[MichiganMat]

Part of the meaning in the poem is to illustrate the underlying nature of all things, of all structures and forms. Zen and the Tao aim to break us out of functional thinking and to see the formless nature of all things, to bring us back to the Tao, the source. Granted, Zen and the Tao are different philosophies, but the goal is the same: to bring us back to the source of all things. There are also many different versions/interpretations of the Tao De Ching, some of which are harder to understand than others.

All in all, its not a difficult philosophy to grasp. In many ways the Tao, and Zen, can be thought of in a western, God-like way. Alas:
- God creates all things, good and bad. He is the source
- All actions and creations come from Gods will
- Emotion, logic, concepts, our human bodies, and mans various creations, are without substance and purpose as they are all of Gods creations, not our own.
- Alas, our lives are best spent basking in the glow of the source of life, rather than spending our days building, thinking, arguing, feeling, killing, and doing.


Like the little stream
Making its way
Through the mossy crevices
I, too, quietly
Turn clear and transparent.
- Ryokan Taigu (1758-1831)

See? All very simple. Ah shoot, I've got to get back to work or the boss will kill me.