The pursuit of peace can be oft hindered by the pursuit of self. To be caught up in moments, the decision to do what you should do and what you want to do come into conflict. If you are in the flow of Tao, following a path of doing what is truly right, than what you want to do is more important than what you should do.
The illusory 'they' have set these rules that you don't fully understand. A serious of social contracts designed to benefit the select at the expense of the whole. This voice spoken from the global subconcious tells you there is a brass ring you must reach for, yet when you obtain it, tells you that you have obtained nothing until you get the silver ring further down the line.
To defeat this voices is a life long path of defying a set of unspoken obligations to live a life free and peaceful. To do what is right, not what is expected. The path of Tao is not an easy one, it is a path to live an easy life.
If you keep pushing yourself for that next ring, you will always walk a path of selfish displeasure. The joy of competition and success are temporary, but understanding all that you have and the greatness of who you are will give you lasting happiness.
1/22/12
1/11/12
Man is no machine.
"If an expert does not have some problem to vex him, he is unhappy!
If a philosopher's teaching is never attacked, he pines away!
If critics have no one whom to exercise their spite, they are unhappy.
All such men are prisoners in the world of objects.
He who wants followers, seeks political power.
He who wants reputation, holds office.
The strong man looks for weights to lift.
The brave man looks for an emergency in which he can show bravery.
The swordsman wants a battle in which he can swing his sword.
Men past their prime prefer a dignified retirement, in which they may seem profound.
Men experienced in law seek difficult cases to extend the application of laws.
Liturgists and musicians like festivals in which they can parade their ceremonious talents.
The benevolent, the dutiful, are always looking for chances to display virtue.
Where would the gardener be if there were no weeds?
What would become of business without a market of fools?
Where would the masses be if there were no pretext for getting jammed together and making noise?
What would become of labor if there were no superfluous objects to be made?
Produce! Get Results! Make Money! Make Friends! Make Changes!
or you will die of despair!
Those who are caught in the machinery of power take no joy except in activity and change - the whirring of the machine! Whenever an occasion for action presents itself they are compelled to act; they cannot help themselves. They are inexorably moved, like the machine of which they are a part. Prisoners in the world of objects, they have no choice but to submit to the demands of matter! They are pressed down and crushed by external forces, fashion, the market, events, public opinion. Never in a whole life-time do they recover their right mind! The active life; what a pity!"
- Chuang Tzu
These words could be spoken easily about our day to day problems. The modern machine; we do not enjoy, we do not cherish, we merely act, because we must. Yet, these words were written in ~300 BC... over 2300 years ago.
There is little I can say that has not been said above perfectly, though I may come back to this to extrapolate my thoughts deeper. But I challenge my readers to meditate on Chaung Tzu's words. Cease seeking action and find inner peace. Actively choose to do nothing, find the time to achieve everything.
If a philosopher's teaching is never attacked, he pines away!
If critics have no one whom to exercise their spite, they are unhappy.
All such men are prisoners in the world of objects.
He who wants followers, seeks political power.
He who wants reputation, holds office.
The strong man looks for weights to lift.
The brave man looks for an emergency in which he can show bravery.
The swordsman wants a battle in which he can swing his sword.
Men past their prime prefer a dignified retirement, in which they may seem profound.
Men experienced in law seek difficult cases to extend the application of laws.
Liturgists and musicians like festivals in which they can parade their ceremonious talents.
The benevolent, the dutiful, are always looking for chances to display virtue.
Where would the gardener be if there were no weeds?
What would become of business without a market of fools?
Where would the masses be if there were no pretext for getting jammed together and making noise?
What would become of labor if there were no superfluous objects to be made?
Produce! Get Results! Make Money! Make Friends! Make Changes!
or you will die of despair!
Those who are caught in the machinery of power take no joy except in activity and change - the whirring of the machine! Whenever an occasion for action presents itself they are compelled to act; they cannot help themselves. They are inexorably moved, like the machine of which they are a part. Prisoners in the world of objects, they have no choice but to submit to the demands of matter! They are pressed down and crushed by external forces, fashion, the market, events, public opinion. Never in a whole life-time do they recover their right mind! The active life; what a pity!"
- Chuang Tzu
These words could be spoken easily about our day to day problems. The modern machine; we do not enjoy, we do not cherish, we merely act, because we must. Yet, these words were written in ~300 BC... over 2300 years ago.
There is little I can say that has not been said above perfectly, though I may come back to this to extrapolate my thoughts deeper. But I challenge my readers to meditate on Chaung Tzu's words. Cease seeking action and find inner peace. Actively choose to do nothing, find the time to achieve everything.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)