from Verse One Hundred Seventy-FiveThe reason people lose their lands, die at others' hands, and become a laughingstock to the world, always turns out to be greed. In you know that a fan in winter and a leather coat in summer are of no use to you, everything will turn into dust and dirt. So, if you use hot water to stop a boiling pot, it will only boil all the more; those who know the root of the matter simply take the fire away.~ Wen-tzu: Understanding the Mysteries ~
If desire is mucking up your life -- always pushing you to want more of this and more of that -- how does one pull desire off the table? A lot of people would say that, if you don't want desire in your driver's seat, then you should simply remove it.
But there's an inherent problem with this apparent straightforward solution. As Lao Tzu points out above, it would be like trying to cool a boiling pot with boiling water. You see, if we desire to remove desire, the impetus is the same thing as the impediment. We will merely replace one desire for another.
When we walk in step with the Way, desire evaporates. It's not a conscious process; it just happens naturally and organically.
Of course, it all looks so easy in type -- It's quite another thing truly to live it.
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
But there's an inherent problem with this apparent straightforward solution. As Lao Tzu points out above, it would be like trying to cool a boiling pot with boiling water. You see, if we desire to remove desire, the impetus is the same thing as the impediment. We will merely replace one desire for another.
When we walk in step with the Way, desire evaporates. It's not a conscious process; it just happens naturally and organically.
Of course, it all looks so easy in type -- It's quite another thing truly to live it.
This post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
"When we walk in step with the Way, desire evaporates. It's not a conscious process; it just happens naturally and organically."
ReplyDeleteI think this is backward...only by overcoming desire and fear (the same things really) are we able to truly know Tao. I think it does take a conscious effort (through Taoist techniques and practices) to get to that natural organic place. You will probably think I'm I'm getting "religious" here.
But how does one overcome desire or fear? What I think Lao Tzu is pointing to in this verse is the problem of having a desire to rid oneself of desires. You end simply replacing one for another which puts you back at square one.
ReplyDelete