I never thought about it like this, but this bicycle metaphor is closer than most descriptions of the mental and spiritual aspects of bicyle riding.

Imagine the Tao as the sport and hobby of bicycle riding. Think of Tao cultivation as learning how to ride a bike. Both activities absolutely require direct experience. If you want to learn how to ride, you must hop on a bicycle and just do it. There is no other way. You can talk about how to ride a bike all you want, but until you put your hands on the handlebar and set your butt on the seat and try to move forward, you simply won't know what it feels like. Talking about it - with mere words - will never give you the skill.

Cultivating the Tao is just like that. You simply must live it. There is no other way. We can talk about the Tao until we're blue in the face and that still won't grant you the true understanding. That is why we say the Tao is beyond words. Its basis is a feeling you must experience for yourself. No one else can do it for you or describe it to you completely.

So, the bottom line is that no amount of talking and explaining will replace actual practice on an actual bike. The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternally unchanging, constant Tao. Now here's the crucial question: Does that mean we can't or shouldn't talk about bicycle riding?

This is an excerpt from Tao Living: The bike path by Derek Lin. I encourage you to read the whole article. On second thought, just ride.

I reviewed the Poets Against the War site yesterday and saw that they have posted the poem, Pledge allegiance to President Bush . . . published below on Feb 6. Go to Grass and Gravel Times for the direct link.

I added a link to this page today. Bicycles and Synchronicity contains several profund statements about the bicycle. Read and believe. I wonder why it took so long to find it?


I wrote and posted the following poem before I discovered Bicycles and Synchronicity, hmmm. My gratitude to Ellie Crystal. a brief quote from her site:

Crystalinks shows you the repetition of patterns in our reality, based on geometric design - the connections of myth and metaphor that trigger you into awareness. Life is about questing ... how the universe (your soul) works and your part in that pattern. Science and metaphysics are linked in a way that all are coming to understand.

Pledge allegiance to President Bush . . .


You say our SUVs will run for 160,000 miles
as long as we keep gasoline in the tank
400 miles on each tank, and
only 400 tanks—
Thank you
children.

You say our children will not want for gasoline
as long as they ride along with you
400 miles on each tank, and
only 400 tanks—
Thank you
parents.

You say our children soldiers will kill for oil
as long as they ride along with you
400 lives on each tank, and
only 400 tanks—
Thank you
Iraqis.

You say our children’s souls will go to heaven
as long as they ride along with you
400 lives for each tank, and
only 400 tanks—
Thank you
Jesus.

Now we know the meaning of gasoline tanks
as long as we ride along with you
400 deaths for each tank, and
only 400 tanks—
Thank you
Dubya.

We say no thanks, blind sir, "we’ll ride our bikes!"
as we no longer need a ride from you
400 deaths for each lie, and
only 400 lies—
No thanks
Dubya.

We are mid-way between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox at 45N. The land is covered with a pure white snow this morning and the sun is shining in the transparent cold. It has been a good winter season and we look to promises of spring stirring in our imagination. To the honor of Brigid on the Imbolic feast day of the return of the sun.

On the feast day, Bridget would visit and bless homes. If the sun was seen on this day winter was over but if the sun was hidden behind clouds winter was still to come. In the British Isles, spring is already on its way. Flower buds are poking through and the greenery is returning. Milk begins to flow in the udders of cows and sheep as they ready for the birth of their offspring. Older pagan names for Candlemas include Imbolc and Oimelc. Oimelc meaning "milk of ewes" and Imbolc translates as "in the belly" (pertaining to the earth).

Bigid is the goddess of creative inspiration and poetry.


More about Brigid and the celebration of Candlemas or Imbolc.