Ubuntu and The Tao: Paths to Modern Harmony
Intro
There is no beginning, neither an end,
only Eternal Life,
Unchanging, yet ever-changing,
Silent, yet ever-present.
Chapter 1: The Unseen Path
Life is the Way,
Talking about life is not living it,
The path that can be followed is not Eternal Life,
The non-physical is the origin of life;
The physical is the mother of all things.
So the continuous void enables us to observe the true essence.
The continuous being enables us to see the external manifestations.
Both come paired from the same origin.
But when the essence manifests, it has a different form.
The same origin is called 'the gateway to the essence of all life'.
Chapter 2: The impulse for collective harmony
As soon as wealth is known by the world as desirable, it becomes a source of anxiety.
As soon as virtue is being known as something noble, it becomes a marketable commodity.
Therefore, prosperity and austerity give birth to each other.
Success and failure are but different faces of the same coin.
Influence and obscurity shape each other.
Profit and loss are intertwined, the pursuit of one begets the other.
The clamour for recognition and the whisper of humility harmonise each other.
The urgency of now and the patience of the timeless follow each other as a sequence.
Faced with these contradictions, the African lesson of Ubuntu proves to be a guide to harmonious living. The Bantu philosophy of Ubuntu translates as 'I am because we are', a deep commitment to our interconnectedness. It reflects the way of the Sages, a path of collective consciousness and empathy that transcends the limits of materialistic striving.
Knowing this, the modern sage strives to lead by example in the midst of a world fascinated by gain, embodying the essence of Ubuntu in a culture driven by endless acquisition.
In the midst of a society where the pursuit of wealth drowns out the whispers of communal harmony, he effortfully and consciously executes the natural path devoid of personal desires.
The sage who practices the wordless teaching through his deeds in a world captivated by eloquence and pretence values the community more than the self and promotes a culture of shared prosperity rather than individual gain.
The sage seeks to inspire the vitality of all lives, without holding back, amidst a world where resources are but strings of control.
Nurturing all beings with no wish to take possession of, amidst a market that commodifies even the noblest of virtues.
Devoting all energy but has no intention to hold on to the merit, amidst a culture that seeks to patent and own the essence of life.
When a change is achieved, the sage does not seek recognition in the midst of a world that cries out for the limelight.
Because the sage does not demand recognition, recognition cannot be taken away from him.
In a world that measures its value by material accumulation, the sage, imbued with the essence of Ubuntu, is a silent example of the richness of being.
In a society that glorifies the cry of opinions, the sage embodies the profound silence of understanding.
Within the capitalist labyrinth that ensnares many noble hearts, the sage navigates with a compass of simplicity and a map of compassion, guided by the spirit of ubuntu, towards a communal, sustainable existence.
The path of the sage may seem troublesome in a world resistant to change, but it is the path of least resistance, for it is the path of life, a path illuminated by the timeless wisdom of ubuntu, favouring a culture of common humanity over divisive materialism.
Chapter 3: The seeds of a harmonious society
In a world where worthy people are not put on a pedestal,
disputes do not find fertile ground to flourish.
Where objects of scarcity are not coveted,
the seeds of theft will not germinate.
If the needs of the flesh are seen, but not pursued,
the heart will keep its clarity, its mirror unclouded.
Thus, the guidance of an enlightened one encourages a milieu,
where the mind is not burdened by the shackles of endless needs,
and virtues are brought to flower on the fertile soil of the heart.
Ambitions attached to this fading world must be gently released,
Reinforcing the core essence of one's being,
Revealing the path of natural abundance, Far from the deceptive garb of scarcity.
As the ancient African proverb enlightens, 'If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.'
It is a call for the abandonment of the urgency of now, embracing instead the patience of the timeless,
A beckoning towards the tranquil rhythm of collective effort over the haste of individual pursuit.
In this realm, the knowledge and desires of the worldly fade away,
not suppressed, but transformed in the light of a higher understanding.
The wise, no longer charmed by the lure of cunning,
shall find no occasion to sow discord with their wit.
Guided by the essence of the natural order, free from compulsive desires,
actions flow like the course of a river, effortlessly nourishing the land.
Thus, a garden of harmonious coexistence blossoms in the heart of society,
where individuals and communities, like different flowers,
flourish in the fertile soil of justice and sustainability.
The mosaic stone of existence, richly adorned with understanding, peace and diversity,
Unfolds under the gentle yet firm guidance of the enlightened.
A society not driven by the ferocity of competition,
but by the tranquil rhythm of cooperation and collective flourishing.
Herein lies a realm where the spiritual essence and socio-economic justice,
Dance in a harmonious ballet, choreographed by the timeless wisdom of the sage,
And the equitable vision of the mindful collective,
Guiding humanity towards a dawn of sustainable existence,
A voyage embarked not in discord, but in the sublime symphony of shared aspirations.
Chapter 4: The Dance of Existence
Life, an inexhaustible essence, flows through the veins of nature,
A boundless reservoir whose waters never run dry,
Deep and subtle, it cradles the origin of all beings,
A harmonizing force, it weaves the fabric of existence.
With smooth gentleness, she rounds off the sharp edges of strife,
In her calm determination she unravels the threads of confusion,
Her embrace reaches from the glorious to the humble,
Binds the highest and the lowest in a dance of unity.
Life, profound yet invisible, permeates every nook and cranny,
As a silent architect, its blueprint is engraved in the fabric of the cosmos.
From the ancient lands of Africa, where the cradle of humankind rests,
Emerges a tale of unity and communal existence, echoing the dreams of Marx and Engels.
Their ink, though harsh, outlined a path to harmony,
A call for a collective step toward a horizon where justice flourishes,
Their narrative, a modern stream, flows into the ancient ocean of life,
A winding path that leads to a confluence of earthly justice and cosmic order.
In this new realm, Life and the collective dream,
Unite in a ballet of subtle revolution, a gentle unfolding,
Where the rigid structures of oppression dissolve,
And a fluid society emerges, embodying Life's boundless grace.
In the ebb and flow of this socio-spiritual tide,
Lies a promise of a world where dignity, equity, and compassion reign,
A voyage begun in the quiet heart of contemplation,
And marched forward in the chorus of collective aspiration.
Whose child is this ancient Life? A mystery veiled in cosmic silence,
Yet its essence resonates in the call for justice, the cry for equity,
An enduring echo, reverberating through the annals of time,
Guiding the march towards a dawn of harmony, a world reborn in the cradle of Life.
The African narrative, with its rich tapestry of communal living, reverence for life, and the spirit of Ubuntu,
Finds its voice in the chorus of change, amplifying the call for a harmonious society,
A society envisioned by the mindful collective, guided by the timeless wisdom of the sage,
And the ancient echoes of Africa, resonating through the lands, leading humanity towards a dawn of sustainable existence.
Chapter 5: A Call to Harmonious Existence
Nature, in her boundless virtue, nurtures all beings,
Extending life's breath, allowing growth and the fruition of harvest.
Yet, she remains indifferent, viewing all with the detached eyes of a sage,
Much like the ancient sacrificial straw dogs, transient in her eternal gaze.
So too, the enlightened ones see beyond the ephemeral,
Their vision pierces through societal facades, beholding the core of collective existence.
Amidst the struggle of classes, they discern the shackles of oppression,
And seek to dismantle the structures that bind the many to the whims of the few.
The space between sun and earth, a vast expanse, yet akin to a bellows,
Ever empty, yet ever supplying, an eternal flow of possibilities.
In the ceaseless motion of societal evolution, new paradigms emerge,
Each movement, a step towards a realm where equity and compassion reign.
Amidst the clamor of ideologies, a silence beckons,
Inviting a return to essence, beyond the veil of superficial discourses.
The sage and the revolutionary, united in purpose,
Seek not mere reform, but a transformation rooted in the profound essence of being.
In the confluence of ancient wisdom and modern aspiration,
Lies a path of gentle revolution, leading towards a horizon of harmonious coexistence.
In embracing the essence within, society unites in a shared vision,
A world reborn in the crucible of justice, nurtured by the indifferent yet boundless virtue of nature.
The ancient rituals of Africa whisper through time, a homage to nature's boundless virtue,
Where the rhythm of drums and the whispers of ancestral spirits dance in the wind,
A ritualistic bond between earth and sky, a tribute to life's eternal flow.
The traditions that celebrate the dawn, the rain, and the harvest, echo the reverence for nature's nurturing grace,
An echo that resonates in the hearts of the sage and the revolutionary, urging a return to the essence, a harmonious coexistence,
Guiding humanity towards a dance with nature, in a realm where justice, compassion, and the spirit of community reign supreme.
Chapter 6: A Confluence of Wisdom
The spirit of life endures,
It embodies the immaterial reality,
A reality anchored in the material, yet striving toward the nonphysical,
This mystical fabric, interwoven with the laws of nature, shapes the cosmos,
It is an eternal dance of matter and thought that can neither be silenced nor consumed.
The basis of existence, as understood by Marx and Engels,
is a realm in which the material and the mystical converge,
In this meeting lies the potential for transformation,
An opportunity to overcome the shackles of the old world and create a new realm of socio-economic justice.
The gateway to this mystical nature, Marx and Engels suggest,
lies in embracing the dialectic, in recognizing the intertwined destiny of man and nature,
It requires a revival of our connection with the earth,
A return to a state of harmony, of collective spirit.
In African tradition, this harmony echoes through the belief that rivers, mountains, and the earth are living entities sharing a symbiotic relationship with humanity. The African proverb, 'The Earth does not belong to us: we belong to the Earth,' resonates with this ideology, portraying nature as a communal heritage that nurtures all life, aligning with Marx and Engels' vision of interconnectedness.
Engels' discussion of the immortality of nature, his early fascination with the fundamental connections between science and productivity reflect the mystical essence of life.
In their quest for a classless society, they too, like the ancient sage, seek to open the mystical gate,
a gate that leads to a realm where the collective thrives in harmony with nature,
where the cycle of exploitation ceases and instead a garden of just coexistence blossoms.
The ecological consciousness of Marx and Engels, their vision of humanity's stewardship of nature, is in harmony with life's immortal cry for true development.
Their narrative, a call to action, coincides with life's gentle nudge toward its mysticism,
Together they sought to lure society onto a path of least resistance,
A path that holds the promise of a world reborn in socioeconomic justice and spiritual awakening.
In this new synthesis, the essence of Marx and Engels' dialectical materialism merges with the mystical nature of life,
It guides the way to a dawn in which spirituality and socioeconomic justice are not adversaries but allies,
A dawn in which life's immortal cry for true development and dreams of a just society are united,
In a serene ballet choreographed by the timeless wisdom of the sages and the revolutionary momentum of the mindful collective.
Chapter 7: Unveiling the Communal Essence
The Universe and Earth, in their boundless embrace, sustain through eons,
Their enduring nature, a testament to the selfless essence,
They exist not for themselves, but in a harmonious continuum,
An ethos of collective existence, they manifest.
In the heart of Africa, where the rhythm of life beats to the tune of communal harmony, a similar ethos prevails.
The philosophy of Ubuntu, deeply ingrained in the African soil, resonates with the boundless embrace of the Universe and Earth.
It declares, “I am because we are”, a pledge of collective existence, an echo of the universal continuum.
Thus, the sage who puts the collective before the self,
finds himself at the head of a just realm.
His detachment from self-interest, a path to fulfillment,
He embodies the antithesis of capitalist striving and heralds the dawn of communal resonance.
Just as Marx and Engels in their quest for justice,
took up the ancient wisdom and challenged the self-serving creed.
They envisioned a society that overcame the shackles of self-interest,
in which humanity, like the universe and the earth, would flourish in collective harmony.
The Way of the Sage, emblematic of Marxist aspirations,
A journey from self to collective, from greed to compassion.
In renouncing ego, the sage, Marx and Engels unite,
Their shared vision is a beacon in the midst of the capitalist night, pointing the way to a dawn of collective power.
In this fusion of ancient ethos and revolutionary vision
lies a gentle nudge toward a realm of just living,
A realm where the universe, the earth and humanity are in harmony,
Revealing the deep truth of a selfless being,
An odyssey from the 'I' to the 'We', from the ephemeral to the permanent, mirrored in the African tapestry of Ubuntu and communal existence.