol of this love — as is this Earth, which suffers so much because of human wickedness. So who knows how many souls will be able to make this leap, to reach higher levels of knowledge! But as long as human beings make war against their brothers and sisters in other parts of the world, how can we expect to travel beyond space, if humanity itself is a cancer to the Earth,  to its flora and fauna, and to the peoples who suffer from war, poverty, and more?

The invisible war between Light and darkness, Evolutionary and anti-evolutionary forces

Every human being is made of body, soul, and spirit. We are not here on Earth by chance. Each of us has a unique and sacred mission, both personal and collective, that guides us toward spiritual growth. Our time on this planet is a journey of transformation, a passage where we are called to evolve and prepare for higher dimensions after death. Earth is the place where we must grow, learn, and choose. At the center of this journey lies our greatest gift and challenge: free will. We are free to choose between Good and evil, between Light and darkness. Even though we are imperfect, we carry within us the power to rise, to purify ourselves, and to inspire others to do the same. When we live with Love and Virtues, we become like magnets that attract others, helping them awaken and rise with us.

In this path of elevation, there are powerful forces that support us. These are the evolutionary forces, entities of Good that lift us toward our true potential. They include invisible beings of Light such as Angels (whose name in Ancient Greek means messengers), spirit guides, and higher entities who protect and guide individuals, communities, and even nations.  Some of them fight in the skies. Others choose to incarnate on Earth, taking on human form to help humanity from within.These special souls, whether conscious or unconscious of their true origin, are here to awaken others. They are recognised by their deep Wisdom, their strong sense of Justice, inner Peace, and Unconditional Love. They often carry numerous unique talents and a profound calling to help and heal. Alongside them are many human beings who, through will and spiritual discipline, choose to align with the forces of Light and walk the path of spiritual evolution. They seek to raise their vibrations and detach from everything that belongs to the lower nature, to materialism (such as hatred, fear, violence, destruction and vice).

But this journey is not easy. There are also anti-evolutionary forces that seek to stop us. These are dark forces that want to keep us bound to the material world and low vibrations. They feed off fear, sins, chaos, destruction, and selfishness. They push us to forget who we really are and to act in ways that degrade our humanity, sometimes even worse than animals. These entities can be invisible demonic beings, but they may also manifest through certain humans who, knowingly or unknowingly, choose to become their instruments. Some individuals are drawn to these forces and use them to block or harm others, becoming obstacles on the path of Light. These entities work silently, feeding on our weaknesses, encouraging division, hate, addiction, and spiritual blindness.

Yet, even in this struggle, we are never alone. The forces of Good are always present, ready to guide us when we seek them with a sincere heart. Every moment of our life offers us a choice. We can rise or fall, love or hate, evolve or regress. The journey of the spirit is a climb, and every effort we make toward Love, Virtues, and Awareness brings us closer to our true Divine Essence. When we choose the path of Good, we not only transform ourselves but help to awaken others. We become channels of Light in a world that desperately needs it.

This invisible war between Light and darkness is the background of our entire existence. It is not a fantasy, but a spiritual reality. Our mission is to awaken, evolve, and help others do the same. The more we commit to becoming beings of Love and Virtue, the more we bring Light into this world and prepare ourselves for the higher realities that await us beyond this life.