Lappers Delight

S short break from writing about the Tao - leaving today for Lapper's Delight 24 hour run in North Carolina. It will be a fun time with music, a bond fire and lots (lots) of running! The goal is a distance PR so anything above 81 miles officially and 83 unofficially is in order and should be doable. Of course the number one priority is to stay healthy and have a quick recovery. Stay tuned.


Peace,
Eric

The Tao of Distance Running -#12

The Master observes the world
but trusts his inner vision.
He allows things to come and go.
His heart is open as the sky.

                                                        *

~

There are hills - and still we run. There will be heat and

cold and rain and sun. Yet the path remain

perfection.

Our sight is clear. We are guided by steps and the

kiss of earth beneath them.

Every mile is a letting go and with a lightness of

self we learn to trust our

silent voice of wisdom.

All things pass -and still we run.


~

• Everything passes. No state that we may find ourselves in at any given time will last. Hills won't go up for ever and the downhill seems to end too soon. That's the nature of distance running. That's the way of life. Running is motion - and yet the spirit of running is found in the still, centered being of the runner. This is the witness. We are the witness. From the observation point of our deepest selves we are able to observe the scenery, to run the ups and downs and experience the ails and highs of the body from a unattached vantage point of wisdom and self care. We are at once intimate with every aspect of the one and free from grasping for anyone thing to remain. We are open. And free.

Peace,

Eric

* Verse 12 of The Tao Te Ching translated by Stephen Mitchell

The Tao of Distance Running -#11

We work with being,
but non-being is what we use.

                                                        *

~

From the infinite...our

steps emerged -

And every mile a remembrance of

their home.

We are runners - and have given ourselves to motion. Yet there remains an essential stillness of our being that's unaffected by the gathering of miles. This core to our reality is the quiet force of every step taken. We are spirit running by means of flesh and bones. We do not think breath - we breath. We don't beat the heart - we allow it's rhythm to unfold as life itself. And so too do we run - grace given free expression as ourselves.

 

Peace,

Eric

* Tao Te Ching translated by Stephen Mitchell 

The Tao of Distance Running -#10

Giving birth and nourishing,
having without possessing,
acting with no expectations,
leading and not trying to control:
this is the supreme virtue.

                                                            *

~

Every moment gives birth to new possibilities - and yet a

single expectation closes other doors.

We run without care or concern for all but

this -

That what is now may simply be.

To run without an agenda does not mean we surrender our desires - even more so we have polished the gem of our true desire to shine all the more brightly against the passing whims that may distract us. A singular desire now blazes. We have come to value the simplicity of freedom above all else and running is the demonstration of this value. To cling to a lesser desire or small expectation keeps us limited to mere mortals in a race or on a long run - to surrender this misconception is to step fully into our identity as spirit given form and released as motion. Running with this realization brings an allowance for all possibilities to occur and the freedom to respond as fitting for someone not bound to conventional wisdom. We act in accordance to our highest wisdom. We run with spirit. We run as spirit.             

Peace,

Eric   

*Portion from Verse 9 of The Tao Te Ching translated by Stephen Mitchell 

The Tao of Distance Running -#9

Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity.

                                                   *

~
A step taken and then let
go...and still the
path is
found.


We run with the faith of
effort given.

• Once we're on the trail or road all else but motion is given to the world at large. Our inner world becomes calm and narrowed to a razor thin margin where earth and soul meet. Everything leads to this moment of release and focus - previous steps deliver us to new beginnings. We are here - now. And the run is all that matters. 

Peace,

Eric

*

This portion of Verse 9 of The Tao Te Ching translated by Stephen Mitchell



The Tao of Distance Running -#8

One who lives in accordance with nature

 does not go against the way of things.

He moves in harmony with the present moment,

always knowing the truth of just what to do.

*

~

In distance each mile anchors us more to present moment

awareness and the vital time of now is

sharply focused .

Breath and the fall of steps account to a

rhythm of their own.

There is music of the earth only the

quiet mind knows.

We run to find this song, to hush all but the holy

voice of earth and soul.

In distance...we learn to listen.

And farther still

we dance.

• Running returns to us to nature and more so it reveals to us our own nature. As miles add up and distance pulls us farther inwards we find a harmony between our surroundings and our inner world. This is the sweet spot of effortless performance - we move in fluid lines against the trail and the sky is met against us as long embrace of light. There is a knowing that this - this is what we were made to do - and we give ourselves fully to this art of motion. It takes a suspension of the belief that we are separate from nature, that we are visitors in a temporary battle of speed and time. Running is our return. It brings us home. 

Peace,

Eric

* Verse 8 of Tao Te Ching translated By Wayne Dyer

The Tao of Distance Running -#7

 The Master stays behind;
that is why she is ahead.
She is detached from all things;
that is why she is one with them.
Because she has let go of herself,
she is perfectly fulfilled.

                                                      *

~
Once let go...our steps fall
holy to a stride.
Becoming greater still in their
surrender.

There is no competition - even with oneself. In the perfection of each present moment there is only joined union in the pleasure of our effort. Self and will given to steps that lead away from thoughts of separation. Distance itself becomes the path of our salvation. Miles becomes the natural mantra of each step striking the ground - and yet with chanted rhythm of breath and footfall - we find ourselves ever closer to our home.

Peace,

Eric