ALCHEMY

Ancient sages spoke of turning lead into gold. Some assumed they meant it literally as a secret method to gain wealth, so they expended much time and effort in fruitless research. They did not understand that the sages were referring to spiritual alchemy.

An alchemist of the Tao understands how to transform the worthless into the priceless in every aspect of life. When you mediate a dispute and diffuse an explosive situation, you have transformed harm into harmony. When you lead by example and inspire other people to follow a positive path, you have transformed their potentiality for goodness into actuality.

In a sense, alchemy really is a method to gain wealth. This wealth is the abundance of spiritual fulfillment. Its magic is not the transformation of metal, but the transformation of hearts and minds.

The Tao Today

Become an alchemist of the Tao and ut the magic of transformation to work in your life. Change apathy into empathy. Change the meaningless into the meaningful. Visualize scrap metal turning into precious metal, and use this visualization as a reminder. When you elevate this process to the spiritual level, you gain limitless spiritual wealth.

The Tao of Joy Every Day

~ Derek Lin