Tao Bible - Matthew 8:24-26

And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
~ King James version ~

"The Perfect Man," answered Wang Yi, "is a spiritual being. Were the ocean itself scorched up, he would not feel hot. Were the great rivers frozen hard, he would not feel cold. Were the mountains to be cleft by thunder, and the great deep to be thrown up by storm, he would not tremble with fear. Thus, he would mount upon the clouds of heaven, and driving the sun and the moon before him, pass beyond the limits of this mundane existence. Death and life have no more victory over him. How much less should he concern himself with the distinctions of profit and loss?"
~ from Chapter 2 of the Zhuangzi ~

If we look at the biblical story as being literal, then it is nonsensical. Human beings do not have the capacity to alter the laws of nature. Even Tao cannot alter itself because The Way is the process itself.

However, if we look at the biblical story in a figurative sense, it is much in line with the snippet from the Zhuangzi. It draws our attention to the concept of non-attachment. When we are able to meet the flow of life on its own terms without design or expectation, we are calm in the face of adversity. While a storm may rage around us, we remain at peace.

If you're interested in reading more from this experimental series, go to the Tao Bible Index page.