from Verse Twenty-NineThe mind of sages does not forget the desire to help others, night and day, and the extent to which its benefit reaches is far indeed.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~
With all its focus on seeking a person's center, losing the ego and finding formlessness, some people may get the idea that philosophical Taoism is the philosophy of the hermit. On the contrary, the great Taoist sages of old fully realized that each of us lives in the social world of interaction and relationship.
The reason they start from the individual is that, if we are unable to cultivate our inner being in a way that embraces the Way, it will adversely affect our interactions and relationships! It's like if a tree doesn't set down a deep and strong root system it won't be able to take the fullest advantage of the sun, rain, soil and wind.
A true Tao person is a fountain for all that surrounds her or him -- wherever one goes. It provides refreshment and coolness to all things indiscriminately. And it does so without the need to be thanked or recognized.
We live in a social environment. If a person believed they had found complete unity with Tao, but kept it all to themselves, then this would be abject proof that they had found unity with nothing!
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
The reason they start from the individual is that, if we are unable to cultivate our inner being in a way that embraces the Way, it will adversely affect our interactions and relationships! It's like if a tree doesn't set down a deep and strong root system it won't be able to take the fullest advantage of the sun, rain, soil and wind.
A true Tao person is a fountain for all that surrounds her or him -- wherever one goes. It provides refreshment and coolness to all things indiscriminately. And it does so without the need to be thanked or recognized.
We live in a social environment. If a person believed they had found complete unity with Tao, but kept it all to themselves, then this would be abject proof that they had found unity with nothing!
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
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