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Built For Greatness
Body of Light: BFG Handbook Chapter 60 (Overcoming Darkness)
Discover the highlights of this chapter shaping the New Evangelization today: https://www.builtforgreatness.com/tao-te-ching-chapter-60-body-of-light/
Leadership is like cooking a small fish with care" begins Chapter 60 of the Built for God movement's Christian interpretation of the Tao Te Ching. This deceptively simple metaphor opens a profound exploration of gentle, mindful leadership that nurtures rather than controls.
The chapter walks us through three interconnected principles: leading with delicate attention, cultivating inner light to overcome darkness, and promoting unity for healing and restoration. What makes this interpretation particularly powerful is how it bridges ancient Taoist wisdom with Christian scripture through the practical MAP framework—Mindset, Aim, and Practice—showing how spiritual principles can transform our daily interactions.
When we approach leadership with patience and humility, we follow Christ's example that "the greatest among you will be your servant" (Matthew 23:11). This isn't weakness but a conscious choice to lead in ways that support growth and development. Similarly, by filling ourselves with divine wisdom—our "body of light"—negative forces lose their power to harm us. As Luke 11:34-36 teaches, when our inner self is healthy, our whole being becomes filled with light.
The chapter's final section emphasizes unity and common purpose, showing how spiritual strength comes not just from individual practice but from connection to community. Perhaps most fascinating is how these principles resonate across faith traditions—Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism all emphasize similar approaches to ethical leadership, inner wisdom, and communal harmony.
Whether you're managing a team, raising a family, or simply seeking to influence your community positively, these ancient principles offer practical guidance for leading with wisdom and love. How might your relationships transform if you approached them with the care of cooking a small fish? What inner darkness might lose its power if you cultivated your connection to divine light?
today we're going to look at something a little different. We're diving into chapter 60, body of light. It's part of this built for God movement, or BFG, and, uh, you know, it's basically like a Christian take on the Tao Te Ching through this like fresh expression of God's love.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a really interesting concept Taking that ancient wisdom of the Tao but looking at it through a Christian lens.
Speaker 1:So our goal in this deep dive is to really understand chapter 60,. So our goal in this deep dive is to really understand chapter 60,. The body of light and its message about leadership, that inner strength we all need, the importance of unity. We're going to see how these ideas connect to other spiritual ideas out there.
Speaker 2:All right, sounds good.
Speaker 1:Now the source also uses this framework for personal and spiritual growth, called the Trinitarian Method or MAP, which stands for Mindset, Aim and Practice. Think of it as a practical way to apply these ideas to your life, for renewal. So we'll see how this MAP framework kind of shapes our understanding of this whole chapter. Right, so let's get started with one of the most fascinating parts of the chapter. Okay, shoot. It starts off with this really thought-provoking image. It says ruling a country is like cooking a small fish with care.
Speaker 2:Interesting.
Speaker 1:So what do you think that means?
Speaker 2:Well, the way I see it interpreted in the Christian context is that it's a call for gentle leadership, leading with wisdom, with a deep respect for God. It suggests a careful approach, right, almost delicate, to prevent harm, just so different from, you know, those impulsive or forceful actions we see sometimes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's interesting because when I read that it made me think of John 8.12, where Jesus says I am the light of the world. It feels like it connects to that idea of overcoming inner negativity that the chapter talks about too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a great connection because that small fish it could represent anything. We're responsible for Team at work, our family, our own well-being and the care. Then it emphasizes a way of leading that nurtures instead of controlling.
Speaker 1:I like that. So this renewal section gets really practical under mindset. It says that we should approach leadership with patience, humility and being present in the moment. And they give this real world example. It says think about the impact of your decisions in every area of your life work, your faith, community, family before you act. Don't just jump in. Really think about it. And it even references scriptures like Matthew 23.11, reminding us that the greatest among you will be your servant Right, and Mark 10.45.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:About the son of man coming to serve rather than be served. So it's all about service.
Speaker 2:It is, and that mindset piece really highlights how intentional we need to be. It's not about being weak, right, it's actively choosing to be thoughtful and considerate.
Speaker 1:Okay, so then that leads us to the A to lead gently.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:With that same patience and mindfulness, making sure your actions help things grow instead of causing damage. And the example it gives is a manager who focuses on supporting their team's development. Right and again it brings up those same scriptures about servant leadership.
Speaker 2:Well, I think seeing those scriptures repeated like that reinforces a core Christian value that's woven into this Taoist idea. Right, how the concepts align, yeah yeah.
Speaker 1:So then we get to the practice section.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Which is, you know, actually putting all of this into action? Yeah, by making decisions that are patient and well considered. And the real world example here is something I think we can all relate to. It's a manager who really listens to their employees.
Speaker 2:Ah, that's a good one.
Speaker 1:Right, I wish more managers did that.
Speaker 2:Well, I think the MAP framework does a good job of making this kind of abstract idea of ruling with care something that you can actually put into practice. It's a guide for how you act.
Speaker 1:It is. Yeah, so that's the Christian perspective. Now here's where it gets really interesting. Okay, the response section looks at how similar ideas pop up in other religions and for this idea of leading with care, it mentions Christianity. Yeah, you know Matthew 23.
Speaker 2:Of course but it also brings in islam okay the hadith about being beneficial to others interesting buddhism with the idea of wishing happiness and freedom from suffering right, and hinduism from the bhagavad-gita talking about treating everyone equally even with different beliefs about god or divine, however you want to phrase it right the importance of leading with humility and responsibility for the well-being of others. It seems to be a common thread.
Speaker 1:It does.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And the real world example here is a business leader who makes fairness a priority and it pulls in those supporting texts from Christianity and the Hadith.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:It really makes you think about ethical leadership as something essential to being human.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Across different cultures and beliefs.
Speaker 2:That's really cool, it is yeah.
Speaker 1:Okay, so we talked about ruling with care. Yeah, now the chapter goes into this other big idea.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:The contrast between inner light and inner darkness.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So how does that build on what we've already discussed?
Speaker 2:Well, it builds on this idea that when you align yourself with goodness and what's right, in this case, God's word, then any negativity, any inner darkness you have loses its power to harm you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it brings in Luke 11.3436, which talks about how, if your eye representing your inner self is healthy, your whole being is filled with light. So the point is that while we all have negative thoughts and feelings right, they can't truly hurt us when we're really filled with God's light and that body of light you know from the chapter's title that represents the state of being filled with divine wisdom and love, which makes us stronger against negativity or inner darkness.
Speaker 2:That's powerful. It shows how being spiritually aligned can protect you right.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:It's not about pretending that bad things don't exist.
Speaker 1:It's about them not being able to control us when we're connected to something bigger.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and the renewal section addresses that directly. Okay, the mindset is all about actively cultivating inner peace through God's word. Focusing on the light of Christ and the real world application it gives is so simple, but it's also very powerful, okay. It says start your day with prayer and reading scripture, and it references Ephesians 5.8, which says for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, and Psalm 119.105, your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Speaker 2:Yeah, these verses. They directly support the idea of God's word being that source of inner light, and it's how we get rid of the darkness.
Speaker 1:So, then, the aim is about being filled with God's word to overcome that darkness. Okay, and how do you apply that? By reflecting on God's word before making those tough decisions we all face. And once again, they mentioned those same scriptures.
Speaker 2:Gotta drive it home.
Speaker 1:Right, they want to make sure we get it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, this highlights that keeping that inner light strong. It's not passive Right.
Speaker 1:You got to work at it, you got to engage with your spiritual resources and the practice is all about filling your mind and heart with God's word. Okay, and the real world example is something a lot of us do.
Speaker 2:What's that?
Speaker 1:Turning to prayer and remembering comforting or peaceful verses when you're feeling overwhelmed. You know when things get tough.
Speaker 2:It seems clear they see engaging with scripture consistently as a fundamental way to build and keep that body of light.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely so. Now let's look at the response section on inner light versus darkness. Again we see this beautiful overlap.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Christianity with Psalm 119.105, Islam with Quran 24.35.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Which says Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth. Buddhism, with the principle that wisdom gets rid of ignorance.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And Hinduism in the Bhagavad Gita, talking about a mind that stays steady in meditation.
Speaker 2:This common image of light to understand divine guidance and truth across different faiths. It's like this basic human idea that clarity and goodness, they can overcome what's unclear and bad.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's very universal.
Speaker 2:It is.
Speaker 1:And the real world application is just taking time to reflect on spiritual teachings to gain some clarity in your life. And it includes those verses from the Psalms and the Quran, nice. It really emphasizes how universal and appealing this image is yeah, so we talked about ruling with care the power of inner light, and now the chapter moves to the example of a true leader, the master okay and the idea of restoring oneness, oneness. So how does that build on what we've talked about so far?
Speaker 2:well, this section says that true leadership, like the example set by christ, isn't about causing harm or division, right, right, it's about bringing people together, restoring what's broken, promoting healing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it mentions 1 Peter 5.611 about humbling ourselves under God's authority.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:And Romans 12.1421, which encourages us to live in peace and overcome evil with good. These really set the stage for leading through service and choosing not to strike back when someone wrongs you.
Speaker 2:So those scriptures, they're the basis for this idea that someone filled with divine light. They'll naturally act in ways that heal and unite right Instead of causing more division and hurt.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the renewal sections. Mindset here is about cultivating peace and choosing not to retaliate, focusing on serving others with love. And they give us this real world application. It says make a conscious choice to respond with kindness. And it backs this up with Matthew 5.44, love your enemies and Romans 12.17, do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Speaker 2:That's a big shift right From how we normally react. But that's how you break those cycles of conflict and start to reconcile. It's about actively choosing to respond differently.
Speaker 1:It is so. The aim, then, is to lead and serve in a way that doesn't cause harm, working towards peace, and the example here is actually trying to resolve conflicts peacefully and being willing to forgive.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And the practice is all about showing love and extending grace.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Making an effort not to retaliate when someone hurts you. Yeah, and the real world application they give is how to respond to someone undermining you at work, but with kindness and understanding. That's tough it is. It's easier said than done.
Speaker 2:So these practical applications, they really help us live these ideals out, concrete ways to put these principles into practice every day.
Speaker 1:They do. So let's look at the response section on this.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:The master's example of non-harming leadership.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:And again we see these parallels. Okay, Christianity with Matthew 5.44.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Islam with Quran 41.34. Repel evil with that which is better. Buddhism with the concept of love, stopping hatred. And Hinduism from the Bhagavad Gita talking about the importance of being free from anger.
Speaker 2:This is such a powerful example, right yeah, of how these core ethical principles they're in so many different religions Right that focus on responding to negativity with positive action it's through love, kindness or just choosing to do good right.
Speaker 1:It shows a basic human desire for peace and understanding it does, and the real world example here is simply practicing patience when you're dealing with disagreements or conflicts at work. And it includes those verses from matthew in the quran, really practical wisdom that's been around for centuries. Okay, so we've covered ruling with care, right, the power of inner light. Now the chapter ends with this idea of the body of Christ. Okay, and the importance of unity.
Speaker 2:Unity.
Speaker 1:How does this bring everything together?
Speaker 2:This section focuses on this idea that when a community of believers, the body of Christ, when they're really filled with that divine light and those destructive forces, that power of darkness, it can't hurt them.
Speaker 1:So the renewal section's mindset here is understanding that our strength and invincibility against evil come from being connected to and fills with God's light, and the real world application here is learning to rely on God's strength during tough times.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:They give us 1 John 4.4,. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. John 1.5, which says the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
Speaker 2:The scriptures really give you hope, right they do they empower you, they remind you that you've got those spiritual resources during tough times.
Speaker 1:So the aim, then, is to actively be a part of the body of Christ and to stay strong in your faith. The example they give is the importance of engaging with a community of believers for support.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:We're not meant to do this alone.
Speaker 2:Right. This really shows how important community is right and mutual encouragement for spiritual strength.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and the practice here is all about actively cultivating unity and fellowship within the body of Christ, and they give us a very practical application. It says we should offer encouragement and support to other believers who might be struggling.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:And they reference those same scriptures again. Gotta love it Right. It's about supporting each other.
Speaker 2:It is. It's a good reminder that faith isn't just something personal. It's made stronger through the connections we make in supporting one another.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, but the renewal section adds another layer to this.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Focusing on the mindset of actively embracing unity for everyone's benefit, for the common good.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:And the real world example here is the importance of building unity and collaboration on teams. Okay, and they use Psalm 133.1 to support this. How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity. And Romans 14.19, which focuses on what leads to peace and growth.
Speaker 2:So now they're expanding this idea of unity to show the benefits it has for communities and all our efforts together.
Speaker 1:Right, and the aim then becomes actively restoring unity for that common good. And they give the example of seeking solutions and work case conflicts that benefit everyone involved. Right, and they reference the same of seeking solutions in work case conflicts that benefit everyone involved Right, and they reference the same scriptures from Psalms and Romans.
Speaker 2:So unity isn't just a nice idea.
Speaker 1:It's not.
Speaker 2:It takes real work.
Speaker 1:It does. The practice in this final section is actively fostering unity and reconciliation for a shared purpose. They give us the application of promoting cooperation and teamwork in group projects. Again, they use Psalm 133.1 and Romans 14.19 as the scriptural foundation.
Speaker 2:So unity isn't just a feeling, then right? No, it's not. It's a process, actively working together to reach shared goals, a common vision.
Speaker 1:It is Now the response section on oneness and common purpose. It brings in Christianity, with Psalm 133.1. Islam, with Quran 3.103. Hold firmly to the rope of Allah altogether and do not become divided. Buddhism, with the aspiration for all beings to be happy, and Hinduism, for the Bhagavad Gita, with the statement the world is one family.
Speaker 2:These parallels they really illustrate that human desire for connection, for unity to belong. It goes beyond just religion.
Speaker 1:It does. It's about our shared humanity and the real world application here is participating in interfaith charitable projects, and it includes those verses from the Psalms and the Quran. So, as we wrap up our deep dive, it's clear that chapter 60, this Christian Tao Te Ching, really focuses on this journey of becoming bodies of light by actively engaging with what they believe is God's word. And they say this path leads to healing, restoration, unity, inner peace and purpose.
Speaker 2:Powerful stuff and, as we've seen throughout the chapter, these ideas resonate across many different religions.
Speaker 1:They do, so what are some of the main takeaways for you resonate across many different religions. They do, so what?
Speaker 2:are some of the main takeaways for you? Well, the things that stand out to me are the importance of leading with gentleness and mindfulness, the transformative power of cultivating inner light to overcome those negative things, the guiding example of leading without causing harm, and the crucial role of unity to achieve a shared purpose.
Speaker 1:It's all interconnected, isn't it?
Speaker 2:It is.
Speaker 1:These themes work together beautifully within the chapter and within that practical framework for growth, mindset, aim and practice. The MAP for renewal.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that overlap we saw with other faiths in the respond section really points to a deeper shared human understanding of living ethically.
Speaker 1:So, for our listeners out there, I want you to consider this how can you apply that principle of ruling with care, like creating a small fish in your everyday life, in your interactions and the decisions you make, and what kind of impact could focusing on building up your own inner light have on how you deal with the challenges in your life? Right, what common purpose resonates most with you?
Speaker 1:yeah and how can you contribute to creating more unity in your own community? Maybe even explore the full bfg handbook, okay, or some of the religious texts we've mentioned to learn more to go a little deeper thanks for joining us on this deep dive. Absolutely it's been a pleasure.