The Cause of Suffering is Desire
(Chapter Three – The Tao te Ching)
The Mountain Hermit
Original available here.
The unwanting soul
sees what’s hidden
and there finds peace.
While the ever-wanting soul
sees only what it desires.
The river reaches the sea
by yielding to rock and mountain,
and yet carves mighty canyons.
Inner peace is like water,
like day, like night.
Effortless being.
The thousand hidden things
speak in silence
The true nature of things
offers itself in quiet.
On the other side of desire
Treasures are revealed
That striving cannot dream.
Not forcing, not resisting, not refusing -—
the gentle rain that nourishes
roots of mighty trees
asks for nothing back.
There is no winning, no losing,
when action emerges naturally
from the quiet within.
. . .
In the ancient Tao te Ching, which was written before the advent of Buddhism and that later merged with Buddhism to form Zen Buddhism, we see the early roots of the First and Second Noble Truths, namely that “life is suffering, and the cause of suffering is desire.
Wu Wei and the Unwanting Soul
The poem's themes of non-striving and yielding resonate deeply with the Taoist principle of wu wei, or effortless action. The unwanting soul, by releasing attachment to outcomes, embodies this practice, finding peace not through force but through alignment with the natural flow of existence.
A quality life, a relationship with inner worlds, depends in part on self-control.
. . .
Work is underway on a new Tao te Ching journal. Half the pages will be for reader notes, half will consist of art (in full color), poetry and journal reflections. The journal will be published in 2026. There will be both softcover and hardcover versions.
Also, early in 2026, Zen Mountain Journal will begin to offer two series of journaling classes, one on life journaling (using mediation and journaling to understand the patterns and potentials of one’s life) and one on creativity journaling (using journaling to access and understand the inner work underlying creative work). Sometime in 2026, these classes will also be available online.
The Tao Te Ching Journal: A Path To Inner Quiet
Zen Mountain Journal blends Taoist hermit poetry, contemplative art, and reflections drawn from a lifetime shaped by wilderness, solitude, and decades doing creative work on the outer boundaries of our culture. These journals are companions for seekers — guides in the reconnection with inner quiet, beauty, and the “soundless music” of a life lived with simplicity and meaning.
• Size: 9.25 × 8.5 inches — convenient size for desk or lap.
• Hardcover — the book can be written in without a table or desk.
• Double wire-o bound to lay flat.
• Printed on Mohawk Superfine, a premium uncoated paper for a beautiful writing surface.
• 160 pages.
