David Given Schwarm

Married, Father, United

Tag: Prayer

  • 2. Opposites

    When one speaks of beauty
    as being beautiful,
    ugliness is at once defined.
    When goodness is seen to be good,
    evil is at once apparent.
    So having and not having
    mutually give rise to one another,
    as do difficulty and ease,
    far and near, high and low.

  • The Fool


    The Fool does not shade himself from the light–that is really an idea that I can get behind.

  • St. Cyprian


    What toil we must endure, what fatigue, while we are attempting to
    climb hills and the summits of mountains! What, that we may ascend
    to heaven! If you consider the promised reward, what you endure is
    less. Immortality is given to the one who perseveres; everlasting
    life is offered; the Lord promises His Kingdom.

  • 31. Creativity

    Tao gave birth to the One,
    the One gave birth to the Two,
    and the Two gave birth to the Three.
    From the Three all things have sprung.

    All things are borne out of the feminine
    having been seeded by the masculine.
    What unites everything is breath.

    Uniqueness is shunned by some;
    but the wise make use of it.

    For things are increased by being deprived;
    and being added to , they are diminished.

    What is often taught I agree with:
    Aggression is incompatible with Nature.

  • St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, Journey to Heaven


    Do we forgive our neighbors their trespasses? God also forgives us
    in His mercy. Do we refuse to forgive? God, too, will refuse to
    forgive us. As we treat our neighbors, so also does God treat us.
    The forgiveness, then, of your sins or unforgiveness, and hence
    also your salvation or destruction, depend on you yourself, man.
    For without forgiveness of sins there is no salvation. You can see
    for yourself how terrible it is.

  • 29. Tao’s Path

    The path of Tao returns to Tao.
    By yielding it moves.
    Emerging out of emptiness,
    Tao return to emptiness.

  • Use Ink

    1. Use ink
    2. Communicate
    3. Self organize
    4. ideas matter

  • Do Not Judge

    1. Do not judge
    2. Stay present
    3. Listen
    4. Do what I need to do to take care of ourselves
    5. Appreciate the light

  • 8. Endurance

    Both Heaven and Earth endure forever.
    The cause of their endurance
    is their indifference.

    likewise the Sage is indifferent,
    and not being preoccupied with self
    is immortal.

    Being unselfish,
    fulfillment is attained.

  • 40. Tao and Te

    Tao is brought forth, as Te nourishes.
    Everything takes form,
    and is sha[ed by Nature.

    Tao and Te are part of everything.
    Tao and Te do not defer to anything.
    Nature is unconstrained and endures forever.

    Tao is made apparent by Te,
    as Te nourishes, increases, feeds, protects,
    and watches over Tao.

    To produce without possessing is Te.
    To nourish without expecting,
    to increase without usurping,
    to feed without demanding,
    to protect without interfering:
    This is the sublime Te!