Resources

Overview of Theory of Change

Only the spiritual approach to facing and moving through the difficulties of the world beckons us to look within to discover the way to respond in a way that benefits all.  Only by overcoming our own selfishness can we overcome the selfishness within the world.

           

Strengthening our inner capacities

Investigate self.  Be aware of own ignorance, the not knowing how things actually are.  The core of ignorance is our desire to benefit from the situation, to gain the approval of others, and to get our way.  Self-cherishing reacts to arising experiences as either for or against me, the source of our craving and aversion.  Self-cherishing blocks our connecting with what is and our capacity to compassionately respond to whatever arises.

Gradually penetrate manifestations of our ignorance:  anger, ill-will, grasping, fear and confusion.  Catch yourself acting out of these urges until you have the capacity to gently not let them have their way, causing them to naturally dissolve.

Be free of your selfishness by withdrawing from it.  Turn to generosity, kindness, benevolence, and justice, caring for all, especially the lowly.  Be like the gentle rain that extends blessings to all.  Have ways to distribute blessings to others through relationships and organizations.

Have a glad mind which extends goodwill toward all. 

Rest in the highest good.

           

Responding to our experience of the world

Align our interactions with the world with our inner being.  What we say and do reflects our inner selves.  Assist in the actualization of the good. 

Reverently care for the earth to fulfill one’s love and devotion to the Divine.  The path of faith in the Divine is embodied by devotion to the highest good and reverence for the Earth, the manifestation of the Divine.

Investigate the situation.  Difficulties are created by turning away what is there to what we want or don’t want for ourselves.  Understanding leads to clarity which leads to action. Discern how to actualize your highest intentions within the situation and in the right time. 

Through conversations with trusted friends, understand what the highest good within difficult situations is and how to respond to them.  Have the intention within each moment to rest within the highest good.  Opening to the way things are is the path of faith and devotion.  Acting on one’s own preferences results in harm.  Do not go blindly ahead, but learn from the situation what is needed and then you will know what to do.

Only by renouncing personal gain, praise, and victory can one obtain the strength for great achievement.  Only by setting a goal in a great task outside ourselves can we achieve this standpoint.  In this common work on the goal, all barriers dissolve.

May what we do benefit all.  The way of heaven is to increase what is below at the cost of what is above, the only way that all may benefit. 

Move toward the highest good.  Proceed in the right way with understanding and joy.  Actions follow the movements of heaven.

Relationships with Others

Give before you take.  Make relationships firm before asking.

Adapt and adjust self to those you would lead.

Maintain an unobstructed outlook on people with good will toward all.

Know that people cling to other people, their way of life, and the work they do. 

To resolve difference among people, remind them of their common source and sameness.

Be dignified for others to respect you.

Work with the wise.

Practices
Within the Taoist tradition, understanding leads to action and action tests understanding.

The first steps on the Great Path of the Tao are rooting out our faults and cultivating the good within us.  We all have the capacity to discern what harms ourselves and others and what is beneficial.  Our first and continuing use of that knowledge is for us to turn that light inward to root out what is harmful. 

Anyone who has tried to do that knows it is often easier said than done, especially at the beginning.  Yet what we must do is to resist and overcome our own selfishness, the willingness to harm ourselves and others to get something we want. 

While we are in the midst of overcoming the self, we also steadfastly cultivate the good, replacing harmful habits with beneficial ones.  Again we discern what kind of behaviors actually benefit ourselves and others, the way of Nature.  These behaviors are called virtues and concern how we interact with others and the world.  Those on the Great Path of Tao accumulate virtues, actions which develop the capacity to teach or lead others.

Below are a collection of essays I wrote several years ago for a small country paper in a byline called The Good Life.  

• Compassion
• Contentment
• Distraction
• Generosity
• Gratitude
• Intention
• Kindness
• Stay Positive
• Presence
• Relationships
• Stop Arguing