New Year 2013
(January 2013)
Dear Living Tao friends, Happy New Year 2013!
During the holidays, finally being able to seBle at home with Suzanne for the past month has given me Fme and leisure to replenish, reflect, and to look forward to the future. Here are some of my thoughts to share:
AMer Alan WaBs’ passing in 1973, and the convening of the Lan Ting InsFtute in the summer of 1975 on the S.S. Vallejo (the houseboat where Alan lived and the office of his Society of ComparaFve Philosophies), the idea of forming a collecFve was born. With this idea, a group of faithful students who wished to conFnue learning with me and keep the network together began to organize seminars around the country (New York, Hawaii, Taos, and New Mexico). UlFmately, in 1978, we launched the official Living Tao FoundaFon with a celebraFon called “BuBerfly Dream” in Toronto at the ConvocaFon Hall, with special guests Paul Horn, John Blofeld and James Broughton (see the August 28, 1978 review aBached and on our website).
Much “Living Tao” water has flowed under the bridge of Fme since then with our conFnuing evolvement through change, transformaFon, and metamorphosis.
This past year especially, has poignantly marked the passing of several of our elders who had been so integral in our Living Tao family history. I wish to share with you our sense of loss and deep appreciaFon for Madelyn Maloney and Doris Green; two of our most beloved “tutus” who helped organized the annual pre-Thanksgiving Morro Bay seminars.
Just last week, we heard of Barbara Duke’s passing. Barbara began her journey with Living Tao on Alan WaBs’ houseboat in the summer of 1975. She was with us many Fmes in Hawaii and Taos, and helped to organize Bay Area seminars, as well. We will miss all our special elders and keep them alive in our hearts always.
We not only cherish the memories of those we have lost this year, but those who have gone before. Among them: Josephine Landor, Jayne Jones, Laura Huxley, Max Groebly, Roseann Millan, Dora Bornstein, Frances Tidd, and Myra Smith. And, importantly, we must also remember all our living elders, who because of age and physical disability are no longer able to parFcipate in person as before. They include: Riri Lillig, Anne Marie Aebi, Sheila and Ernest Cromwell, Ursula Groebly, Claudia Legler, Janet Goodridge, among others. And, we sFll hope to see them returning occasionally, as long as they can manage. I especially wish to honor their years of dedicated parFcipaFon in keeping our Living Tao seminars vibrant and thriving. We send them ALL much LOVING appreciaFon and Joyful CHI-eers!
This year 2013, we will experience the transformaFon of the “Water Dragon” into “Water Serpent” on February 10th in the Chinese Lunar Year 4710 Calendar. Both “Water” and “Serpent” are symbolic metaphors of Flow, Fluidity, and Flexibility with transformaFve adaptability. Change is the only Constant. Metamorphosis can be shocking and astounding for those who are not prepared for the inevitable. In clear personal awareness, the way the serpent sheds its skin to be renewed, is a good example to follow. To shed old skins, the established personae, we are learning to welcome change to experience “Rebirth into a New Life”, as the natural order Li 理 – the organic paBern of the universal wisdom. Unlike the way Western Lore depicts the Serpent as the devil’s representaFve, a feared and deceilul tempter, the Chinese view this silvery creature, who has meditated deep in the sacred mountains for millennia to aBain full potenFality, and is a beneficent symbol of wisdom, intuiFon, aBracFon, intelligence and mysFcism.
We are acknowledging the inevitable shiM of “What had been” to “What Is” and “What Will Be”, as the Living Tao Family network conFnues to change and transform, and conFnuing its evolving metamorphosis. In the months ahead, our member NewsleBers will invite you to share in a dialogue with a team of sustaining Core members of Living Tao on how to envision new possibiliFes for future programming to sustain our foundaFon. We look forward to your thoughts and parFcipaFon.
In the meanFme, I wish you ALL a very bright New Year ahead, full of Joy and potenFals to be realized.
Warmest GreeFngs full of CHI-eers!
Chungliang
