If you’re not familiar with the Tao Te Ching (see description at the end of this note), here’s a sample — Chapter 39 — from Cliff’sNOTES on the Tao Te Ching (unpublished). It’s a description of what happens when we’re out of sync with the “Way” or “It” as I refer to the Way:
When there is harmony with It
Air is clear and the spacious sky can be seen
Water is pure and clean
The Earth is abundant and green
Living things exist amid a natural order
Renewing and evolving into the future
When there is a departure from It
Air is harsh and the sky is gray
Water is tainted and dirty
The Earth is worn-out and empty
Living things struggle to avoid fading away
Extinction and regret are the legacy
This is why the enlightened view the parts as part of the whole
They treat each living thing as Heaven’s jewel
Being enlightened in this way allows a leader to successfully rule
On May 6th a landmark United Nations report by a group of scientists from universities across the world was released that documents the damage done by modern civilization to the natural world. It was shocking to read that one million plant and animal species are on the verge of extinction. There are alarming implications for the very survival of the human species — more now than at any other period in human history.
I felt a mix of sadness, anger, and resolve to DO SOMETHING and this Cliff’sNOTE is one of those “DO SOMETHINGS”. It’s a reminder to hold leaders accountable and to encourage people to support and vote for enlightened leadership. It’s in everyone’s self interest in the short and long term to stop leaders from contributing to or enabling policies that degrade the environment and that accelerates the results the IPBES report outlines. The future literally and figuratively depends on it and here are just a few of many policies and actions that will make matters worse:
Clean air
- U.S. pulling out of Paris Climate Agreement
2. Recent EPA positioning to scrap clean power plan
3. EPA loosens regulations on toxic air pollution
4. Rescinding methane-flaring rules
5. Recent plan to weaken Obama-era fuel economy rules
Clean Water
- Revoking flood standards accounting for sea-level rise
7. Revoking Waters of the U.S. Rule
Wildlife
- NOAA green lights seismic airgun blasts for oil and gas drilling
9. Interior Department relaxing sage grouse protection
10. Proposed changes to handling the Endangered Species Act
11. Migratory Bird Treaty Act reinterpretation
Opening public lands for business
- Recent plans to dramatically downsize national monuments
13. Executive order calls for sharp logging increase on public lands
Security & Enforcement
- Recent dropping of climate change from list of national security threats
15. EPA criminal enforcement hitting a 30-year low
(SOURCE: Adapted from National Geographic, February 1, 2019 Sarah Gibbons)
About the Tao Te Ching
The Tao Te Ching has been translated more than any book but the Bible and first bore the title tao te meaning “reason and virtue” (Carus, 2000). Lao-Tzu, possibly the author, claims that there is a “Way” in which nature (“the ten thousand things”) embodies the truths of existence and speaks in simplistic terms of the Tao—to highlight what is evident around and in us, but that we, for whatever reasons, do not often recognize or live by. While the scope of the Tao is beyond human comprehension, Taoist philosophy focuses on perfecting the mastery of human nature and life in three critical areas:
- Individual well-being
- Social harmony
- Accelerated evolution of consciousness
In essence, a people become wise if they understand the way the universe works, lives in harmony with it by accepting the forces at play, and act intuitively and spontaneously in accordance with them.
We’re trained to be decisive “either/or” problem-solvers and “winners.” That’s not all bad for some issues, but without the ability to supplement “either/or thinking” with “both/and” thinking, we’ll never sustainably address the complex-adaptive issues such as those required in taking care of this campsite we all share that is Earth. I believe we can have a healthy economy AND a healthy environment – that one isn’t an “either/or.”
Embracing polarities/paradoxes often has the appearance of being “weak” in our culture when in fact it is the opposite – confronting dual truths requires this higher order thinking, courage, and true strength. My goal as an executive coach, organization development consultant and leadership trainer is to “Enhance our quality of life on the planet by supplementing the way we think.” I do this by working to make it easier for leaders, teams, and organizational systems to see and leverage higher order thinking, courage, and strength.
When we can all “show up” better and/or closer or closest to our best, great things happen. Or not.
