Discover the highlights of this chapter shaping the New Evangelization today: https://www.builtforgreatness.com/tao-te-ching-chapter-63-achieving-greatness/
Stillness in action. Effortless work. Finding greatness in small things. These paradoxical concepts form the foundation of an extraordinary spiritual framework explored in our latest episode examining the Built for God movement's handbook - specifically their Christian interpretation of the Tao Te Ching.
We journey through principles that challenge conventional thinking about achievement and success. From responding to hatred with kindness to approaching complex challenges with simplicity, these teachings offer practical wisdom for navigating our modern lives while remaining grounded in timeless truths. The episode unpacks the structured approach of mindset, aim, and practice that transforms abstract philosophical ideas into tangible life applications.
Most fascinating is the exploration of how these core principles transcend religious boundaries. We discover striking parallels across Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism - highlighting a common foundation of wisdom that unites our shared human experience. As St. Thomas Aquinas observed, "Truth cannot contradict truth."
Whether you're seeking to cultivate more inner peace, approach your work with renewed purpose, or find significance in everyday moments, this episode offers transformative insights. Consider which principle resonates most deeply with you and how incorporating it might shift your perspective on what truly matters. There's always more to discover when we delve a little deeper.
Episode Transcript
So today's deep dive takes us into some pretty
fascinating and rather uniquewriting.
I would say we're looking atexcerpts from chapter 63,
achieving Greatness.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Within the Built for God BFG movement handbook.
Now this movement describestheir handbook as a Christian
edition of the Tao Te Ching, asa Christian edition of the Tao
Te Ching, and this chapter inparticular is really aiming to
kind of reframe the gospelthrough what they call like a
new expression of God's love torestore the truth.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Okay, a Christian lens on the Tao Te Ching.
That's not something you seeevery day.
For this deep dive, then, ourgoal is to really unpack these
principles of achievinggreatness as presented in this
chapter.
We want to get to the heart oftheir core ideas and then also
see how they connect with thesebroader themes of faith.
And then crucially, I think youknow, how do these ideas
(00:54):
translate into action in ourlives?
Speaker 1 (00:56):
How do we actually live this out?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Exactly.
Are you ready?
Speaker 1 (00:59):
I'm ready, let's do it.
So, right off the bat, thechapter opens with a pretty
intriguing set of lines Act withstillness, work without effort,
taste without engrossing.
How do we put this intopractice?
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Approaching life with a sense of inner peace and a
trust in God's control.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
And they point us to that familiar verse, psalm 46.10
, be still and know that I amGod.
So when we consider that, thatidea of acting with stillness,
what different angles come tomind for you?
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Well, you know, what's so interesting is that
this idea of stillness, you knowit's really present in a lot of
tradition.
You know we live in such a fastpaced world and this idea of
cultivating an inner calm andreally having that be the
foundation of your actions, youknow it's not something that's
just unique to this text, it'ssomething that we see again and
again.
I think it's aboutintentionality, like slowing
down our reactions and maybeseeking, you know, a deeper
(01:50):
sense of centeredness before wejust like go, go, go.
And I think that the handbook'semphasis on trusting in God's
control, it, really provides aspecific, like theological
grounding for this stillness,you know, within a Christian
context.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Right, right, Because it does make you think.
I mean, how often do we equate,you know, productivity with
like constant?
Speaker 1 (02:11):
motion All the time yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Yeah, and then they go on and they introduce this
next idea of work without effort, which is really intriguing.
But I really wonder about, like, how it's applied, like, what
does this look like practically?
And the way that the handbookexplains this is you know, it's
really about partnering with God.
It's about allowing his powerto work through us rather than
just relying on our own.
And they give us a couple ofreferences here John 14, point
(02:35):
10, matthew 11, point 2, 8, andthose passages are, you know,
about Jesus saying you know, theworks that I do are not mine
but the fathers.
And you know that whole idea oflike, come to me, all you who
are weary and burdened, and Iwill give you rest.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Beautiful image.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
So how might this idea, then, of effortless work
look in our day-to-day lives?
Speaker 1 (02:55):
You know, if we take a step back I think, this idea
of effortless work, it reallytouches on the larger concept of
grace within the Christianfaith.
You know we're not meant tocarry the whole burden on our
own and you know the handbookfocuses on surrendering to God's
will and it offers, I think, areally specific way of
understanding that concept.
And I think it's reallyimportant to say here it's not
(03:17):
about a lack of action, it'sabout, maybe, a shift in the
motivation.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
Where it's coming from.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
And reliance, yeah.
So imagine, you know,approaching a difficult project
not with that sense of likefrantic energy.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Right.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
But with a sense of purpose that's aligned with your
belief, and trusting thatyou're not alone in it.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Right, you're not doing it all on your own.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
It's not all on your shoulders.
That makes a lot of sense.
So it's almost like workingfrom a place of faith, not for
it.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
That's a really beautiful way of putting it.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Then they go on and they introduce this third piece,
which is taste withoutengrossing, which it kind of
brings in this whole idea ofbalance and attachment.
And the example the handbookuses is, you know, enjoying
those blessings that we'vereceived, but without becoming
addicted to them.
And they give us a fewscriptures here Luke 18.22, 1
Corinthians 7.2931, and 1 John2.15.
(04:07):
You know, it's aboutappreciating what we have, but
without letting it, you know,rule us control us.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
It's not becoming our master.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Yeah, I think Tate's, without Engrossing, it speaks
to like a mindful engagementwith the world and I think it
raises a really importantquestion for you listening when
might there be areas in yourlife where enjoyment has maybe
tipped over into something thatconsumes you?
Could a bit of detachmentactually bring a renewed sense
of appreciation for the thingsthat you enjoy?
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Yeah, it makes you think.
The handbook then organizesthese principles under this
renewal framework that they havewith mindset, aim and practice
sections.
So, for act with stillness, theaim is aim for inner stillness
and the practice is practicestillness in action.
You know, highlighting thatwhole idea of this is something
that you cultivate.
You know it's an ongoing habit.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
It's a practice, exactly Okay.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
And then, similarly with work without effort, the
aim is aim for effortless action, which again is emphasizing
that shift in reliance Right,and then the practice focuses on
developing that trust in God'sstrength.
So it's a very structured wayof looking at how to take these
abstract ideas and really applythem in our lives.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Yeah, I think that structure is key to the BFG
movement's approach.
You know, it's a pathway forinternalizing these concepts,
translating them into tangiblechanges in our behavior and
perspective.
And the emphasis on practice,you know, I think that's
particularly important it reallyhighlights that these aren't
just ideas to think about, butprinciples to actively integrate
into your life, live out.
(05:34):
And then the chapter shifts toanother, I think, core theme,
with the lines make great inwhat is small, make abundant in
what is few, reward hatred withkindness, achieve greatness in
small things.
And I think here there's a realemphasis on the significance of
the seemingly insignificant,the little things.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
The small things, the everyday things.
Yeah, I think that idea ofmaking great in the small, it
has deep roots in a variety offaith traditions and the
handbook connects it to God'spromise to Abraham in Genesis
12.1-2.
And you know, that storyillustrates how something small
really blossoms into somethinghuge through faith.
Right, and they also referencedJames 2.5, highlighting that,
(06:17):
you know, god often chooses thehumble, the lowly, the ones who
aren't necessarily seen, as youknow, important in the world's
eyes.
What comes to mind for you whenyou consider this idea that
such profound significance canbe found in the ordinary Well, I
think the very encouragingperspective.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
It reminds us that we don't always need grand
gestures to really make adifference.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
It's really the intention and the care that we
bring to even those, you know,everyday tasks and those little
interactions, and then that linereward hatred with kindness.
I mean, that is such a directreflection of Jesus's teaching
in Matthew 5.43-48.
It's a challenging principle,though, to live by Respond to
negativity with positivity.
(06:57):
It's a tall principle, though,to live by Respond to negativity
with positivity.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
It's a tall order.
It is, you know, and thehandbook's mindset section.
It really explains that it'sabout reflecting a different
kind of power.
It's the power of love andforgiveness.
And you know that real worldapplication of choosing
compassion when you're facedwith animosity, you can have a
ripple effect that is way biggerthan you can imagine.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
And they break this down again with, you know,
mindset, aim and practice.
So for make great and what issmall?
The mindset is really aboutrecognizing the value that God
places on humble acts, with thepractical application being, you
know, being dedicated to everytask, no matter how small or
insignificant it may seem.
The aim is aim for humility insmall things.
(07:41):
And then the practice is to,you know, practice, humility in
all things.
So, again, very consistent interms of like, really calling us
to live this out.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
It's a way of being and for that principle of reward
hatred with kindness, themindset is explicitly about
reflecting God's love.
You know, the application thenbecomes responding to that
negativity with compassion.
The aim is aim for kindness inresponse to hatred and the
practice is actively choosingkindness in the face of hatred.
It's such a direct and actionoriented approach to what is a
(08:09):
core ethical teaching.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Yeah, then the next set of lines introduces these
themes of simplicity,trustworthiness and wisdom.
See simplicity in difficulttasks.
Achieve greatness in smallthings.
Difficult tasks of the worldare handled through the simple
tasks.
Large tasks of the world arehandled through the small tasks.
Therefore, the wise do not needto handle large tasks, yet they
(08:32):
still achieve greatness.
People who make promiseslightly are not trustworthy.
People who take everything toolightly encounter more
difficulties.
Therefore, the wise identifythe task as difficult, so they
do not encounter difficulties.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
There's a lot there about how we approach challenges
and commitments.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
A lot to unpack and you know this idea of seeing
simplicity in difficult tasks.
It really resonates with theteaching on faith.
You know, I think of Jesus'sanalogy of the mustard seed in
Matthew 17.20,.
You know, in the Hamlick'smindset section it interprets
this as breaking down thoseoverwhelming tasks into smaller
steps, more manageable steps.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
You know a really practical strategy for
overcoming that sense of beingoverwhelmed or stuck.
What are your thoughts on thisconnection between simplicity
and tackling those really bigchallenges?
Speaker 2 (09:16):
I think it's about mental reframing, Instead of
getting paralyzed by how big aproblem is, if you can focus on
those immediate actionable stepsthat can give you momentum and
make the seemingly impossiblefeel doable.
And I love the warning aboutmaking promises lightly.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Proverbs 20.25, Jeremiah 9.49, underscoring that
importance of integrity in ourword.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
You know, in commitments it's about being
trustworthy.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
And being a person of your word, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Yeah, and I think the emphasis on trustworthiness is
fundamental to strongrelationships.
And just, and you know, itadvocates for a wise approach to
identifying, like how difficulta task might be, you know
beforehand, to avoidcomplications, thoughtful
engagement.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Yeah, don't just say yes to everything Exactly.
Yeah, see, simplicity indifficult tasks.
The aim is aim for simplicityand complexity and the practice
is practice simplicity incomplex tasks.
So, again, it's that same ideaof cultivate the mindset and
then apply it in the real world.
And I think, similarly, youknow the principles around
(10:27):
trustworthiness.
I think they're really aimed atcultivating wisdom and
foresight in how we approach ourresponsibilities.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Exactly, you know.
It's about developing a habitof careful consideration,
realistic assessment and thatultimately contributes to a more
grounded and trustworthy way ofbeing in the world.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Now the chapter kind of takes this really interesting
turn with a section that theytitled Respond, and this is
where the focus shifts to reallyhighlighting those shared
truths that can be found acrossdifferent cultures and religious
boundaries.
Yeah, and they take some ofthese core principles that we've
been discussing, like you know,make great in what is small and
reward hatred with kindness,and they actually point to
(11:09):
parallel teachings inChristianity, islam, hinduism
and Buddhism.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
Look these fundamental principles.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
they're popping up all over in these different
spiritual traditionsno-transcript principle of
(11:44):
reward hatred with kindness alsokind of demonstrates this.
You know, we see that inmatthew 5.44, romans 12.21.
In christianity, similarguidance in the quran, the
bhagavad-gita and the dhammapada, and they all underscore that
transformative power of love andforgiveness, even when you're
faced with someone who's againstyou, who's an enemy, and it
(12:04):
really does make you reflect onthat kind of universality of
some of these ethical teachings.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Absolutely.
And the handbook draws theseparallels for C, simplicity and
difficult tasks as well, linkingit to passages in Matthew 19.14
and James 3.17 in Christianity,and Sir Al-Bukhara 2.286 of the
Quran, the Bhagavad Gita, 12.11, and the Dhammapada verse 1,
all emphasizing the importanceof a focused and uncluttered
(12:30):
mind.
And then that idea of you knowmaking promises and keeping your
word that resonates acrosstraditions as well, From Matthew
5.37 and Luke 16 fromChristianity to very similar
ideas in the Quran, the BhagavadGita, 17.15 and the Dhammapada
verse 76, highlighting thatimportance of integrity in our
word.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
And even this whole idea of work without effort.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
I mean it seems to find resonance across all these
different faiths, withconnections drawn to Matthew
11.28 and Philippians 4.7 inChristianity, the Bhagavad Gita
and a variety of Buddhistteachings on, you know, finding
inner peace and acting withoutattachment, and I think it's so
interesting how all thesedifferent spiritual paths kind
of touch on these very similaraspects of inner cultivation.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
It seems like they're trying to say that these are
really fundamental truths thatgo beyond any specific religious
doctrine, you know, and it'spromoting a message of unity and
peace and love.
And they even include a quotefrom St Thomas Aquinas that says
you know, truth cannotcontradict truth, which I think
sums up this perspectivebeautifully, this idea of an
underlying harmony acrossdifferent expressions of faith.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Yeah, that's a good point.
So, as we start to wrap up thisdeep dive, I think it's helpful
to recap some of those keyinsights from chapter 63 of the
BFG handbook.
So we've explored, you know,the importance of acting with
that inner stillness and a senseof effortless action, that
profound impact of findinggreatness in those small acts
and choosing to respond to, youknow, negativity with kindness.
(13:57):
And we've also examined thewisdom in approaching challenges
with simplicity, how crucial itis to be trustworthy in those
commitments that we make, andthe value in really cultivating
inner peace.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
And I think, perhaps most significantly, we've seen
how these principles, while theyare framed within a Christian
context by the BFG movement,they really do seem to echo
across a whole bunch ofdifferent faith traditions.
It suggests that there's acommon ground in our shared
human experience and auniversality to certain ethical
and spiritual truths.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Yeah, that's a really great point.
And so, as we leave you, thelistener, with a final thought
to consider, how might youintentionally incorporate just
one of these principles?
Maybe it's consciouslypracticing stillness before you
react to something, or making avery deliberate effort to find
the significance, you know, in aseemingly small or
(14:48):
insignificant task?
How might doing that begin tokind of change your perspective
on what truly matters in yourlife?
Think about how these innershifts and these seemingly small
choices, they can have a rippleeffect.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
You know, think about which of these ideas sparked
the most interest for you.
Maybe it was effortless action,maybe it was the surprising
parallels across differentfaiths.
Take that initial spark,explore it further in your own
way.
There's always more to discoverwhen we just delve a little
deeper.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
Well, thanks for joining me for another deep dive
.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Always a pleasure.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Until next time.
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