How to flow with life and be content.
The philosophy of Lao Tzu
In reading this article, you will gain useful insight into an ancient philosophy, one that has taught people how to live in harmony with nature, for over two thousand years. Is a proven methodology and will provide you great benefits,including a feeling of serenity and security.
How-to live-in harmony
Watch your thought they become words,
Watch your words they become actions.
Watch your actions, They become habits.
Watch your habits, They become character.
What your character, It becomes your destiny.
By Lau Tzu (one western name for the philosopher who wrote the Tao Te Ching)
Flow with life not against the current of destiny
It was in the year 571 BC that Lao Tzu was born in Chu State (the present province of Hubei) in the fertile valley of the Yangtze River in south China. King Ling Of Zhou, an autocratic ruler, was on the throne and it was twenty years before Confucius was born. In five years, in the Nepalese foot hills, the Buddha would be born.
During this definitive period in China’s history (our worlds history), when the feudal system was in decay and when a better system was badly needed, there evolved a guide for society, consistent with the teachings of Jesus in the New Testemant Bible (that came hundreds of years later). A system we both reject and try to perfect today.
In his time, Lao Tzu started to teach a better way to live. They were people weary of battles, faught between competing war lords for territory, who were holding on to their power too long. Power they must loose, the common people were fed up. The war lords day was over, their absolute power was too much for the common people to endure. It was the time of a new beginning, soon the Middle Kingdom would transition to a central government, a system influenced by Confucianism and the teaching of Lao Tzu.
Lao Tzu taught people how-to live-in harmony with the natural world. He told followers to flow with the Dao, the fundamental principle that underlies the universe.
Instead of fighting, against one’s destiny and one’s fellows, one must accept their destiny. A follower of this philosophy will say they are on a path, we called it the way, and is rich and fulfilling, a much better way to live. That you will find by cultivating virtues such as humility and simplicity. Then when you let go, and letting go is essential, when you let go of material craving, then you find love and compassion, for all others, not just one’s familiar, ones tribe.
A followers on this path will work hard on themselves, by an internal examination, and endeavour by a battle fought in their heart to close the gap between were they are in their life and the peace of the way.
A follower will by consistent practice, by letting go, then surrender to what is. The Dao may offer insights, revealing true nature, opening the way to life. Then you strive to live a life of balance and a life in harmony with others and the natural world will flourish before you. You no longer struggle.
There are not just one, but many good paths. A good path is found through constant and diligent practice and flowing with the energy of the Dao.
Be content in what you have;
Rejoice in the way things are.
When you realise there is nothing lacking,
The whole world belongs to you. Lao Tzu
One concept of Lao Tzu’s philosophy is “wu wei” which means non-action. Do nothing, and don’t panic. While this does not mean being passive or inactive, it does mean that one waits for the right moment to act and then only takes what is appropriate action. For example, a nudge will change a bodies direction only when the force is aligned with the bodies momentum. Then minimal effort is required to cause maximum effect. Working against a body’s momentum, in contrast, is hard and difficult. Using “wu wei” one can master life.
The practitioner is encouraged to only act when necessary and in a way that is natural and effortless. Action is then done without striving or forcing things to happen, without exerting more energy than necessary or using more resource than necessary. This is how animals live, evolution has favoured such behaviour because that which is highly efficient favours survival in the natural world.
A follower must first let go of ego. Relinquishing self interest and control, and trust in the natural flow of the universe. This return to a behavioural state that is common in social animals makes us feel good.
The behaviour of non-action has great benefit for you. And then when enacted across society benefits more, because it encourages the wise use of limited resources and preservation of those valuable and limited resources. It benefits most the individual who decides to adopt it, because as a way of life following “wu wei’ encourages one to live a long and pleasant and purposful life. That is because one is less exhausted and depleted by the daily grind.
Firstly, benefits are realised, because living in harmony is efficient, one achieves the same outcome with less effort. Secondly, because such a life is good, it resonates with your soul, being the way, one can speculate, all humans once behaved. In harmony, those looking for the great escape from the pressure of modern living find it. When practiced, the human soul rejoices, being predestined to exist that way, in harmony with nature and with your new experience discontent is gone because the soul is no longer lost and disturbed but tunes into the flow of the universe.
If you are a surfer you know wu wei already. When finding that spot, were energy in a wave provides you maximum speed, you surf with wu wei. Then when you fly across the wave face, effortlessly and with minimal exertion, it is because you know that spot. Then when challenged by turbulent water, you will utilise that energy to escape its danger. Scirt the closing section and thereby surfing further along the wave.
Surfing with wu wei in elegance, far better than one who does not understand the way. The wave and it’s ways are not conquered but instead, harmony with the wave is found. In contrast, a surfer who is not using “wu wei” will attack the wave and with their own energy try to conquer it and thereby, he will quickly become exhausted. Such action is unsustainable and worse, is a sad and ugly display, one not worthy of you or very beautiful. You disgrace the art form, it is dishonoured. The surfing analogy can be applied to stock broking, bridge building, software development and so on and so forth. All skilled activity.
Make the most of what you have
Another important concept of Lao Tzu philosophy is “te”, or virtue. Now holding te a practitioner is encouraged to cultivate their inner goodness. Experience noble integrity, one is then filled with valued attributes and very close to their heart. You will then go forth and strive to live a life that is honest, compassionate, and respectful of others. Such a happy follower you become and then cultivate kindness, generosity, and selfless, in compassion and wisdom. When you are such an individual you might be a minimalist, only owning those few possessions that enable practice of te.
In this modern world you soon are ahead of others. Have a healthy approach to material possessions with a character building experience and then display te. When what one owns is limited to those items essential to conducting a simple life and is in accord with one’s destiny that resonates with one’s soul, then living is a wholesome practice.
Minimalist design is beautiful and minimalist living a true art form.
Overall, a follower of the way described by Lao Tzu will adopt a practice that would enable them to live a simple, humble, and balanced life, in harmony with the natural world and others, and guided by virtues such as compassion, kindness and wisdom.