"Ten thousand things born
All return to the One source
Resting in stillness"
This haiku reflects a key concept in Taoist philosophy known as “The One” or “The Tao”—the underlying, unifying principle of all existence. Here’s a breakdown of what it means in everyday language:
“Ten thousand things born”: This phrase represents the diversity of life and the myriad forms of existence in the universe—plants, animals, objects, thoughts, emotions, and everything else that exists. In Taoist thought, “ten thousand things” is a metaphor for the infinite expressions of the world.
“All return to the One source”: Despite their apparent differences, all things originate from and eventually return to a single source—the Tao. It is the origin and ultimate destination of all existence. In daily life, this suggests that beneath all the complexity and diversity, there is a fundamental unity connecting everything.
“Resting in stillness”: This line emphasizes the importance of stillness, simplicity, and returning to a state of calm and harmony. In everyday life, it could mean finding peace by returning to a state of inner balance, quieting the mind, and letting go of distractions. It’s a reminder that despite the hustle and bustle of life, true peace comes from returning to our core, our center.
This – in a long series of my pitied attempts at haiku – captures the cyclical nature of existence and the idea that, despite life’s complexity, there is a deep and simple source underlying everything. In practical terms, it’s about remembering to return to a state of inner stillness and simplicity, where we can reconnect with the essence of life.
In writing this haiku, I wasn’t trying to impress anyone with my poetic accumen as much a describe the indescribable feeling of “universality” that I experience every time I successfully attempt to immerse myself in the Tao/the Tao of my practice/my practice As Tao. Literally every single aspect that I describe in my expression of what this haiku means to me applies directly to my experience of TaiJi, The Grand Ultimate. Words literally cannot express the overwhelming feeling of vastness, of connectivity, that I experience every time I sink into the ocean of knowledge and experience tht is my Tao. But, the phrases “Resting in stillness”, “Ten thousand things born”, and “All return to the One source” are all most definitely applicable, and the rough definitionis I’ve accompanied them with are about as close as I can get to where I’m trying to go only using words.
But, if I turn my body, or perform a movement that’s undergone countless revisons, with a single gesture I’m able to convey so, so, so much more than any words I could come up with.
I don’t usually try to describe The Ineffable, but this simply written haiku – although failing as a literary marvel – REALLY, really, pointed my conscious thought directly at my own inner being; like an out of body experience I looked at myself and saw, separately, and clearly, what my practice and skills have allowed me to become.