The Mystery of Duality/Creation Explained

Emptied of desire, we see the mystery;

Filled with desire, we see the manifestation of things.

- Lao Tzu, 4th Cent. B.C.E.

I titled this poem "The Mystery of Duality/Creation Explained" because I think it's an exquisite expression of Buddha's teaching on Dependent Origination, which explains how how life evolves and the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth continues from moment-to-moment and, metaphysically speaking, from lifetime to lifetime, as the result of our clinging and attachment to physical and mental desires. Click on Dependent Origination to read an excellent article on this subject by Christina Feldman.

Click on ReadMeAPoem to access the website of meditator Gordon Gaippe, Des Moines, IA, who sent me Lao Tzu's poem.